Johnstown CVB
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Johnstown CVB
- Johnstown, Pennsylvania, US
- Last Login: 5/28/2009
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Greater Johnstown/Cambria County CVB
- Johnstown, PA US
- Tourism Promotion Agency
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Visit Johnstown, PA online at www.visitjohnstownpa.com! In town, find our Welcome Center and Administrative Offices at 416 Main Street Johnstown, PA 15901. Call us for information or to order a FREE Visitors Guide at 800-237-8590.Interests
General
History & Heritage Although the booming iron, coal and steel industries that once sustained the Johnstown Region no longer compare to the ones of decades past, that industrial era is still contributing to the region's bottom line as a resource-based tourism economy continues to gain strength in the region. Tourism now contributes nearly $150 million to the region each year. Founded in 1800, Johnstown became a thriving industrial community late in the century when modernized steel production in Johnstown's mills was producing millions of tons of steel for railroads, warships, bridges and common nails. A mass immigration of people from Europe looking for a life free from persecution or oppression began streaming into the U.S. in 1870 providing the labor force that allowed Johnstown to become the largest steel making center in the United States. In fact, many of the steel industry's greatest advances were forged in Johnstown and include the Bessemer process and the three high rolling mill. On May 31, 1889 Johnstown gained national attention when a devastating 35 foot high wall of water flooded the region and took 2,200 lives. In the years following the flood immigrants still were arriving in Johnstown and bringing with them the customs, the religions and the cuisines of their homelands, all of which contributed to the now heritage rich character of Johnstown. The city's moniker became "The Flood City" following two more floods in 1936 and 1977. Most recently, the city has enjoyed the "The Friendly City" designation as Johnstown, jarred by the demise of its industrial base in the 1980's, has reinvented itself as a result of efforts to economically diversify and enhance its image with industries based on new technologies and resource based tourism. The Johnstown region, just 70 miles east of Pittsburgh, is proud of its strong heritage, its strong work ethic and its strong sense of community. Although diversification is now guiding the region in its development, the teamwork and foresight of its community, business and heritage leaders continue to be the real guides. Tourism-based, as well as technology-based, strategies are making the region a great place to live, work and play.Movies
Johnstown in the Movies Sources: * The People of Cambria County, by Dave Huber, 2003 ** "Johnstown on the Big Screen" by Mike Mastovich, Johnstown Magazine, May 2007, page 21 Slapshot was released in 1977 and starred Paul Newman who led his failing minor league hockey team to success. * All the Right Moves was released in 1983 and starred Tom Cruise, Craig T. Nelson, and Lea Thompson. The story depicted a high school football player growing up in a steel town and his ambitions to obtain a college scholarship.* Academy Award winning movie, The Johnstown Flood, was commissioned by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association to celebrate the opening of the Flood Museum in 1989. It is the only museum-commissioned documentary that has won an Academy Award in the short subject documentary category. ** In 2003, a new documentary "Johnstown Flood," was created, as a part of the PBS series American Experience. The film was narrated by actor Richard Dreyfuss. ** The film shown at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial entitled Black Friday was produced by the National Park Service. Parts of the movie were filmed at Harper's Ferry Center in West Virginia while most footage was taken from a 1926 silent movie, The Johnstown Flood. ** The animated short from 1946, Mighty Mouse and The Johnstown Flood, features our rodent hero using super-hypnosis to turn back time and "save the day." **Heroes
Entertainers from Cambria County Sources: *The Internet Movie Database, http://imdb.com **The People of Cambria County, by Dave Huber, 2003 Carroll Baker, Movie Actress Born in Johnstown, Baker appeared in numerous European and American movies including Giant (1956), The Carpetbaggers (1964), Harlow (1965), How the West Was Won (1962), and most recently, Kindergarten Cop (1990). She received an Oscar nomination for her role in Baby Doll (1956). Baker has performed on Broadway, written three books and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.** Charles Bronson, Movie Actor America's "tough guy" Charles Bronson grew up in the town of Ehrenfield. Best known for his rugged looks and intense action scenes, Bronson's career spanned 50 years acting in American and European films. He received notoriety portraying a vigilante, gunfighter, police detective, or hitman in numerous television and theatre movies including roles in The Dirty Dozen (1967), Death Wish (1974), Hard Times (1975), and the Family of Cops television series.* Chris Columbus, Movie Director, Producer, Writer Born in Spangler, PA, Columbus has been entertaining movie and television audiences for over two decades writing, directing and producing family favorites such as Gremlins, The Goonies, the Home Alone series, the Harry Potter movie series, Mrs. Doubtfire, Nine Months, Night at the Museum, Christmas with the Kranks, and much more. * Alan Freed, Music Promoter Born in Johnstown, Freed was a disc jockey who coined the phrase "Rock ‘n Roll" and was responsible for introducing black music artists to white audiences. ** Tim Kazurinsky, Writer, Comedian, Actor Best known for his appearances on Saturday Night Live and the Police Academy movies, Kazurinsky was born in Johnstown and continues to act in a variety of films. * Noteworthy Natives from Johnstown, PA Television actress, Natalia Livingston, was born in Johnstown. The Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress plays Emily Quartermaine on ABC's daytime soap opera, General Hospital. Steven Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, was born and raised in Johnstown. Brand names Starbucks Coffee, Cinnabon and Panera Bread are Heckler Associates-named businesses. Terry Heckler is a native of Johnstown suburb, Windber. Former Pittsburgh Steeler and Super Bowl champion, Jack Ham was born in Johnstown. Mary Cover Jones, the "mother of behavior therapy" was born in Johnstown. Pete Duranko played defensive end at Notre Dame and played professionally with the Denver Broncos, is a Johnstown native. Duranko is currently battling Lou Gehrig's Disease. Frank Benford, Jr., an electrical engineer and physicist, was born in Johnstown. He is best known for "Benford's Law," a statistical statement about the occurrence of digits in lists of data. Fiction writer Robert T. Jeschonek, who is best known for his Star Trek novels published by Pocket Books, resides in Johnstown, PA. Dr. Lawrence F. Flick organized the first American tuberculosis society in 1892. He was a pioneer in the antitubercular campaign and among the first to recognize the disease was communicable. He was born near Carrolltown, PA. *The People of Cambria County, by Dave Huber, 2003 Sgt. Michael Strank was raised in Franklin Borough, Johnstown. A Marine, he was the oldest and highest ranking of the six men who took part in the famous raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima, Feb. 23, 1945. The scene was later used in the Marine Corps Memorial at Arlington. *The People of Cambria County, by Dave Huber, 2003
