General Motors recently commemorated its 70th anniversary at its assembly plant in Arlington, which the locals refer to as “The American Dream City,” marking an important milestone in the company’s long-standing association with the city. A documentary called “The Heartbeat of Arlington,” which offered an intimate look into the history and impact of the carmaker in the area, was released to mark the milestone. Part documentary, part homage to the local economic mainstay, this video had its official premiere yesterday. According to city authorities, the public can now view the full-length video on the City of Arlington’s YouTube site.
As stated in the City of Arlington’s press release, “General Motors was the catalyst that made Arlington be the first city that exploded and became the DFW region,” according to Victor Vandergriff, the son of the prior mayor. General Motors arrived to Arlington thanks in large part to his father, Tom Vandergriff, who was only 25 years old when he was elected mayor in 1951. With the plant’s original opening in 1954, a lasting effect on the local economy and jobs was initiated. In response to the facility’s impact, Arlington’s city manager, Trey Yelverton, stated, “We used to talk about GM as ‘The Heartbeat of Arlington,’ and I am proud to say that yes, because of all the efforts made into the plant, they still are very much the heartbeat of our community.”
The documentary follows the plant’s development from its founding through a number of technological and economic changes. It highlights the concerted community efforts in the early 1990s to maintain the plant in the area while there were discussions about closing it. Victor Vandergriff said, “I still believe to this day that it took visionary people and political leadership to say, ‘We have to keep it here, but those workers made it happen,'” according to a press release from the City of Arlington.
The documentary uses a variety of interviews, archival video, and in-depth research to fill its approximately 45-minute duration. Longtime workers, historians, and local authorities all contribute their thoughts on the plant’s significant legacy. The plant’s exclusive role in manufacturing each new full-sized SUV in GM’s global lineup, as well as its noteworthy accomplishment of launching the 13 millionth vehicle earlier in the year, are also important highlights. The Arlington Historical Society and the Special Collections of The University of Texas at Arlington were among the North Texas organizations that contributed to the 21-month-long documentary’s creation.
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