The Barber’s Diaries

Video Story Treatment: “The Barber’s Diaries”

Filmmaker and director Kevin Willmott has teamed with Outpost Worldwide – an independent film and HD video production studio – and writer David Henderson to bring a remarkable, very timely and inspiring story to television screens. It’s The Barber’s Diaries, the story of Charles Everett Ellis, who was a barber in Altamont, a small Illinois [...]

Media Coverage of “The Barber’s Diaries”

“Black barber in Altamont focus of documentary,” writes journalist Bill Grimes for the Effingham Daily News.

His story continues …
ALTAMONT — “Forty years ago today, by Jingo. Looking back over these years have brought many revelations. Youthful dreams have failed of materialization and stern realities have replaced them.”
It is doubtful Altamont resident Charles Everett Ellis knew [...]

Photo Gallery

Here is a collection photos of the Ellis family in Altamont, Illinois, in the pre-Great Depression era, and today. We encourage your comments, and invite you to send your photos related to this project.
Special thanks to Mr. Pete Seeger for his storytelling guidance on the project, and to Mr. Alvin Oliver of Altamont, Illinois, for his [...]

From The Barber’s Diaries

“Forty years old today by Jingo. Looking back over those years have brought many revelations. Youthful dreams have failed of materialization and stern realities have replaced them. Many mistakes have been made which are daily exacting their certain toll and are holding back my onward progress but with experiences gained in those years transformed into [...]

“The Barber’s Diaries” Moves Forward

The made-for-television documentary and motion picture project – The Barber’s Diaries – is moving forward at increasing speed. Director and screenwriter Kevin Willmott (”CSA: Confederate States of America” and “Bunker Hill“) has joined the project. Emmy Award winning journalist and writer David Henderson is involved along with Outpost Worldwide, the production company.
The Barber’s [...]

The Barber’s Diaries

In a time before any thought of the Civil Rights Movement, when race riots erupted across the Midwest, many blacks fled to safety and better jobs in northern cities. One man remained with his family in the small Illinois farming town of Altamont. He was the last black man in town, braving the daily [...]