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Last updated on Monday, February 11, 2008
(RICHMOND) - It was almost 40 years ago that an explosion started by a natural gas leak and a fire fed by gunpowder in a gun store leveled an entire block of Downtown Richmond.
41 people died and dozens of people were hurt in the blast and the fire. The tragedy is the subject of the documentary titled "1:47." the blast happened at 1:47pm on April 6th, 1968.
IU East English professor Jean Harper and her team interviewed eyewitnesses and survivors and those who worked to rebuild the city after the blast. Harper says a digital animator, sound effects technicians and a music composer are now working on their parts in the documentary.
News film taken by Richmond free lance photographer Bill Kellenbrink less than an hour after the blast will also be included in "1:47."
The documentary premieres at a black-tie affair at IU East on April 4th and will be shown around the area April 5th and 6th.
Harper is also planning to make a DVD of "1:47" for purchase, and it could someday be shown at a film festival and on public television.
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