Smith: Alfred Hitchcock’s 'Shadow of a Doubt,' filmed locally, back on the big screen in Santa Rosa tonight

Somebody knows, though I do not, when Alfred Hitchcock’s 1943 “Shadow of a Doubt,” was last cast onto a big screen. But we do know when it happens next.

At 6:30 p.m. today, a rare double feature at downtown Santa Rosa’s Roxy Theater kicks off with the beautifully made historical documentary, “Santa Rosa: The Chosen Spot of all the Earth...”

Then comes the return to the screen of “Shadow of a Doubt,” filmed in Santa Rosa in the war-time fall of ’42.

If the movie night goes well, members of the hosting Historical Society of Santa Rosa will get onto bringing in “It’s a Wonderful Life” for the holidays.

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WILL & THE FAB FOUR: Hearing only rockin’ reviews of the merging of Shakespeare and 1960s America in the production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” that concludes this week at Analy High.

If you think you may go, keep in mind there are bonuses to both the Saturday matinee and evening performance: a Beatles singalong with “Mr. Music” Jim Corbett and retired Analy teacher Bob “Cully” Cullinen.

And Thursday evening, drama teacher Starr Hergenrather and the cast will share ticket proceeds with the Mr. Music Foundation, which sustains music education in Sonoma County schools. Directly after that night’s performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be singing to groove by, from the Love Choir.

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THE BIG SURPRISE at the First United Methodist Church on Sunday came right at the end of the service. Choir members called up their unsuspecting director, Doug Albertson.

The choir’s Dick Reichert told the Santa Rosa congregation that prior to the holidays last year, Albertson announced that the Christmas music program would be his 30th, so he wanted to do something grand. He united the choirs of four churches, 108 voices in all, and created a combined choral concert that wowed.

Reichert said the FUMC choir wanted to acknowledge Albertson’s special Christmas program and his 30 years with a gift - “not just a tie, or a book.”

Choir members pooled money and asked composer/lyricist Scott DeTurk to write for Albertson an original piece of music. When they gave it to him Sunday, he could barely speak.

The plan is that Albertson will learn the composition, then teach it to the choir for a performance sometime next year. He said Monday it speaks to the gifts that each individual brings to the universal choir.

He thinks the title is perfect: “The Human Rhapsody.”

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SPEAKING OF GIFTS: At New Vintage Church in Santa Rosa, a few volunteers asked at both services a week ago if fellow church members would consider donating $39.95 to help others beyond the church walls.

The response was robust. This past Sunday, the congregation invited in representatives of the two organizations chosen to receive the money.

Principal Julian Szot appeared on behalf of Santa Rosa’s Luther Burbank School, which needs help to pay for art supplies, playground balls and field trips. And two staffers came from the YWCA Sonoma County, operator of a domestic-violence safe house and a therapeutic child care center.

All beamed astonishment and gratitude as church members presented a check for $9,118.58 to Burbank School and an identical check to the YWCA.

Chris Smith is at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdem?ocrat.com.