I was born and raised in Ottumwa starting just a couple of years after this was filmed. I remember watching The Big Picture after school, but I didn't know they'd done an episode about my home town. I moved away for college and work right after high school. Ottumwa has gone down hill a lot in the last 40 years but is was a great place to be a kid. I used to go horseback riding at a friend's farm, just as we saw here. Downtown thrived but lake many places, it's fallen on hard times, sad to say.
I was born there (1950). Lived there for 19 years, then was drafted. The downtown really died when places like Arlans, Target etc. moved in. Then the city council decides to pave over main street to make it more like the one stop shop, what a mistake that was .. Then Bookin's, Woolworth's, Kresge's etc left. It was a ghost town. Then John Morrell's moved out, John Deere cut back then things really fell apart. It's to bad, but these things happen. I loved growing up there.
I am 51 and have lived in Ottumwa all my like, have many fond memories of here but Politics,influx of to many imigrants, thanks to Cargil(and they know it but dont care), WalMart(always ruins any downtown buisnesses when they move in) and the lack of caring about our town added with greed has caused it to fall into decline.
Gone are the days of Neighborhood block parties,neighbors always in contact,plenty of things for kids to do and Police Force that was helpful instead of making money.
Oh how it has changed,In 1950 there was probally 3 mexicans,now there is 3000 lol.Ottumwa aint bad just all the houses are old and fallin apart,it looks real bad in the winter.
@Rugulah1 funny i never said Al was from Iowa, just said is that him? i know he's from Minnesota, but doesnt that look like him? i am from Ottumwa btw.
For those people who like to say they live in Ottumwa and it is a hole, please remember that it is the people that make a town. If you live there and you think it is a hole it is only because YOU made it that way. There are those who remember a great Ottumwa, and want to see it great again. So, step up or shut up.
My sister Pam (Conger)(Payne) Kloppenburg is the dark headed girl clapping at the ball field. She remembers being in a Big Picture but never saw it. Imagine our surprise when seeing her tonight. Sandy Campbell is the girl to the right. Her father was a detective on the railroad. Anyone knowing her whereabout have her contact Pam on fb. Thanks.
yne)My sister Pam (Conger)(Payne) Kloppenburg is the dark headed girl clapping at the ball field. She remembers being in a Big Picture but never saw it. Imagine our surprise when seeing her tonight. Sandy Campbell is the girl to the right. Her father was a detective on the railroad. Anyone knowing her whereabout have her contact Pam on fb. Thanks.
The young man in this movie is my father, Gerald Brunk. He still lives today, he is 72 years old and lives in MO I was very excited to see this movie. I've spent many shopping trips when I was a little girl in Ottumwa with my Grandparents. Both are shown in the movie, his father passed away in March of 1977 and his mother passed away in November of 2005. I do remember Ottumwa being a bustling town and agree it has changed over the years.
Hey! Thats Radar O'Reilly's farm. lol I wonder if this film actually played any role in the creation of Radar from M*A*S*H and his "hometown" of Ottumwa.
@JimHadar1 The city of Ottumwa appeared in the original novel M*A*S*H from which the movie and television series as taken. The TV show made it seem like a tiny farm town, but it was an industrial town of 32,000 people when both show and movie were set. It didn't lose population until after the 1970s when several major industries (including the meat packing plant and the John Deere factory) either shut down or became smaller.
Being 52 and growing up in ottumwa and living here all my life it is so sad to see how we were and what we have become.I remember going to town on thursday nights and having to walk on your side of sidewalk it was so busy,now you could drive a car down sidewalk at mid day,i remember the big avents in town like the fly in at airport,so many good things back then,the city leaders of those days new how to run a town but those of the 70's tell present have brought this town to its knees,so so sad.
Ottumwa has been a hole for a long time. It was a powerfull city when the coal mines were in operation. The coal ran out, the river was damed so no more river barges either. John Deere ran the town and still does. Which is why it is a dying town. It was a nice town. I have a lot of fond memories growing up there. so sad.
Been here my whole life... I am 27 now and it blows my mind how diffrent things were... made me laugh towards the end when the said the future looks bright and flourishing... now Ottumwa is kind of a craphole town... no where near as pretty or populated as the video makes it appear! Once a great place to live I am sure but not so much anymore I am afraid!
I was born and raised in Ottumwa starting just a couple of years after this was filmed. I remember watching The Big Picture after school, but I didn't know they'd done an episode about my home town. I moved away for college and work right after high school. Ottumwa has gone down hill a lot in the last 40 years but is was a great place to be a kid. I used to go horseback riding at a friend's farm, just as we saw here. Downtown thrived but lake many places, it's fallen on hard times, sad to say.
