Larry Rowlette is not from Cullman, Alabama. He doesn’t even live there. Yet for almost 15 years, this Nashville native has spent an extraordinary amount of time portraying the town’s founder, Colonel Johann G. Cullmann—all without pay. So why does he do it?
The real Colonel Cullmann was an engineer, an avid reader, and a lover of a good time, much like Rowlette himself. He so embodies the role that his wife, when first dating him, had trouble recognizing him when decked out in his Victorian outfit.
Through Rowlette's story, and interviews with locals and historian Annette Laing, the film explores what makes a historical reenactor tick. It's a fascinating look at the passion that drives a man to embody a town's founder and, in doing so, to preserve a community's unique past. The film asks: what makes a man not only portray history, but also become a living part of it?
Key Details
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Duration: 17 minutes
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Festival Selection: 2014 Sidewalk Film Festival
A photo of Larry Rowlette as Colonel Cullmann, meeting with the public at a historical event.
Larry Rowlette being interviewed for the documentary film "Becoming Colonel Cullman."
Filmmaker Laura J. Axelrod interviewing Dr. Annette Lang for the film "Becoming Colonel Cullman."