FAMOUS IOWANS * FRIDAY NIGHT MONSTER * LOOKING BACK * Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter * Vol 12 * October 15, 2011

BILL SACKTER IS ONE

OF 'FAMOUS' IOWANS

Bill Sackter is one of the "Famous Iowans" in an online archive created by the Des Moines Register. Bill was added as a "Role model for the handicapped." He's included along with such notable Iowans as Donna Reed, Ronald Reagan, Lillian Russell, Russell & Clara Stover, Annie Wittenmyer and Grant Wood. 

Here's what the entry for Bill says:

Bill Sackter was unfairly placed in an institution for the mentally ill for 44 years, and then inspired the nation as a man trying to regain a normal life. Sackter was born in St. Paul, Minn., the son of Sam and Mary Sackter, Russian immigrants who ran a grocery store. Sackter's father died of a heart attack when the boy was 6, and his mother struggled to keep her family intact. 

Sackter had troubles at school, and in 1920 his mother placed him in the Faribault State School for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic. Sackter was 7, and he never saw his mother or two sisters again. He was diagnosed as retarded, although diagnoses performed decades later would prove his intelligence was near normal. He was never taught to read or write or even how to use a telephone. 

In 1964, when new light was being shed on the treatment of the mentally ill, Sackter was moved to a halfway house and worked odd jobs to support himself. He became a handyman at a country club, where Barry Morrow, a filmmaker, and his wife, Bev, befriended him. Morrow became his guardian, and when he took a post at the University of Iowa, 

Sackter followed him and worked at a coffee shop at the university's School of Social Work. Sackter was named Handicapped Iowan of the Year in 1976, attending a ceremony in Washington, D.C. President Carter gave him special recognition in 1979. 

Sackter's story was told in two television movies. "Bill" was presented in December 1981, with Sackter portrayed by Mickey Rooney in a role that brought him an Emmy Award and Golden Globe. The movie also won an Emmy as outstanding drama special. A sequel, "Bill: On His Own," came out two years later. Sackter died in his sleep in 1983.

You can see this entry about Bill Sackter and the others by going to the Des Moines Register web page (www.desmoinesregister.com) and searching for 'Famous Iowans.' (Note: The Bill entry mistakenly refers to Barry Morrow as 'Bill.')

SINGER/SONGWRITER

HERE ON TUESDAY

Dustin Burley, a singer and songwriter, performs Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the coffee house. 4-7 pm. He plays acoustic guitar, adding a generous helping of looping in each performance. From Western Pennsylvania, he's now on tour of the Midwest and West. Here's more about his music and some of his songs: www.dustinburley.com  Also, here's a video excerpt from a recent performance at a coffee house in Laramie, Wyoming: http://www.youtube.com/dustinburley#p/a/u/2/FXG7MVDKReQ

FOR FRIDAY NIGHT:

SOMETHING SCARY

PATV and Uptown Bill's are hosting a showing of "Milpitas Monster" on Friday, July 21. 10 pm at Uptown Bill's. It's a homegrown classic, a monster movie which began as a high school class project and eventually involved an entire community. The story revolves around a monster who emerges from the city garbage dump and terrorizes the townspeople. It's part of a monster evening organized by PATV. Check the website for details: www.patv.tv. Just in time for Halloween. Don't miss this chance to be frightened (sort of).

OTHER EVENTS

THIS WEEK...

...Spoken Word Open Mic on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 pm. Ten minutes for poetry and readings. (Readers & Writers Group meets at 6 pm)

...Art Night on Thursday, Oct. 20, 6 pm. We'll be making Halloween decorations. 

...Open Mic also on Thursday. Starts at 7 pm. You can sign up any time during the week. You have ten minutes for your performance. 

LIVE MUSIC EVERY

SATURDAY NIGHT

Enjoy live music every Saturday night at the coffee house. 7 pm. Here's a schedule of upcoming performers:

October 22:  Patrick Bloom & Ghosts of Radio

October 29:  Dave Moore

November 5:  Kol Shira

November 12:  (To be announced)

November 19:  Benj & Nicole Upchurch with Stacy Webster

November 26:  (To be announced)

December 3:  The Mayflies

December 10:  Pigs & Clover

December 17:  Bree Nettie & Marty Lentz

NEW CHESS CLUB

MEETS FRIDAYS

Like to play chess? Like to learn to play? Come to Uptown Bill's on Friday afternoon to play chess and talk with others who like to play. 4 pm. All ages and abilities are welcome. Bring a friend.

DRINKING TOO

MUCH COFFEE?

You know you're drinking too much coffee when:

• You think CPR stands for "coffee provides resuscitation.
• You name your cats cream and sugar
• You're offended when people use the word brew to refer to beer

LOOKING BACK IN THE

BILL'S NEWSLETTER

Eight years ago (2003): Another Mother for Peace has come back to life. Donna Reed

and other mothers originally founded this group to oppose the Vietnam War.

Nine years ago (2002): Here and there a song of fall can be heard around campus

Ten years ago (2001): Barry Morrow, Bill Sackter's friend and screenwriter

for the Bill movies, returns to Bill's Coffeeshop this week.

Eleven years ago (2000): Hull House in Chicago had a coffeeshop, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter is a virtual extension of Wild Bill's Coffeeshop and Uptown Bill's Coffee House. Published since 2000, the Newsletter is written by Tom Gilsenan, a former manager of Wild Bill's and now director of Uptown Bill's. You can write to him at tomgilsenan@gmail.com

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is a project of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. It has been a part of campus life in Iowa City for more than 35 years. Located in North Hall, the coffeeshop is open weekdays from 8 am. For more information, check the Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop page on Facebook. You can call the coffeeshop at (319) 335-1281. Donations to support the work of the coffeeshop may be sent to: Bill's Coffeeshop Fund, University of Iowa Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244. Contributions are tax deductible.

Uptown Bill's is the crosstown cousin of Wild Bill's. Now in its 11th year, it includes a bookstore, performance venue and other businesses in addition to a coffeeshop. Located at 730 S. Dubuque, Uptown Bill's is open Monday through Saturday from 7 am. For more information, check the Uptown Bill's website or Facebook page. You can call Uptown Bill's at (319) 339-0401. Donations to support the work of Uptown Bill's may be sent to: Extend the Dream Foundation, Uptown Bill's, 730 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA 52240. Contributions are tax deductible.