The Ohio State Reformatory at Mansfield is popular with many visitors because it is the filming location for “The Shawshank Redemption.” Now fans of the popular film can help support preservation and get insider information about the movie by joining a special fan club. Photo courtesy of the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society

Old Prisons

Hollywood has lots of connections with old prisons and jails, but one of the best stories may be that of how the film “The Shawshank Redemption” saved the old Ohio State Reformatory at Mansfield from demolition.

And the film may be the gift that keeps on giving as the nonprofit organization that now offers tours and events at the old prison has launched a fan club for one of the most popular movies of all time — with proceeds going to help preserve the facility.

Saving Mansfield

The old Ohio State Reformatory — sometimes referred to as “Mansfield” because it is located just north of the Ohio city of Mansfield — was the result of a years-long construction project beginning in 1886. According to the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society (MSRP), the first inmates were admitted in 1896. A court order closed the facility in 1990.

According to an article published on the website mobilerving.com, the old facility had been scheduled for demolition, but more or less received a “stay of execution” from the State of Ohio to allow the filming “The Shawshank Redemption,” starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

Next, the preservation society managed to purchase the former prison. Although the exterior walls have since been removed, the famous East Cell Block remains. At six tiers high, it is the largest free-standing steel cell block in the world.

The MRPS offers a number of events and tours at the facility, and has a new exhibit about the filming of “The Shawshank Redemption.”

Shawshank Prison

Shawshank is a fictitious prison in the state of Maine created by author Stephen King. The prison is also referenced in many other novels and stories written by King, as well as in the “Castle Rock” TV series.

Hollywood has lots of connections with old prisons and jails, but one of the best stories may be that of how the film “The Shawshank Redemption” saved the old Ohio State Reformatory at Mansfield from demolition.

And the film may be the gift that keeps on giving as the nonprofit organization that now offers tours and events at the old prison has launched a fan club for one of the most popular movies of all time — with proceeds going to help rehabilitate the facility.

Fan club

Now, according to an article on richlandsource.com, the MSRP has created a fan club for people who love the film — with proceeds going to support ongoing rehabilitation of the former prison.

For as little as $29 per year (discounted by $10 through March 2020), fans can gain access to exclusive online content as well as unlimited self-guided tours of the old prison, a newsletter and other benefits.

You can find more information about the fan club here.

Those who join can expect to receive an email welcoming them as “fish” and hoping they enjoy their time “in stir,” both references to dialogue from the 1984 film.

Other films

The imposing walls of Mansfield have made their way into other films, as well. These include:

  • Harry and Walter Go to New York, 1976, filmed while the prison was still occupied. In her book The Ohio State Reformatory, author Nancy K. Darbey wrote that first-time non-violent prisoners who were close to parole were allowed to be in the film, which included a scene in which explosives were used to knock down a prison gate. According to columnist Timothy Brian McKee of richlandsource.com, the first official Mansfield premiere of the film starring Michael Caine, James Caan, Elliott Gould and Diane Keaton was for inmates at the prison.
  • Tango and Cash, 1989, also filmed while the prison still housed inmates. According to Darbey’s book, stars Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell spent time with prisoners during filming. One scene required a tree to be placed near the 25-foot-tall stone wall, the author reported. The tree was removed immediately after filming so no prisoners could use it for escape.
  • Air Force One, 1997, in which the former reformatory was supposed to be a Russian prison.
  • Fallen Angels, 2006, a horror film.
  • Escape Plan: The Extractors, 2019, in which Ohio prison is cast as a Latvian facility. Stallone stars in this direct-to-video film.

A number of music videos have been filmed at the facility, as have segments for numerous television productions.