The Spirit of Community in Delano is defined by the
Creativity, Resilience, and Community Investment of its people.
Hollywood in Delano & Local Talent
A Simple Plan
Hollywood invaded Delano in 1998 as the film, “A Simple Plan,” starring Billy Bob Thornton, Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, and Laura Dern, was shot in and around the village. Filming was set to begin January 2, but due to a lack of snow the crew was forced to go to Ashland, Wisconsin to film exterior scenes. Parts of the film were also shot in Camp Ihduhapi in Loretto, and at the Moravian church near Victoria, MN.
There were about 65 small Midwestern towns that were being considered as locations for the film, but Delano’s proximity to the Twin Cities helped its being chosen as the location.
Filming in Delano began January 19. Buildings in downtown Delano were given a facelift to create Tippy’s Town Tavern, the Foss Funeral Home, and the Delano Feed and Grain Mill. The Public Library (the Old City Hall) appeared as the Wright County Annex Building, with the interior of the second floor serving as the police station.
The crew came back to Delano in February to reshoot several scenes that had been lost in transport. The Delano Public Works Department had to put snow back on the street, and the city agreed to keep the Christmas decorations up longer than usual because the film takes place around Christmas.
Several residents were cast as extras, and older local cars and trucks from the 70’s and 80’s, rusty and dirty, were requested for the film.
“Area people who appeared as extras in the funeral scene included Laura Murphy, K. J. McDonald, Joe McDonald (as the hearse driver), Dan Reiner, Jerome Andres and Randall Gerhart.”
The film opened in area theaters Friday, January 22, 1999, giving Delano residents the opportunity to see their city on the big screen.
Butch Automatic and the Four Speeds
Popular Local Rock Group
1974 photo
Bob Seliski, Bob Hutter, Dale Graunke, Mike Mathisen, Dave Socher, Brad Bruhn, Dave Pawelk
Butch Automatic and the Four Speeds was formed in 1974 by friends from Delano and Watertown high schools and quickly became one of central and southern Minnesota’s premier rock groups. When Butch Automatic began, its members were music-loving teenagers who looked up to groups like White Sidewalls, The Rockin’ Hollywoods, and Travelin Band Grease Band.
The band’s first members included Bob Hutter, Dave Socher, Mike Mathisen, Bob Seliski, Dale Graunke, Dave Pawelk, and Brad Bruhn. Bob Seliski’s brother, Joe Seliski, joined soon after the band’s start, and vocalist Doreen Shrode was added in the 1990s.
“Butch Automatic was a group of regular guys – with below to average musical talents – who took an idea and worked very hard to create a musical experience that appealed to their audience,” said Joe Seliski in an interview in the Delano Herald Journal, September 3, 2013. “The group added an energy to the music that was not present with other groups.” Dale Graunke added “We were always a theatrical band.”
Butch Automatic has entertained well over half a million people since its inception in 1974, including performing with national acts such as the Monkees, the Trashmen, Tommy and the Shondells, and the Ventures.
Delano Community Theater
The extravagant comedy, “The Womanless Wedding,” was presented January 23 and 24, 1928, in the new high school auditorium, sponsored by the Delano American Legion. Eighty local business and professional men played all the roles. It was reported in the Delano Eagle that “if Delano business institutions suffered a decline for a few days, it was because the proprietors were taking time off to discuss the latest styles in feather fans, high-heeled slippers and evening gowns.” Following the presentation of the rollicking farce, the Eagle stated that the town had been “scoured in search of high-heeled pumps, slippers, party dresses, hats and lingerie to fit the staid businessmen, who blossomed forth as stately matrons, vampires, fashions plates, flappers and country maids.” The play was a huge success, with the performances attended by about 1300 people.
“The Womanless Wedding” was again presented in Delano January 15, 1943, this time sponsored by the Delano Sportsmen’s Club. All of the proceeds from the show were set aside in a Soldiers Homecoming Fund, to give the boys in service a celebration when they returned in victory. Parts of the play were updated to reflect the current times, including ‘Sally Rand,” “Kate Smith.” “Sophie Tucker,” Eleanor Roosevelt,” “Shirley Temple,” “Carmen Miranda,” “Gypsy Rose Lee” and other well-known celebrities as well as the essential bride and groom. It was difficult to tell if the cast or the audience had more fun; Edward Leiter, the ring bearer, carried a ring of Rieder and Schilling’s best bologna on a soft cushion.
Beginning in 1888, Delano residents crowded the village hall to be entertained by traveling theatricals and home talent plays.
