West Pikeland Township near Chester Springs in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Good News Productions

1952 - 1974

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 14, 2010

1. Good News Productions Marker

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Good News Productions. In 1952, Good News Productions (GNP) purchased the property and buildings of the village of Yellow Springs and brought the movie industry to this rural community. The primary goal of GNP was to produce religious films in this creative and artistic atmosphere. The movie crew lived in the village's houses and old hotels that were converted to apartments. Two barns served as production studios and the "old hospital" housed the editing facility. Good News Productions produced over 400 films, as well as television and radio shows that focused on the Christian message. A staff of 50 worked together, including production managers, scriptwriters, sound recorders, photographers, animators, cameramen, lighting technicians and the actors. Assistant directors, prop men, makeup men and press representatives worked with director/producer Irvin Shortess Yeaworth, Jr. also known as "Shorty.", The opportunity to produce a serious film for theatrical release came in 1955 when Yeaworth discovered a gooey material produced by Union Carbide and thought it to be usable for a science-fiction piece. Good News Productions shot The Blob in the village and at locations in Phoenixville and Downingtown, PA. They sold it to Paramount Pictures who released it in 1958. It was GNP's first full length feature shot in color. Steve McQueen starred in The Blob. Nationally-known actors Robert Lansing, Lee Ann Merriwether and Patty Duke starred in 4D Man also produced by GNP. Movie production ceased in 1974., Good News Productions used three production facilities. Studio A is the small studio barn across from the Lincoln Building. Studio B housed editing and filming equipment in the Revolutionary War Hospital building on the northern hillside. Good News Productions operated Studio C in the large 19th century barn at the end of the village, where they shot many scenes for The Blob. . This historical marker was erected by Historic Yellow Springs, Inc.. It is in West Pikeland Township near Chester Springs in Chester County Pennsylvania

In 1952, Good News Productions (GNP) purchased the property and buildings of the village of Yellow Springs and brought the movie industry to this rural community. The primary goal of GNP was to produce religious films in this creative and artistic atmosphere. The movie crew lived in the village's houses and old hotels that were converted to apartments. Two barns served as production studios and the "old hospital" housed the editing facility. Good News Productions produced over 400 films, as well as television and radio shows that focused on the Christian message. A staff of 50 worked together, including production managers, scriptwriters, sound recorders, photographers, animators, cameramen, lighting technicians and the actors. Assistant directors, prop men, makeup men and press representatives worked with director/producer Irvin Shortess Yeaworth, Jr. also known as "Shorty."

The opportunity to produce a serious film for theatrical release came in 1955 when Yeaworth discovered a gooey material produced by Union Carbide and thought it to be usable for a science-fiction piece. Good News Productions shot The Blob in the village and

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at locations in Phoenixville and Downingtown, PA. They sold it to Paramount Pictures who released it in 1958. It was GNP's first full length feature shot in color. Steve McQueen starred in The Blob. Nationally-known actors Robert Lansing, Lee Ann Merriwether and Patty Duke starred in 4D Man also produced by GNP. Movie production ceased in 1974.

Good News Productions used three production facilities. Studio A is the small studio barn across from the Lincoln Building. Studio B housed editing and filming equipment in the Revolutionary War Hospital building on the northern hillside. Good News Productions operated Studio C in the large 19th century barn at the end of the village, where they shot many scenes for The Blob.

Erected by Historic Yellow Springs, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.

Location. 40° 6.011′ N, 75° 37.296′ W. Marker is near Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is in West Pikeland Township. Marker is at the intersection of Art School Road and Yellow Springs Road, on the right when traveling west on Art School Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chester Springs PA 19425, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Chester Springs (within shouting distance of this marker);

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 14, 2010

2. Good News Productions Marker

a different marker also named Chester Springs (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lightfoot Mill (approx. 1.7 miles away); Graceanna Lewis (approx. 3.3 miles away); Valley Forge General Hospital (approx. 4.3 miles away); Weaver’s Cottage (approx. 4.3 miles away); Battle of the Clouds (approx. 4.6 miles away); Welkinweir (approx. 4.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chester Springs.

Also see . . .
1. Historic Yellow Springs. (Submitted on August 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. The Blob. IMDB entry for the movie. The Blob went on to be one of the classic in the science-fiction genre. (Submitted on August 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

3. 4D Man. IMDB entry. The other movie was not as successful as the Blob. (Submitted on August 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Studio A Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 14, 2010

3. Studio A Building

Ruins of the Revolutionary War Hospital image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 14, 2010

4. Ruins of the Revolutionary War Hospital

The old hospital building served as Studio B.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,765 times since then and 219 times this year. Last updated on September 20, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. It was the Marker of the Week September 19, 2010. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.