This World Polio Day awareness program is presented in partnership with the Rotary Club of Clarke County and the Clarke County Library.

About the Film: In 1950, a polio epidemic struck Wytheville, Virginia, leading to widespread fear and drastic measures to prevent the disease's spread. The PBS documentary The Polio Crusade tells the story of the fight against polio through personal accounts, highlighting the efforts of New York lawyer Basil O’Connor, who led a nationwide campaign to fund research and care for patients. This ultimately led to the development of the polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk. The documentary emphasizes the impact of this medical breakthrough and its lasting effect on American philanthropy.

Based in part on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Polio: An American Story by David Oshinsky, The Polio Crusade features interviews with historians, scientists, polio survivors, and the only surviving scientist from the core research team that developed the Salk vaccine, Julius Youngner. “The story of the polio crusade pays tribute to a time when Americans banded together to conquer a terrible disease,” says AMERICAN EXPERIENCE executive producer Mark Samels. “The result was a medical breakthrough that saved countless lives, and had a pervasive impact on American philanthropy that continues to be felt today.”

Date & Time: Thursday, October 24, 2024. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The screening will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m., following a brief presentation about World Polio Day by the Rotary Club of Clarke County.

Ticket Price: This is a FREE event. Registration is encouraged.

Ticket Information: Register online or by calling the Barns of Rose Hill Box Office at 540-955-2004 (12:00 to 3:00 PM – Tuesday through Saturday). When our Box Office is closed, please leave a message.