Moline, Illinois

Damsels in Distress? Three Women Who Broke the Stereotype in 1920

Movies are full of iconic imagery.  From the majestic vistas of Monument Valley in John Ford’s westerns to the bleak future battles of James Cameron’s imagination, Hollywood has impressed amazing scenes on the human psyche for over one hundred years. Perhaps amongst the most iconic of these is the image of the damsel in distress.

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Sudden Endings: The Tragic Tale of Singleton Gardiner

   Gertrude Woodard was only seventeen years old. Popular and well-liked by many, young Gertrude lived with her parents near Hale, Missouri.    She, just like most people that age, no doubt had her hopes and dreams, of what adventures would fill the years of life that stretched out in front of her. Gertrude might

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Hazel and Helen: Two Cases of Strong-Arm Robbery in 1920’s Moline, Illinois

I grew up watching movies from the 1930’s and 40’s with my mom. While I still enjoyed the newer films coming out, I loved to hear the banter between Nick and Nora Charles, or thrill to Errol Flynn’s daredevil heroics. As I grew older, I began to notice a common thread amongst them – the

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