Brown Bag Lecture to feature 'It's a Wonderful Life'

FINDLAY — Charles "Chuck" Coletta of the Bowling Green State University's Department of Popular Culture will be the speaker for the December Brown Bag Lecture at the Hancock Historical Museum, 422 W. Sandusky St. His presentation will explore the enduring legacy of "It's a Wonderful Life" and the deeper intentions behind director Frank Capra's film. The event will be held at noon Thursday at the museum. Although widely embraced today as a quintessential holiday classic, Capra never meant the film to be viewed solely as a Christmas movie. As his first feature following his World War II service, Capra envisioned it as a tribute to the everyday Americans whose lives, dreams and quiet determination shape their communities. Both Capra and James Stewart regarded the 1946 film as their favorite work. Coletta's lecture will trace the origins of Philip Van Doren Stern's short story and its journey to the screen, highlighting how the film evolved into one of the most cherished seasonal traditions in American culture. A Cleveland native, Coletta earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in literature from John Carroll University and his Ph.D. in American Culture Studies from BGSU. Since 2000, he has taught courses on television and film studies, contemporary popular literature and mass media. Presented by Eastman & Smith, the lecture series is held on the first Thursday of each month and highlights topics connected to Hancock County and Ohio history. The program is free for museum members and included with regular admission for nonmembers. No registration is required. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch to eat during the lecture. For more information, visit HancockHistoricalMuseum.org or call 419-423-4433.