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During the 25th Anniversary of the release of the Ron Maxwell film, Gettysburg, actors Patrick Gorman (General Hood) and Bo Brinkman (Major Walter Taylor) sat down with us on our friend's farm to discuss their characters and the making of the film for a bonus episode. Here's a cool story about what a cool dude Tom Berenger is. (Press play below).

What a weekend I had! As a lifelong Gettysburg nerd (or, Gettysnerd) and fan of the movie Gettysburg it was more than surreal that I got to do what I got to do. But, yet again, I've proven to myself that, sometimes, it's as simple as asking. 

This story begins in 2011. A filmmaker friend and I had two things in common: the love of filmmaking and the love of Gettysburg. So we decided to make a documentary about the whacky history of tourism since the end of the battle. But films are hard to get off the ground, so we became another casualty on a pile of aspiring filmmakers who have gone before us. However, while we were still thinking it had legs, I contact actor Patrick Gorman through Facebook. Patrick, as my fellow Gettysnerds may know, played General John Bell Hood in Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. I had sent him a friend request and, lo and behold, he accepted. Then, I took the chance and messaged him asking if he would be interested in narrating our film. He was.

But the project died...

Fast forward to April of 2018. Due to the steady growth of followers to our Facebook page, in spite of us not working it, we realized that there was at least an interest in a Facebook page with the name "Addressing Gettysburg". After cutting our teeth on producing other podcasts, Pete and I decided it was time to take the idea I had with my other friend for a film and adapt it to a podcast. And so we did. I even moved from NJ back to Gettysburg for the purpose. 

Once I moved here to Gburg, I contacted Patrick again. He remembered me. I asked him if he would let me interview him about the making of the film if he ever found himself in Gettysburg again or, if that wasn't on the horizon, then by phone. 

"Funny you should say that," he said. "I'll be back in October for the 25th anniversary of the film. So we can do it then."

That was easy. 

I arranged for him to stay in the comfort of my friends' farm on Hospital Rd and offered my services as his chauffeur. That basically made me his assistant for the weekend and what a ball I had. (Gotta give a HUGE thanks to my friends for opening their home

Friday morning, I picked him up for breakfast. We ate at One Lincoln and, while there, actor Brian Mallon (General Hancock) called asking to know what the plan was for that night. Patrick and he talked a bit and then hung up. A few minutes later, I saw Brian walking on the sidewalk. I ran out and called his attention, telling him Patrick was inside. So Brian, his sister and their two friends, came in to join us. But they wanted breakfast and it was lunch time. So they left in search of eggs. 

After breakfast, Patrick and I went back to the farm and sat in the sun as he regaled me with stories of old Hollywood, life in the service and life in general. Don't worry, I recorded it all and will release an NPR-styled bonus episode with it (minus the vocal fry so common among the young NPR reporters). 

We finally broke for naps and wardrobe changes before the evening. There were two events that we were going to attend: a one-man show starring Stephen Lang at the visitor center followed by a private dinner at the Dobbin House hosted by director Ron Maxwell.
​

Let me tell you, I never felt so out of place and so welcomed at the name time as I did that night. Here I was--some guy-- sitting at a dinner with four of the actors from one of my life-long favorite movies, the director of said movie and a president's granddaughter and they treated me as if I belonged. Only in Gettysburg, folks. 

The conversation flowed like Rum Bellie's Vengeance and the food was, as can be expected at the Dobbin House, delicious. The highlight of the night was when Ron Maxwell took control of the room to reminisce with the cast. He opened with a variation on a game he would play with the audience of the movie screening the following night. 

"I'll point to an actor and all the non-actors just blurt out his most famous line from the film," he said. 
​
I pulled my chair in close. I might have to pipe up. 

He pointed to Brian Mallon, who played Hancock, first. 

"There are times when a corps commander's life doesn't count!" I said calmly. I won that round. 

"Ok, Andrew Prine as General Garnett," he said. 

There was a silence. I had it on the tip of my tongue. Something about a day... what was the line about a day. Finally, Maxwell point to Prine.

"Go ahead," he said. "What's your line."

Prine spoke in his deep voice. 

 "'Well, Lo. I'll see you at the top', I said in my best John Wayne," he said. Prine was actually in two John Wayne movies, by the way. Know which ones?

Garnett's line was the only one I missed. Hood clearly has the most quotable lines as was proven that night and the audeince proved the next night at the screening. 

