CLS: Appalachia — Frank Capra’s Image for Heaven in It’s a Wonderful Life

Included in the very first set of images released in 2022 from the magnificent Webb Telescope is one that was surely familiar to the many fans of the Christmastime movie, "It’s a Wonderful Life." In 1946, director Frank Capra used a special effect based on an image of the galaxy cluster called "Stephan’s Quintet" to portray the Heavenly dialog concerning one George Bailey on his crucial night. There’s an interesting bit of history as to how the image found its way to Capra’s attention, and we’ll explore what it contributes to the No. 1 movie on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 most inspiring films of all time. 

David Ross is a retired minister of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, a longtime amateur astronomer and volunteer at Camp Wanake in Beach City, Ohio. Seeking new ways of helping camp visitors, young and old, explore the wonders of Creation. In 2020, camp leaders began planning for a new telescope and small observatory with Ross’ help. The telescope, dedicated in memory of Rev. Susan Brown (remembered for her delight and enthusiasm working with young people at the camp while still in college) was installed in the Wanake observatory in 2024 and has become a valued part of summer time and retreat programming there. 

His talk, "Directed to the Stars," grew out of a 2019 article he contributed to the Griffith Observer, the newsletter of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. He became a featured speaker that year at the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum Festival held annually in Seneca Falls, New York. He hopes to attend the 80th Anniversary Festival coming up this December when the museum’s new theater, featuring a celestial themed ceiling highlighting Stephan’s Quintet, will debut. Ross served East Ohio churches mainly in the Stark County area with his clergy spouse, Barbara Ross. They are both graduates of Hiram College and Vanderbilt University Divinity School.