SC Johnson’s ‘Canauba: A Son’s Memoir,’ now

showing to the public
The public can now see a documentary of H.F. Johnson Jr.’s 1935 adventure in search of wax-bearing palm trees in Brazil – a film which also delves into his son Sam Johnson’s strained relationship with his father and his own challenge of alcoholism.
The Golden Rondelle theater in Racine is showing the film, “Carnauba: A Son’s Memoir,” each Friday though Sept. 29.
Since January when the film was first shown to invited audiences in Racine, the SC Johnson Co. has received numerous inquiries from people wanting to see the hour-long movie. The number of requests mounted in May after a May 5 front-page article in The Wall Street Journal featured the film and its impact on viewers.
The film was made to chronicle Sam Johnson’s 1998 re-creation of his father’s adventure to Brazil in search of carnauba palms that provided wax for Johnson Wax products. But rather than becoming just a documentary, the film evolved into a personal memoir as Sam Johnson recounted his difficult relationship with his father, who died in 1978. And it went further, revealing Sam Johnson’s bout with alcoholism and his mother’s problems with alcohol; his father attributed his divorce from his mother on her alcoholism.
The film is showing three times each Friday, noon, 4 and 5:30 p.m. The Golden Rondelle is at 14th and Franklin streets in Racine. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling 262-260-2154.
July 20, 2001 Small Business Times, Milwaukee