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.
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
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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. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
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); a different marker also named Chester Springs (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lightfoot Mill (approx. 1.7 miles away);
Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,644 times since then and 65 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. 5. submitted on January 22, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
