Lost Akron movie ‘The Portage Trail’ to premiere at Highland Square Film Festival

Mark J. Price, Akron Beacon Journal
·3 min read
Akron women dress as bridesmaids in 1915 for a wedding procession scene at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the movie “The Portage Trail.”
Akron women dress as bridesmaids in 1915 for a wedding procession scene at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the movie “The Portage Trail.”

Every century or so, Akron holds a world premiere for the same movie.

Since you weren’t around for the previous screening, definitely consider attending this weekend’s event.

“The Portage Trail,” a 1915 motion picture filmed in Akron with prominent citizens in leading roles, will be among the highlights Saturday at the Highland Square Film Festival.

The 16-minute silent movie had long been considered a lost work until its discovery was announced in January by Periscope Film LLC, a Los Angeles company that provides stock footage for broadcasters, documentary makers and game designers.

Filmed under the auspices of the Akron Chamber of Commerce, the movie presents a fictional tale of romance and drama while showcasing civic pride, local history and “thrilling Akron scenes.”

The black-and-white movie will be shown at 4 p.m. Saturday during the festival’s closing events at the Highland Theatre at 826 W. Market St. Tickets, $15 in advance and $17 at the door, include the screening, festival awards and a musical performance by the hip-hop duo Free Black.

Full festival access Saturday is $20 in advance or $25 that day. Children 13 or younger will be admitted free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

The Summit County Historical Society, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society and Progress Through Preservation will give free presentations about the movie and its background at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday at the Highland Square library branch at 807 W. Market St.

The movie’s original premiere was in 1915 at the Grand Theatre in downtown Akron. Tickets cost 10 cents.

Akron movie extras dress up like American Indians in 1915 for a flashback sequence in “The Portage Trail.”
Akron movie extras dress up like American Indians in 1915 for a flashback sequence in “The Portage Trail.”

Located along the Portage Path, the former Indian trail between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers, Highland Square is an ideal location for the 2023 screening. One of the scenes features dozens of Native Americans (actually Akron residents dressed like Indians) walking the trail and carrying canoes.

Other events at Highland Square

“The Portage Trail” is just one highlight this weekend at Highland Square.

The local premiere of filmmaker Kelly Reichardt’s 2019 movie “First Cow” will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the CATAC Theatre at 220 S. Balch St. Akron native John Magaro, a star of the critically acclaimed movie, will attend the premiere and participate in a question-and-answer session afterward. Tickets for the pre-festival event are $15 in advance, $17 at the door or $30 for the entire weekend.

John Magaro
John Magaro

Other events planned for Saturday:

Yoga Squared will offer community yoga from 10 to 11 a.m. at Will Christy Park at South Rose Boulevard and West Exchange Street.

Vendors will have tables set up from noon to 4 p.m., coinciding with films, presentations and installations around Highland Square.

Independent short films from around the world will be shown at four sites on West Market Street: Yoga Squared, Square Nightclub, Matinee Bar and Wendell L. Willkie American Legion Post 19.

More than 40 movies were submitted for the festival, and 25 will be shown, including “American Bison-Winter,” “Apple of My Eye,” “The Beauty of Violence,” “Dead and Gone,” “Deliverance,” “Doors,” “Grave Ditch,” “Hollywood Horror Show,” “Last Shot,” “Manimondo,” “Meddling Kids,” “Met(EYE)morphosis,” “Neither One of Us,” “Oh Snap,” “The Reunion,” “Running Up That Hill,” “Time,” “Transmission: Lisa Stephen Friday,” “Tunnel By the Bay” and “We Are Not These Ruins.”

Screening times are noon, 12:45, 1:30, 2:15 and 3 p.m. Film-only tickets are $10 in advance and $13 on Saturday.

The Akron Community Foundation awarded an $8,000 grant to the Highland Square Neighborhood Association to support the film festival and PorchRokr music festival. More than 25 local businesses and organizations are sponsoring the events.

Visit 330tix.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

Don’t wait 108 years to see the next world premiere of “The Portage Trail.”

Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com

More: Lost Akron movie found: Preservationists discover 1915 film in Los Angeles

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘The Portage Trail’ movie to premiere at Highland Square Film Festival