In 1971 the old meeting room above the city offices was once again the center of local theatrical farce. That summer the melodrama “Deadwood Dick” was presented, sponsored by the Delano Recreation Department.
It was complete with olios, house rules and a backdrop of hometown advertising.
Directors were Bill and Sandy Horeis.
Presented three days, August 20-22, Sunday’s standing room only audience included Senator Hubert Humphrey.
The Delano Community Education play in 1988 was “Fools,” featuring Becky Iverson, Tina Gray, Brian Delger, Mark Lewis, Dennis Johnston, Chris Koch, Jim Schmidt, Kathy Hegna, Jackie Johnston, and Ken Schiller.
Barb Roy directed the Delano Community Theater production of M*A*S*H in 1989. Some of the cast members were Rick Workman as Father Mulcahy, Al Holimotz as Klinger, Jim Schmidt as Hawkeye, Scott Shoutz as Trapper John, Dennis Johnston as Col. Blake, Dale Weiman as Radar, Becky Iverson as Hot Lips, and Ken Schiller as Duke Forrest.
Jason Schmidt, Becky Iverson, Jim Schmidt, Ken Schiller, and Melissa Windsperger.
Current dramatic group is the Delano Dramatic Company
Delano Community Bands
Delano has always had interest in having a community band. As early as the summer of 1872, a subscription of $50.00 made possible the organization of the “Delano Cornet Band.”
Delano Cornet Band, date unknown
References to the band were made in the Delano Eagle from then through the next several decades.
*In 1874, the Delano Eagle reported that “in the evening, the band having returned from Buffalo, a lively and happy dance was kept up in Lucas Hall until the witching hour of twelve marked the closing of the Nation’s anniversary.”
*The band went to Charles Eppel’s house to celebrate his 55th birthday in 1891: “The Delano Cornet Band was present in uniform and gave the host the first hint of what was going on by striking up a lively air in front of the house.”
*Prof. R. M. Bohn (also a local barber) retired in 1893 from directing the band for several years He was presented a special plaque by the members of the Cornet band in appreciation for his work.
Fourth of July parade, Railroad Avenue in Delano, ca. 1896. “The parade was led by the Delano Cornet Band in their immaculately new white uniforms.”
The band took part in parades, gave concerts, and traveled to other communities to perform.
*In 1896 the Delano Cornet Band was engaged to attend the first celebration of Holy Mass by Rev. Otto Zachman at St. Michael’s church.
But apparently, the band was not always organized. An article in 1908 Eagle stated that Delano needs “a good band, the material is here but only lacking organization.”
In 1921, C.G. Roosen reminisced that “the Delano Cornet Band was a large asset in the social life of the village for many years and with all the good organizations in that line which we have had since – there has never been one better.”
In 1912 the band was called the Delano Military Band. It played at the ground-breaking for the new St. Peter’s Church, and for its dedication in 1913.
Standing: Charles Carlson, Charles Lohmiller, Frank Yantes, Simon Loch, Sam Ash, Chester Orrison, Carl Weddele, Matt Bernick, Jack Lohmiller
Seated: Herbert Probst, Charles Wood, Pete Peterson, Oscar Hildebrandt, Prof. Beck, Frank Schaffer, C. T. Buckley, Rastey Yantes.
Conductor Professor John Beck
There was a bandstand on Railroad Avenue for concerts, that was later moved to Central Park.
The Delano Military Band gave a concert in the new bandstand on August 5, 1915, and every two weeks thereafter.
Unknown name or date or this band in the bandstand.
This is the Delano Band in the late 1920’s, under the leadership of Alvin Weihe. This group played at surrounding towns, and at all the picnics, parades, and celebrations. They also played a day at the State Fair. The band practiced upstairs in the city hall every Monday evening. Alvin Weihe is standing behind the bass drum in the right.
The community band also occasionally played at the local baseball games. During the 1928 tournament the Delano band furnished music during the morning and afternoon games, as noted by the Delano Eagle.
The current Delano Community Band is an inter-generational, all-volunteer concert band. Established in November 2017, band membership has comprised of musicians ranging from strong high school students to those who’ve been performing for over 50 years. This diversity of experience enables the band to offer growth as well as performance opportunities for area musicians. They rehearse for about 90 minutes on Thursday evenings at 7:00p.m. in the Delano High School band room. Their repertoire spans virtually every major genre of western music from traditional concert band fare to renditions of early music, to adaptations of orchestral pieces, to contemporary iterations of popular music and modern works for band.
The content of this page is brought to you by the Delano Spirit of Community Trail Committee in honor of Delano's 150th Anniversary.