It was at this dinner that I invited Brian Mallon and Bo Brinkman (Major Walter Taylor) to join Patrick Gorman the following morning on the podcast. Brinkman accepted the invitation, Mallon had a prior engagement. 

My friend's farm on Hospital Rd is beautiful. She has a Summer kitchen with a giant fireplace. That would serve as our "studio" because our normal recording space, GettysBike Tours, was open for business. Plus, there's just something about talking about a movie about a Civil War battle to the smell of a fire. Anyway, Patrick and Bo showed up and the four of us sat and talked about the movie. You'll just have to subscribe to our bonus episodes when they come out to hear the stories they shared. 

Nothing makes me feel so old as when I heard that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of Gettysburg. It seems like yesterday when I saw it for the first time in my military history class. My teacher, Mr. Foreso, was a reenactor in the film and he paused the VHS on the 2 second shot that shows his face. This was a good thing, for, if he hadn't, we never would have believed he was in the film and it was only because he paused it and showed us that we did believe him. 

The Majestic Theater, on Carlisle St, in Gettysburg, was the scene of this screening. Some 800 people showed up. The place was packed. The smell of stale breath hit us in the face as we entered the balcony. 

Director Ron Maxwell was the first to speak. He played a game with the audience in which he would say a line and we had to yell out who said it. It was fun. It also showed me that I'm not the only Gettysnerd out there.

After the show, the actors in attendance took the stage for a rousing round of applause before heading out into the lobby to sign autographs for just a couple hundred people.  

We left the theater around 1am and I dropped Patrick off at the farm so he can get ready to leave for the airport at 3:30 that morning. As he was about to get out of the car, he handed me a handful of autographed pictures of him as General Hood, taken during production of the film and said, "Here, maybe these can help you promote your podcast." He's a great guy. 

There is so much more to share about this fun weekend, which you'll be able to hear in the bonus episodes. I want to thank Patrick Gorman for giving me his time, letting me record our converations and being very open with me and getting me into all of the events of the weekend and, I'm pretty confident when I say this, for being my new buddy. I'd also like to thank Bo Brinkman for accepting my last minute invite and showing up. Bo is a really nice guy and has a great sense of humor. He's directing now and I just finished watching his film Last Man Club on Prime. Check it out!

​A special thanks to Ron Maxwell for the dinner. I really haven't been able to digest this past weekend and put it into words, except to say that being a part of that dinner was more than a thrill for me. As a fan and student of filmmaking and the battle of Gettysburg AND the movie Gettysburg, it was an experience I never thought I'd have and I am grateful for it. 

Finally, Spoon Lady

Here's the deal, Gettysburg really is a year-round town that offers far more than history-related events and activities. It's busy season is during the warm months, but there are still many reasons for you to come from September-April. Here are a few examples of what the Gettysburg Area has to offer. 

BOOZE!! Wineries, Brewpubs and Distilleries
They're all the rage nowadays. It seems everywhere you turn there's a new brewery or distillery popping up and people flock to them in droves. The Gettysburg Area boasts of several breweries, wineries and distilleries. Many offer a fine selection of food along with their respective libation. A visitor can literally fill a whole weekend on a food/booze tour of Gettysburg and the surrounding areas. 

Music Festivals
Every season has its music. Every season has its occasions. Every occasion's event has its live music in the Gettysburg Area. From historical brass bands to Christmas Tubas, from blues and rock to Bluegrass, there's something for almost every music fan out there. 

Ghost Tours
Ghost tours have been very popular, especially in historic towns like Gettysburg, for quite a number of years. Some even lament that more people seem to be coming here for the ghost tours more than the history. Whatever your reason for coming here, Gettysburg has many ghost tours to choose from each night of your stay (and probably longer). While none are allowed on the National Park, they all have access to the streets and alleys of town and some even own bonfaide haunted houses that you can investigate. October is a great month for ghost touring and paranormal investigating here in Gettysburg. Ask us about which haunted B&B to stay in . 

The Arts
There is such a thriving art scene here in Gettysburg. Between musicians, photographers, painters and galleries, there is a rich environment for artists and art fans alike. 

We're just scratching the surface with these suggestions for your Fall visit to the Gettysburg Area. If you're thinking of coming this fall or winter, shoot me an email and I'll help you customize a trip that you won't forget. 

