DACC student's Joe Cannon documentary premieres Nov. 1

Oct. 21—DANVILLE — If you've lived in the Danville Area for very long, you've heard the name "Uncle" Joe Cannon.

There's even a painting of his face on a downtown building.

But do you know what made Joe Cannon famous, where he came from, or what circumstances shaped his choices?

"Uncle" Joe Cannon was an influential leader of his time spending five decades in the US Congress.

He graced the cover of the first edition of Time Magazine and he has a building named for him in Washington, DC.

This documentary, produced by DACC student Jason Cotten, shares the story of Joe Cannon's life, his rise to dominance as the powerful Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and his influence on Washington.

Premiering Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. in Bremer Theater, this movie explores the life of Joe Cannon from his earliest beginnings in Danville through his time in Washington, DC.

The project was prompted by the dedication and renaming of the Vermilion County Administrative Offices to the Joseph G. Cannon Building, and the unveiling of the Cannon bust.

Cotten produced the film during the summer of 2023 with insight from local attorney and historian Tim Smith, and photos from the Vermilion County Museum.

Both Cotten and Smith will be on hand to discuss the collection of materials and information, and the eventual filming and production of the documentary.

Admission to the presentation is free and open to the public.