Rugulah1 2 months ago
I was born there (1950). Lived there for 19 years, then was drafted. The downtown really died when places like Arlans, Target etc. moved in. Then the city council decides to pave over main street to make it more like the one stop shop, what a mistake that was .. Then Bookin's, Woolworth's, Kresge's etc left. It was a ghost town. Then John Morrell's moved out, John Deere cut back then things really fell apart. It's to bad, but these things happen. I loved growing up there.
2ccyyrruuss 3 months ago
I am 51 and have lived in Ottumwa all my like, have many fond memories of here but Politics,influx of to many imigrants, thanks to Cargil(and they know it but dont care), WalMart(always ruins any downtown buisnesses when they move in) and the lack of caring about our town added with greed has caused it to fall into decline.
Gone are the days of Neighborhood block parties,neighbors always in contact,plenty of things for kids to do and Police Force that was helpful instead of making money.
MrLane60 6 months ago
Oh how it has changed,In 1950 there was probally 3 mexicans,now there is 3000 lol.Ottumwa aint bad just all the houses are old and fallin apart,it looks real bad in the winter.
rdsrds1000 6 months ago
1:01 is that Al Frankin the communist?
Icetitan777 9 months ago 2
@Icetitan777 Franken (check the spelling) is from Minnesota. Ottumwa is in Iowa. They are different.
Rugulah1 2 months ago
@Rugulah1 funny i never said Al was from Iowa, just said is that him? i know he's from Minnesota, but doesnt that look like him? i am from Ottumwa btw.
Icetitan777 2 months ago
For those people who like to say they live in Ottumwa and it is a hole, please remember that it is the people that make a town. If you live there and you think it is a hole it is only because YOU made it that way. There are those who remember a great Ottumwa, and want to see it great again. So, step up or shut up.
theonebumm 10 months ago
My sister Pam (Conger)(Payne) Kloppenburg is the dark headed girl clapping at the ball field. She remembers being in a Big Picture but never saw it. Imagine our surprise when seeing her tonight. Sandy Campbell is the girl to the right. Her father was a detective on the railroad. Anyone knowing her whereabout have her contact Pam on fb. Thanks.
electraofpleiades 10 months ago
yne)My sister Pam (Conger)(Payne) Kloppenburg is the dark headed girl clapping at the ball field. She remembers being in a Big Picture but never saw it. Imagine our surprise when seeing her tonight. Sandy Campbell is the girl to the right. Her father was a detective on the railroad. Anyone knowing her whereabout have her contact Pam on fb. Thanks.
electraofpleiades 10 months ago
The young man in this movie is my father, Gerald Brunk. He still lives today, he is 72 years old and lives in MO I was very excited to see this movie. I've spent many shopping trips when I was a little girl in Ottumwa with my Grandparents. Both are shown in the movie, his father passed away in March of 1977 and his mother passed away in November of 2005. I do remember Ottumwa being a bustling town and agree it has changed over the years.
RhondaBrunkKirchner 11 months ago
Hey! Thats Radar O'Reilly's farm. lol I wonder if this film actually played any role in the creation of Radar from M*A*S*H and his "hometown" of Ottumwa.
JimHadar1 11 months ago
@JimHadar1 The city of Ottumwa appeared in the original novel M*A*S*H from which the movie and television series as taken. The TV show made it seem like a tiny farm town, but it was an industrial town of 32,000 people when both show and movie were set. It didn't lose population until after the 1970s when several major industries (including the meat packing plant and the John Deere factory) either shut down or became smaller.
Rugulah1 2 months ago
Being 52 and growing up in ottumwa and living here all my life it is so sad to see how we were and what we have become.I remember going to town on thursday nights and having to walk on your side of sidewalk it was so busy,now you could drive a car down sidewalk at mid day,i remember the big avents in town like the fly in at airport,so many good things back then,the city leaders of those days new how to run a town but those of the 70's tell present have brought this town to its knees,so so sad.
stew52501 11 months ago
Ottumwa has been a hole for a long time. It was a powerfull city when the coal mines were in operation. The coal ran out, the river was damed so no more river barges either. John Deere ran the town and still does. Which is why it is a dying town. It was a nice town. I have a lot of fond memories growing up there. so sad.
dogdad50 11 months ago 2
It was way cool to see things that still exist, but sad to see how Ottumwa has really lost it's way.
killerkane2k 1 year ago 2
Been here my whole life... I am 27 now and it blows my mind how diffrent things were... made me laugh towards the end when the said the future looks bright and flourishing... now Ottumwa is kind of a craphole town... no where near as pretty or populated as the video makes it appear! Once a great place to live I am sure but not so much anymore I am afraid!
ilikethegreenfrogs 1 year ago 2
Home of my family for many generations. Very touching to watch.
kaymae2008 1 year ago