Palm Coast Historical Society gives movie fans a Garfield history lesson

With 'The Garfield Movie' playing at Epic Theatres of Palm Coast, the Historical Society brought some memorabilia and provided a photo opp.

By Brent Woronoff
| 5:23 p.m. May 27, 2024

Palm Coast Historical Society's Priscilla Netts, Mery Gable, Margaret Leon (in Garfield costume) and Kathy Reichard-Ellavsky at Epic Theatres of Palm Coast. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

With "The Garfield Movie" playing at Epic Theatres of Palm Coast, the Palm Coast Historical Society took the opportunity on Saturday, May 25, to remind residents that this is not the fictitious feline's first visit to the city.

Soriya Him, Samuel Nay and Sofina Nay with Garfield (Margaret Leon with the Palm Coast Historical Society) at Epic Theatres of Palm Coast. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Children and adults posed with Garfield — actually Margaret Leon dressed in a Garfield costume — in the theater lobby before two matinee showings of the movie. They also learned about the cartoon cat's connection to Palm Coast.

ITT Community Development Corporation signed an exclusive agreement with United Feature Syndicate Inc. and cartoonist Jim Davis in 1985 to use Garfield in promotional material. He was Palm Coast's mascot for four years.

"He is one example of our uniqueness," said Kathy Reichard-Ellavsky, president of the Palm Coast Historical Society. "Palm Coast is the only municipality to have a licensing agreement with Jim Davis."

The Historical Society brought memorabilia, including a Garfield phone which was gifted to new Palm Coast home buyers in the late '80s.

Reichard-Ellavsky said a lot of people don't know about the Palm Coast Historical Society and its museum at Holland Park. Garfield is a way to get the word out, she said, just as he did nearly 40 years ago.

For more information about the Palm Coast Historical Society, go to palmcoasthistory.org or the Palm Coast Historical Society's Facebook page.