It’s almost Christmas time in Christmas City USA. What better time for Bethlehem native and filmmaker Daniel Roebuck to come home and announce his latest project, a holiday movie to be filmed in the city and other locations in the Lehigh Valley?
Roebuck and the cast and crew of “Saint Nick of Bethlehem” were at Hotel Bethlehem on Monday morning to begin filming a movie that is scheduled to be out by Christmas 2024.
Dressed in red for the Santa Claus role, complete with white beard, Roebuck said he was happy to make a holiday movie about Bethlehem in the Lehigh Valley.
He then gave a tongue-in-cheek critique of the upcoming Hallmark Channel movie, “Miracle in Bethlehem, PA,” that is premiering next month. This made-for-TV film was not filmed in the Lehigh Valley, despite the name.
“Our friends at Hallmark are making a movie called ‘Miracle in Bethlehem, PA,” Roebuck said. “And I was so excited to hear this news and then confused when they said they were shooting it in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I’ve been to Winnipeg, it’s mostly not in the United States. It’s close, but it’s not.
“You know, I love the Hallmark Channel and I watch the Hallmark Channel. I hope to be hired more on Hallmark Channel. So this is no swipe at the Hallmark Channel,” he said. “We may not have been able to beat them to the punch because ‘Miracle in Bethlehem, PA’ is premiering this December. But we’ve drawn you all here together to announce that we are going to make, you probably guessed, ‘Miracle in Winnipeg, Manitoba.’ ”
At that point a fake movie poster with that title and Roebuck dressed as Santa appeared on a screen, drawing laughter from the assembled crowd of film crew, hotel staff and local dignitaries that included Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds and Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tony Iannelli.
“One of the things that we pride ourselves on here in the city of Bethlehem is this sense of community,” Reynolds said, “and Danny is somebody born here in Bethlehem, grew up here in Bethlehem, but has never forgotten what our community is all about.”
Roebuck has worked for more than three decades in Hollywood, starring in hit TV shows such as “Lost” and “Matlock” as well as major films such as “The Fugitive.” In recent years, he has been back in the Valley filming faith-based films, including “Getting Grace,” “Lucky Louie” and “The Hail Mary.”
“Saint Nick of Bethlehem” is a collaboration between Roebuck and Pennsylvania filmmaker Spencer Folmar, who was inspired by the works of Allen Smith, a Clearfield County man who started dressing up as Santa Claus as a way to spread joy after losing family members, including his son, around the holidays.
Folmar said Roebuck reached out to him and recommended making the film in Bethlehem.
“Hopefully, we will bring a classic Christmas movie to life and a film that we’ll be able to enjoy every Christmas season,” said Folmar, who runs the production company Hard Faith. “It’s a film you guys can share with your family.
“This film was inspired by an individual in central Pennsylvania by the name of Allen Smith,” Folmar said. “He unfortunately lost his only son and through his grief process, he became a Santa Claus to the children in the community. He’s still that real Santa Claus today. He brings joy and guests and charity to my hometown, so when I heard this story, I was so moved by Allen’s charity I wanted to tell this real life story and bring it to life and to share it with all of you.”
Besides Hotel Bethlehem, other filming locations for “Saint Nick of Bethlehem” will include the city’s Main Street business district, Christkindlmarkt at SteelStacks, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Fountain Hill, the Kiffle Kitchen Bakery in Bath and the Star of Bethlehem.
Roebuck said Hotel Bethlehem is a perfect backdrop for the film. Scenes being filmed there will include the 1741 on the Terrace Restaurant. It will be the third time the hotel will be used in a Roebuck production, and Managing Partner Bruce Haines said he didn’t need much persuasion when approached again.
“We’re a community hotel, built as a community hotel,” Haines said, “and built as a center of social life in Bethlehem. We’re still at it. That’s what our goal has always been. This is a great way to celebrate that with all of our friends.”
Like Roebuck’s other Lehigh Valley productions, the film will employ many local crewmembers. Besides Roebuck in the title role, the cast also features Cathy Moriarty, Marsha Dietlein Bennett, Duane Whitaker, Timothy E. Goodwin, Stelio Savante and Elias Kemual.
Valley actors who will make appearances include Jennifer Poratta, Kathy Patterson and Keith Willis.
Tammy Roebuck, who is helping her husband Daniel make the film through their production company Magic Bean Entertainment, said the holiday footage will be filmed this week with additional filming early next year.
In addition to Hard Faith and Magic Bean, the Scatter Bros. and the Marlow-Pugnetti Co. are also producing the film.
