Uptown Bill's and Wild Bill's coffee shops are planning a week of special events to mark the 100th birthday of Bill Sackter. Music, films, an art show, and more are scheduled during the week of April 8-13.

Bill Sackter, a native of Minnesota, spent nearly half a century in the old Faribault State Hospital. He came to Iowa City in the early 1970s with Barry and Bev Morrow, a couple he had met in Minneapolis. Barry Morrow had been offered a job at the University of Iowa and Bill ended up coming along.

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop, 321 North Hall on the UI campus, began as an employment opportunity for Sackter. Later, it became a symbol of "abilities awareness" around Iowa and beyond. The coffee shop thrived and became the subject of a 1981 movie called Bill. Starring Mickey Rooney as Sackter, the movie was based on a story written by Barry Morrow. The film brought national fame to Sackter and to the coffee shop.

A second movie, Bill On His Own, followed two years later, again featuring Rooney as Sackter and Dennis Quaid as Barry Morrow. Also in the film: Helen Hunt and Lyle Lovett.

Sackter died in 1983, but the original Wild Bill's coffee shop remained. It continues today in the same location in North Hall on the university campus. Staffed by individuals with disabilities, the coffee shop is a service learning project of the UI School of Social Work.

Uptown Bill's opened its doors in 2001, a spinoff of the original coffee shop which includes not only a coffee shop, but also a music venue, bookstore, vintage shop, and other enterprises. Uptown Bill's is operated by Extend the Dream, a nonprofit organization. Originally located on Gilbert Street, it is now located at 730 S. Dubuque. (The Vintage Shoppe is located at 2203 F. St, in the Towncrest area.)

Sackter Centennial events begin Monday, April 8 with the showing of the documentary about the life and legacy of Sackter. A Friend Indeed: The Bill Sackter Story will be shown at 7 p.m. at both Wild Bill's and Uptown Bill's. Other activities during the week include a Coffee Crawl from Wild Bill's to Uptown Bill's and an art show titled "In the spirit of Bill."

Barry and Bev Morrow will be returning to Iowa for a Friday evening of storytelling and reminiscing about Sackter. Barry Morrow wrote the screenplay for both Bill and Bill On His Own. Barry is probably best-known as the screenwriter for Rainman. This event will be held in the auditorium of the Pappajohn Business Building.

Also expected on Friday evening: Lane Wyrick, director of the documentary film about Sackter and Tom Walz, former head of the UI School of Social Work when Wild Bill's Coffee shop started and founder of Uptown Bill's. Walz is also the author of The Unlikely Celebrity, a biography of Sackter.

A grand finale for the Centennial takes place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 13 at Uptown Bill's. The day includes a different band and a different cake every hour. At noon, all are invited to gather and play "Happy Birthday" on the harmonica. A concluding concert featuring Dave Moore and No Coast starts at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit the Uptown Bill's website or call Uptown Bill's at 319-339-0804 or Wild Bill's at 319-335-1281.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact Jefri Palermo in advance at jefri-palermo@uiowa.edu or 319-335-3750.