Christ is Born Screening

In the spring of 1943, Reverend B. C. Taylor, senior pastor of First Methodist Church of Alexandria, and Col. E. J. Hardy, commanding officer of the Seventh Signal Field photographic Laboratory at Camp Livingston, discussed the idea of filming the Christmas story. Some of the soldiers in the Seventh Signal Corp were Hollywood movie professionals, and they wrote, produced, directed, and filmed and acted in a Nativity movie. One soldier acted, and the rest of the cast was made up of church members. The Technicolor film Christ is Born first showed December 13, 1943 before being screened at USOs, other churches, and civic clubs.  Representative Lance Harris and his wife, Leetha, arranged for the 16mm film to be restored and digitized with the help of Louisiana Public Broadcasting for help in restoring and digitizing the movie. Now, First United Methodist Church will again be able to share this Louisiana-made, classic-Hollywood-era take on the greatest story ever told. 5 pm. Free. (318) 443-5696.