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Woodstock Theater Dedicates Auditorium To Harold Ramis

submitted by Rick Bellairs
Credit Jenna Dooley

This is the first year Groundhog Day will go on without Harold Ramis.

More than two decades ago, the famed movie director chose Woodstock, Illinois to shoot his 1993 comedy "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

Ramis died Feb 24. 2014, at the age of 69.

Rick Bellairs is with the Woodstock Groundhog Days Committee. He was also an extra in the movie. Bellairs says, because of Ramis, the Woodstock town square is recognizable around the world.

"He was just such a gracious and genuine guy, and we were so sad at his passing last year that we just thought it was time. It was a little recognition we could do."

This weekend features a number of "Groundhog Day" activities including tours of filming locations and movie showings.

Saturday morning at 10:00, the Woodstock Groundhog Days Committee, in conjunction with Classic Cinemas, will dedicate one of the auditoriums to Harold Ramis.

It will feature a plaque and framed letter (see picture) Ramis sent to the city after filming.

Jenna Dooley has spent her professional career in public radio. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois - Springfield. She returned to Northern Public Radio in DeKalb after several years hosting Morning Edition at WUIS-FM in Springfield. She is a former "Newsfinder of the Year" from the Illinois Associated Press and recipient of NIU's Donald R. Grubb Journalism Alumni Award. She is an active member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and an adjunct instructor at NIU.