As the final curtain is about to fall on Ohio Goes to the Movies, a Signature Event of America 250-Ohio, this most ambitious celebration will culminate in grand fashion!
On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the historic Strand Theatre in downtown Delaware will host the Ohio Goes to the Movies Grand Finale, closing an unprecedented 250-day cinematic journey that brought more than 320 free movie screenings to all 88 Ohio counties as part of America 250-Ohio. The statewide initiative has celebrated the remarkable influence Ohioans have had on the American film industry, in front of and behind the camera, through actors, directors, writers, musicians and stories connected to the Buckeye State.
The finale will feature a free screening of the acclaimed 2013 film “42,” the inspiring story of Jackie Robinson and his historic breakthrough as Major League Baseball’s first Black player. Directed by Brian Helgeland, the film stars the late Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Harrison Ford as legendary baseball executive Branch Rickey, whose courage and vision helped forever change America’s pastime. Rickey was born in Stockdale, Ohio, and attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, where he also coached baseball.
Following the film, audiences will experience a once-in-a-lifetime conversation featuring Sidney Carlson White of the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s Museum, Branch Rickey III, grandson of the Hall of Fame executive who signed Robinson, Larry Doby Jr., son of Larry Doby, the first Black player in the American League as a member of the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians), and legendary Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman. The discussion will be moderated by baseball historian Dr. Leslie Heaphy of Kent State University, offering unique personal perspectives on two pioneers who transformed professional sports and American history.
“Our Ohio Goes to the Movies Grand Finale will be the icing on the cake of an unforgettable eight and a half months of continuous Ohio-centric film events in every corner of the state,” said Molly Kreuzman, program director of Ohio Goes to the Movies. “The Strand Theatre, one of the nation’s longest continuously operating movie theaters, provides a fitting setting to conclude a statewide celebration dedicated to preserving Ohio’s cinematic heritage while commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.”
There are three distinct theaters within the Strand Theatre — the Main Theater which seats 230, the First Commonwealth Bank Side Theater which seats 80, and the Brown Family Generations Theater in the Balcony, which seats 130 — and organizers expect tickets to be claimed quickly. Free tickets will be available through the Strand Theatre website with details coming soon.
Event Details
OGTTM Grand Finale
featuring “42”
Wednesday,
October 14, 2026
Strand Theatre
28 E. Winter St.,
Delaware, Ohio 43015
Schedule
5:00 p.m. Doors open
6:00 p.m. Screening of “42”
8:15 p.m. Panel discussion featuring Branch Rickey III, Larry Doby Jr., Marty Brennaman, Sidney Carlson White, moderated by Dr. Leslie Heaphy
Tickets
Free tickets available beginning September 15 through the Strand Theatre website.
For more information about the statewide Ohio Goes to the Movies celebration, visit Ohio Goes to the Movies.
Branch Rickey III
Branch Rickey III is the grandson of Hall of Fame baseball executive Branch Rickey, whose signing of Jackie Robinson forever changed Major League Baseball and American history. A lifelong steward of his family’s legacy, Rickey III has dedicated his career to preserving and sharing the story of leadership, courage and inclusion that began when his grandfather broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947. He is a sought-after speaker on baseball history, ethics and the enduring impact of Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey.
Sidney Carlson White
Sidney Carlson White is the assistant curator at the Jackie Robinson Foundation Museum, where he helps preserve and interpret the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson through exhibitions, artifacts, and educational programming. A historian with a passion for civil rights, sports and American history, White played an integral role in developing the museum’s exhibits, helping visitors understand Robinson’s impact not only as a baseball pioneer but also as a champion for racial, social and economic justice. He regularly leads tours and public programs that connect Robinson’s enduring legacy with contemporary conversations about equality and opportunity.
Larry Doby Jr.
Larry Doby Jr. is the son of Hall of Famer Larry Doby, who became the first Black player in the American League when he joined the Cleveland Indians just weeks after Jackie Robinson’s Major League debut. Doby Jr. continues his father’s legacy by speaking nationally about perseverance, equality and the role sports can play in advancing social progress. His work helps preserve the remarkable story of one of baseball’s most influential pioneers.
Marty Brennaman
Marty Brennaman is one of baseball’s most celebrated broadcasters, serving as the radio voice of the Cincinnati Reds for 46 seasons from 1974 through 2019. A recipient of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award, Brennaman is widely respected for his storytelling, candor and deep knowledge of the game. His career has connected generations of fans to baseball’s greatest moments and its rich history.
Dr. Leslie Heaphy (Moderator)
Dr. Leslie Heaphy is a professor of history at Kent State University at Stark and one of the nation’s leading historians of baseball and the Negro Leagues. She has authored and edited numerous books on baseball history, women in baseball and the Negro Leagues, and is recognized for her scholarship on the intersection of sports and civil rights. Dr. Heaphy frequently appears as a speaker and commentator on baseball history and serves as moderator for the evening’s discussion.