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The Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS) continues to have great things happen. The latest excitement is that WGCU has invited MIHS members and the public to a free premiere showing of a film developed on the history of Marco Island.

The film explores the island’s rich history stretching from 1870 when W.T. Collier moved to the island with his family and began farming to 1982 when the U.S. Supreme court rejected a request by Deltona Corporation to review the Army Corps of Engineers decision denying permits to dredge and fill an area of mangroves on the mainland. Also included is Ludlow’s pineapple plantation and packing plant, artifacts dating back to 600 A.D. unearthed by Cushing, a two-story outhouse featured in Robert Ripley’s 1896 “Believe It or Not,” and the Mackle Brother’s Deltona Corporation.

“Island in the Sun: Marco Island,” is a 30-minute television documentary produced by Lynn Frazer and WGCU Public Media and will be shown Jan. 23 at the Marriott Hotel at 7:30 p.m. Hotel management has graciously offered their Island Ballroom which seats approximately 500 people.

Frazer said that in researching the island’s history, she came to realize that “the history of the Island almost sounds fictional. It is truly ‘larger than life.’ ” She also noted that telling the story was made easier by the hundreds of photographs and images that the Marco Island Historical Society made available.

According to Bill Perdichizzi, Capital Campaign co-chair, said free popcorn, candy and a cash bar will be available. Invitations are being sent out by MIHS for WGCU and the Historical Society. The Chamber of Commerce has put the invitation in their newsletter for businesses. The public is invited and can make their reservations through the Chamber of Commerce.

All RSVP’s should be made directly to the Chamber by calling 394-7549. “The seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis. We want to fill that room up,” Perdichizzi said.

The event sounds exciting not only because Islanders will have a chance to see how Marco Island began, but in addition, all the artists in MIHS’s “Arts Interprets History” season have been invited to display all the works they have completed to date plus a few of their individual paintings which will be available for purchase. Nearly two dozen paintings have been developed for the series.

This is probably the only time the entire series of paintings will be in one room with the exception of the month-long exhibit MIHS will be having at the Art league beginning March 4.

The artists involved in the “Arts Interprets History” series include Paul Arsenault, Robert Grupee, Steven Muldoon, Rachel Kennedy, and Jonathan Green.

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If you miss your opportunity to see the premiere showing of the film, you will have another chance. WGCU will air the film Jan. 25 at 8:30 p.m. on local PBS television channel WGCU TV/Cable 30 as part of their “Untold Story” series. The program will also air Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. and Jan 27 at 11 p.m.