Addressing Gettysburg is more than a podcast, even though it is beginning with the podcast. Our ultimate goal is to create a community of Gettysburg-nerds and -novices alike. The nerds help the novices see that history, especially Gettysburg history, is NOT boring. We have ideas for annual conventions, videos, live shows and more. But, first thing's first. Before we can get to most of those ideas, we will need to first complete production and release of season one of the podcast in order to develop the following required to support such ideas. So, if you're reading this before the release of season one, you have a chance to get in on the ground floor by supporting production in one of a number of ways. 

Our goal is not to make money, at least not at this early stage. Our goal right now is to eliminate or defray our costs of production which, luckily enough, are not as bad as they could be thanks to our founder's ability to make and keep the right connections. However, it still costs in time, equipment, incidentals and accomodations for our guests. The most important one is the accomodations for the guests. Every guest is fed before a session. Some guests from out of the area require car services and/or board. This adds up pretty quickly. 

So how can you support us? Well, let's start with the one that is the easiest and doesn't cost you one red cent more than what you were going to pay anyway. We're talking about our Amazon Store. 

AMAZON STORE

Our website is strewn with links to Amazon, be they the links to books and movies on our Recommended Reading page, banners on other pages or the Amazon banner at the very top of our homepage. Should you find yourself needing or wanting to shop Amazon for ANYTHING, all you need to do is the following:

1. Go towww.addressinggettysburg.com​
2. Find the Amazon banner (circled in YELLOW below) and click it. 
3. Now sign in and shop Amazon to your heart's content. 

DONATE

Maybe you're one of those rare few who don't use Amazon. Or maybe you do but you don't want us to wait for $.07 per qualifying sale to eventually add up to a dollar. You can donate via PayPal using your PayPal account or your credit card. And if you really love us and care about the podcast generation learning their nation's history, then you can make it a monthly payment. Just click the "Donate" button. After that, it's pretty simple. The page should look like this (note that they may update their site now and then and slightly tweak the look of things). 

MJC Productions is the name of the production company that produces Addressing Gettysburg. So, don't be confused by the name. 

A fun way to support the show is merhcandise through our Sutler's Store. Like Amazon, there's a catch to us receiving our earnings, but it's not so difficult to achieve. The best part is you get something tangible and can show your support and help us spread the word with your mug, shirt, doggy bandana, phone case, and more. 

​Whichever way you choose to do this, we really appreciate your show of support and we promise, we WILL surprise you and make you glad you got in on the ground floor. 

So what's the real story with Addressing Gettysburg? People are starting to ask when the podcast will be out. The answer is: "the Fall". The real answer is: "when it's ready; hopefully in the Fall". Apparently, though, that is too long to wait for some, so, Matt and Pete took the time to sit don and record an introductory episode to meet and greet you. Enjoy. 

The obvious answer to this question is by bike through GettysBike Tours. Not only are they our sponsor, but we founded the business in 2005, though we are not the current owners. It was designed because no one was successfully doing it at the time, though some had tried. Those that tried failed because, we believed, they didn't design the tours (or the business itself) with the tourist in mind. They applied a "one-size-fits-all" approach to bicycle tours in Gettysburg because, well, they weren't from Gettysburg. Until we started the business, we weren't from Gettysburg either, but we toured it almost religiously, so, by the time we became locals, we never lost our memories of being a tourist.

GettysBike Tours was designed to be an experience and it was born out of a very simple desire we had: to come somewhat close to the hardships soldiers had to face. You won't get even a whiff of that from an automobile. Certainly not from the sky. The best way to experience what a Civil War soldier experienced is to eat very little and walk miles a  day, either sit around in camp for days or weeks or months on end or be thrown into a horrific battle only to retire to camp that night with half the friends you woke up with that morning. But who has time for that? So, the great compromise is a bike tour. Only then can you get an appreciation for "the high ground" (grunted like Sam Elliott in Gettysburg). Or how the elements affect your progress. Then, top that off with one of several Licensed Battlefield Guides telling you what happened along the way. The best part, to me, is feeling the wind in your face as you ride around (hint: it helps cool you better than AC. I swear)

Ok, cycling is not for everyone. The Gettysburg Tour Center is basically an institution here in Gettysburg. They provide tours by bus and with Licensed Battlefield Guides. Before I moved to Gettysburg to open GettysBike, it was tradition for my father and I (and whoever else was along with us) to open the weekend with a double-decker bus tour. You can certainly ride below in the AC and not all of their buses are double-decker, but, in my book, nothing can replace the feeling of having the wind blowing in your hair (or across your barren scalp, if you're bald like me) as you tour the fields. It's like being blasted in the face with history. Are you starting to detect a theme here?

