Some of the best movies take themes that resonate in real life, add in a little magic, and tell an exciting story loosely based on history while appealing to a wide variety of emotions. Field of Dreams is a perfect example. Coming out nearly 30 years ago, the movie has inspired millions of people - some for the love of baseball, some for the love of America, and some for the love of family and what is important in life.
Turns out, there is a real Field of Dreams. It is the location the movie was filmed at in Dyersville, Iowa. The farm in which the movie was set on was owned by Don Lansing at the time. A woman named Sue Riedel from the Iowa Film Office was scouting for a location to film the movie, originally called "Shoeless Joe," after the book it was made after, and met Lansing. Lansing was shocked to have someone other than a salesman come to his door, but kept listening after hearing the movie was to be about baseball. Ever since then, the Field of Dreams Movie Site has been a quiet destination in a quiet part of the Midwest.
"While open for tours, many people don't realize that the site exists," Roman Weinberg, Operations Manager at the Field of Dreams Movie Site, says. "But the word gets out and we get to share the magic of this place with fans from all over the world." Though it seems to be a long time since the movie came out, it has staying power with a lot of folks. Annually, 115,000 people come to tour the inside of the farm house and see the baseball field, prompting visions of the end of the movie where cars are lined up for miles to come see the Field of Dreams.
So why is the movie and site so popular? To start, the movie has some very powerful themes of following one’s dreams, no matter how far-fetched they seem. This is reinforced several times throughout the movie - of course, with sayings like "If you build it, he will come," as well as the story of Archie "Moonlight" Graham, who never got a chance at bat in the major leagues. It also speaks to redemption, healing, and family. For the White Sox players that get to play again, Archie "Moonlight" Graham who finally gets his appearance at the plate, and the relationship between Ray Kinsella and his father, John Kinsella.
Saturday, June 15, 2019 the site will have its 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Field of Dreams film [Photo by Dave Carter/The Visual Playground]
The movie the book is based on, "Shoeless Joe," was written by W.P. Kinsella, who wrote it while in Iowa, connecting many historical events and people. The "Ghost" players are made up of Chicago White Sox Players from the 1919 team who participated in the Black Sox Scandal, where they were paid to throw the World Series. Based on real events, Shoeless Joe Jackson was involved, and, like the movie, Shoeless Joe had more statistics that point to innocence than guilt in the scandal. Also, the original movie character of the author, Terrence Mann, was J.D. Salinger, interestingly enough. Moonlight Graham was really a baseball player, who became a well-loved doctor in Chisholm, Minnesota (in the movie, the set of Chisholm is actually the lovely Mississippi town of Galena, IL).
And, of course, there is the baseball. Something that is quintessentially American is well summed up in the movie, by Terrence Mann, played by James Earl Jones, who says: "The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and that could be again."
These themes and historical facts draw folks to the movie site year after year, something Weinberg gets the pleasure of witnessing. "It's like a spiritual place," Weinberg reflects, "You can almost feel the aura at the site. It brings out the softer and more relaxed side of everyone and many people come to connect with their fathers, whether good or bad, and have kind of a healing process."
Some folks come to play baseball, too. "In the summer on any normal day, people can come play baseball on the field," Weinberg says. Many famous baseball players have made their pilgrimage to the site, including Ozzie , Cal Ripkin, Jr., and Reggie Jackson. The famous players have a similar experience to others that come to see it. "It is really cool to see these players that have played on every great field in the country come and become little kids again because of the field," Weinberg says.
On June 15th, 2019, the site will have a celebration to commemorate the 30 years since the film's premiere. "We will have Dwier Brown, who played the part of John Kinsella (Ray Kinsella’s Father), make an appearance, as well as a bunch of other fun festivities," Weinberg says. They are planning on having local food vendors, a bounce house, music, a softball game between the "Ghost" players and the Iowa Dream Team, and the day will end with a showing of the film on the Field. More on the even can be found here.
So if you are “going the distance” during that time, or really anytime between late-April to the end of October, and happen to be in the Northeast area of Iowa off the Mississippi, go check out the Field of Dreams and be reminded of what’s good in life.
Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Features, History, Iowa