It was recently reported that the downtown 92nd Street Y Tribeca annex is closing after July 15th, and all classes and events will be moved to the main campus building of the 92nd Street Y, which is located on 92nd an Lexington Avenue. My last series, which will be offered at the 92nd Street Y Tribeca, will be devoted to Bette Davis’ golden years at Warner Brothers. Although she would receive Academy Awards for her roles in Dangerous (1935), and Jezebel (1938), she would continue to fight for her roles, and would be constantly at odds with Studio head Jack Warner. There are accounts of Jack Warner, hearing Bette Davis’ approaching footsteps, which would force him to hide in his office bathroom, and would wait there until she left. In this series, which will be offered in April, we will discuss, and then screen four of Ms. Davis’ most memorable films, produced at Warner Brothers: Jezebel (1938), on April 10th, Dark Victory (1939), on April 16th, The Letter (1940), on April 23rd, and Now Voyager (1942), on April 30h. For more information, please be sure to go to 92Yorg/INSESSION, or call 212-415-5500.

I will be returning to the Port Washington Public Library, on Friday, April 5th, to discuss, and then screen the 1939 John Ford film, Young Mr. Lincoln, starring Henry Fonda as the (then) future President, in his early years. This is part of a Abraham Lincoln exhibit and series of lectures and presentations, being sponsored by LIU:C.W. Post. It is interesting to note that Henry Fonda was reluctant to portray the role of Abraham Lincoln, since he thought it was like playing God. John Ford had to use some colorful lanugage to persuade Fonda into reconsidering, and taking the role of Lincoln. This film would lead to many film collaborations between Fonda and Ford, including The Grapes of Wrath, My Darling Clementine, Fort Apache, and others. This program, which begins at 12:10 at Port Washington Public Library, is part of the library’s “Sandwiched In” lecture series.