If I'm being honest, my dream was to open another horse tour company here in Gettysburg , but I really only had experience riding horses, which I love, and not caring for them. Plus, who had the money to open that when a very successful one was already in existence? Now, for this recommendation, I'm going to urge you to Google which one to try because it's been many years since I've done a horse tour, so my recommendation would be outdated.
Here's the deal: horseback is a fantastic and closer-to-authentic way to see the fields. Unlike a bike or automobile tour, horses are limited to horse trails that offer a unique view of the battlefield seldom seen by the average tourist. The only down side is you're limited to these trails which limits the sites your can see.  Did I mention you're out in the open AND they utilize Licened Battlefield Guides for their tours?

The best part?

The animal does all the work for you. 
​
Speaking of horses, you can also take horse-drawn carriage rides and tours. Again, more than one company, soooooo...

GettysBike almost  was the company to bring segways to Gettysburg, but, of course, that was ruined by lawyers during contract negotiations and that idea fell by the wayside. That is, until SegTours opened up. Segways are a fun alternative to bikes because the machine does the work for you, allowing you to just enjoy the information, sights and wind on your face.

But, that's not all. SegTours teams you up with a Licensed Guide or an audio recording when one is not available. 

So, of course I'm biased for a few reasons as I pointed out at the start of the artcile. I'm also just right, regardless of bias ;-). 

Look, I get it. You're too old or out of shape or lazy to ride a bike. Maybe it's been too long since you last rode. I know. I've been there and now that I'm back to riding I could kick myself for every stopping. Pizza is delicious, but nothing beats the taste of using your body to move your from one place to another. But, whatever. You can't/won't ride a bike and nothing I say will make you try. Fine...

Then do yourself a favor and see the battlefield in the comfort of your own car: hire a Licensed Battlefield Guide to take you around. Through the visitor center reservation desk or personal recommendations from us, here, at Addressing Gettysburg (matt@addressinggettysburg.com), or directly through their association

"It's easier to get into the CIA than become a Licensed Battlefield Guide and that's why I intend to, er-ah, break the CIA into a million little pieces," President John F. Kennedy famously never said and he was right (had he said it). It is VERY difficult to become a LBG. These men and women really know their stuff and you will too when you hire them to take you on a tour.

Regardless of my bias towards modes of transportation, one thing is indisputable, in my book: a Licensed Battlefield Guide is a MUST on any and every tour you take of Gettysburg. Period. Now, you can make an argument that I'm biased here too because I have quite a few friends and acquaintences who are guides, but only a fool would make that argument. ​

And, hey, open your windows so you can feel the wind in your face.

Let's just get this out in the open before we start having fun: everyone is a tourist, some time, somewhere. All of us. So let us laugh together at some of the things tourists say here at Gettysburg. I'll explain why each question or statement is funny or dunder-headed in italics. The source of these sayings are a mix of firsthand experience, secondhand experience, legend and lore that I just can't believe someone actually said and, well, that's it. Let us begin, in random order.

• "Whose job was it to put up the monuments before the battle?" Evidently, this lady thought that monuments go up before an event. That Civil War generation; they had such foresight!

And a variation on that theme: "wasn't it nice that someone put the monument up so the soldiers would know where to go?

• "Why don't any of the monuments have bullet holes?" Back in 1903, the United States government spent $1.5 million repairing all bullet holes in the monuments "to ensure that future generations will be able to see the monuments as they were before the battle". Actually, that quote is entirely made up. The monuments were, for the most part, erected by the veterans of the battle. They mark the forward-most position their regiment held. In some cases, there's a secondary monument to the primary one, like in the case of the 26th North Carolina, for instance. 

"Can I tie up my boat to the High Water mark?"

• Sigh. There are lakes and streams and creeks and ponds all over Pennsylvania. Many are around Gettysburg. Some run through the battlefield/National Park. None are navigable in the way this man was thinking. "He had to be joking,"  you say. Well, I pressed the source of this gem to think hard and determine if this man was joking. The source really seemed to want to say that the man was joking. But, alas, he couldn't. It's questions like these that make me think that somewhere along the way there was a smart-alec of a guide who came up with these stories and then just spread them around as true. But, then again, I've spoken to many, many tourists, so... yeah.

"Will I find any bullets on the ground?"

