Stories like this is why I love NPR.

Melton Barker spent 4 decades traveling the US filming the same movie in any town willing to pay to see their name and residents on the big screen. The film, The Kidnapper’s Foil, loosely centers around the kidnapping of character “Betty  Davis”…but then somehow turns into a town talent show (cue the townies eager to show off of their tap-dancing skills). There are hundreds of versions of The Kidnapper’s Foil dating from the 1930’s to the 70’s.

Caroline Frick, Executive Director of the The Texas Archive of the Moving Image speaks to On the Media about her research and obsession(?) with Melton Barker.

There is no script for the interview, but the 9min audio is well worth it. You can view several versions of The Kidnapper’s Foil and search for your home town here.