• Yes. If you drop one and recover it. Bullets/cannonballs/swords/knives/bayonets/skeletonscan't or bones are most likely still underground around the battlefield/Park. Think about it. Over 100,000 men firing tons of metal for three days-- it can't all be recovered. I've even recently heard of a guide who went exploring through a creek discovering a bullet just laying there amid the pebbles and stones on the creekbed. So, I'm not saying that it can't happen. It's just unlikely and you'd have to be very lucky to stumble upon it. And do you want to know how to take that good luck and turn it into bad luck? It's simple. Take it. Then you'll saddle yourself with fines and--who knows?-- possibly jailtime (not too sure about the legal punishment that comes with relic hunting; all I need to know is that I can get into some deep doo-doo if I take an artifact from the field.). What you should do is just leave it and notify the park service. If you don't know just where you are, look around for a Ranger or Park Police, even a Licensed Battlefield Guide (they wear light blue shirts and gray pants and have this patch and badge). DO NOT TAKE IT!

"Where is the building that Lee surrendered in?"

• I was literally asked this question WHILST WRITING THIS BLOGPOST! As even the novice student of the Battle of Gettysburg knows, in April, 1865, Robert E. Lee said to his lieutenants, "Guys, we can't win this war. So, let's go back to Gettysburg to surrender." But seriously, folks. We should all know that Lee did NOT surrender here at Gettysburg. Where is the building that Lee surrendered in? Why, it's at Appomattox Courthouse...in VIRGINIA. I know, "but history is boring. Who cares about that sh*t?" Well, someone who doesn't want to end up in a blogpost, for one. ;-)

"We just watched the movie Gettysburg. Where did they bury Buster?"

• Ok, I gotta be forgiving here. Buster isn't buried becuase he never died and he never died because he never lived. We get it. [We're a movie culture and, no matter how many times we're told "movies aren't real. Read a book" we never do and keep thinking everything depicted in the movie is true to life. As we discuss in a yet-to-be-released bonus episode featuring author D. Scott Hartwig, the character of "Buster Kilrain" is ficticous. Never existed. In fact, he is the "voice" of "The Killer Angels" author Michael Shaara. He also "damns all gentlemen". 

As you'll find when our podcast is released, while we do take our history seriously, we love it and have a passion for it. Humor is, as it should be, a part of that passion, and, as I pointed out at the start of this post, we are ALL tourists somewhere. 

The number one rule when visiting Gettysburg is: DON'T PANIC.
Ok, you followed the directions and parked in Lot #1 but you can't, for the life of you, find the visitor center even though all indications beforehand lead you to this spot. The last thing you should do at this moment is leave in search of signs of life. Life is just around the corner. Believe me. Breathe deep and repeat the number one rule. 

Now that we've calmed you down, let's turn on our ability to think and problem solve and get you into that Visitor Center! Huzzah!

What can we do to start? How about look around us for signs of a building in the middle of the woods that is massive, looks like a round barn and is painted red. You probably don't see it directly. DON'T PANIC. 

What do you see? Do you see other people? I'll bet you do. Which way are they walking? Are they walking towards the road that you just pulled off of (remeber that road curves around lot 1, so they can be walking in different directions but still be walking towards the road)? Are they walking towards the tree that are opposite the road? Yes?!? Great! Let's follow them. Don't worry. They won't bite. Gather your things (no backpacks) and forward, march! 

Alright, we're making our way towards the sidewalks.

Ah! A Clue! Why, they wouldn't put sidewalks somewhere we don't need to walk. I must be heading in the right direction, you think to yourself. 

Very good. You're learning. Keep walking and look for two tall flag poles. See them? Guess what they're placed at the confluence of? Two separate paths that lead to--where?-- that's right, the Visitor Center. 

By now you should be confident that you're, quite literally, "on the right path". 

Now, as we've acknowledged in a previous blogpost, this isn't entirely your fault. The design of the complex is a bit confusing and the dense forestation makes it so that getting a visual on such a massive building is difficult. So don't beat yourself up over this, for the love of all things Holy. But just in case you're still not getting it (come on, who is that dense?), here are some things to look for once you've passed the two flagpoles. When you spot these things you SHOULD be able to spot the visitor center somewhere directly behind them. 

1. Abraham Lincoln sitting on a bench
2. THE VISITOR CENTER

Head on inside, see the movie and be sure to check out the artifacts. Learn about your history noew that I've just taught you how to find something. 

Your obedient servant, 
Matt