Looking ahead to the Fall of 2012, I will be presenting two film series with lectures, at the 92nd Street Y in Tribeca. Beginning October 2nd, and running on October 9th, 30th, and November 6th, I will be presenting The Dawn Of The Hollywood Musicals. Films in this series will include a special 85th anniversary screening of The Jazz Singer, the first film with sound sequences, starring Al Jolson, Harry Beaumont’s The Broadway Melody, from 1929, and two 1933 musicals: Robert S. Leonard’s Dancing Lady, starring Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Nelson Eddy, the Three Stooges, and Fred Astaire (in his film debut); and lloyd Bacon’s Footlight Parade, featuring the dream like musical numbers of Busby Berkeley. Then, beginning on November 13, and running also on November 20th, 27th, December 4th, and 18th, I will be presenting RKO 1935: The Great Films, which focuses on the milestone films released at the studio in that year: Astaire and Rogers in Mark Sandrich’s Top Hat, John Ford’s The Informer, Ernest Schoesdack and Merian C. Cooper’s Last Days of Pompeii, Lansing C. Holden and Irving Pichel’s She, and George Stevens’ Alice Adams. Registration has just begun for the Fall semester, at 92nd Street Y Tribeca.

In honor of Judy Garland’s 90th birthday this year, I am currently presenting a series, titled Judy Garland at MGM, as part of the Hutton House Lectures, at Long Island University: C.W. Post campus. The main focus of the course is to present film feature examples of how Judy Garland matured as an actress while appearing in musicals produced by the Arthur Freed unit at MGM, between 1942 and 1949. In the series, I have featured For Me And My Gal, the first of three films Garland appeared in with Gene Kelly (his film debut). The following week, we saw Judy in Vincente Minnelli’s Meet Me In St. Louis, released in 1944. Easter Parade, our next film, which Judy co stars with Fred Astaire, was delayed, due to the recent storm here on Long Island. Thus, Easter Parade has been rescheduled for this Friday, July 27th. Since our last film in the series, In The Good Old Summertime, was originally scheduled for that date, I will poll the students, and see what will be the next best day to present In The Good Old Summertime.

I am usually asked where am I appearing next, what course or lecture will I be offering? The following schedule will give you an idea of where I will be appearing during the month of June, 2012

JUNE, 2012

4. Congregation Knesset Israel, Pittsfield, MA: Jewish Composer and the Hollywood Musical: Irving Berlin

6. 92nd Street Y Tribeca: Make Em’ Laugh-The Art of Silent Comedy

7. LIU-C.W. Post: Chasing Rainbows-Tyrone Power and Alice Faye at Fox: In Old Chicago

7. Barry and Florence Jewish Community Center, Oceanside, NY: Jerome Kern and the Hollywood Musical

11. Congregation Knesset Israel, Pittsfield, MA: Jewish Composer And The Hollywood Musical: Jerome Kern

14. LIU-C.W. Post: Chasing Rainbows-Tyrone Power and Alice Faye at Fox: Alexander’s Ragtime Band

18. Congregation Knesset Israel: Jewish Composer And The Hollywood Musical-The Gershwins

20. 92nd Street Y Tribeca: Make Em’ Laugh: Great Comedy Teams

21. LIU-C.W. Post: Chasing Rainbows-Tyrone Power and Alice Faye at Fox: Rose of Washington Square

26. Queens College: Lifelong Learning Summer Film Festival: Partners In Romance-Top Hat

27. 92nd Street Y Tribeca: Make Em’ Laugh-Screwball Comedy

Stay tuned for more lectures throughout the Summer and Fall, 2012!        

During my lecture on These Amazing Shadows, at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, last Sunday, I discussed the century old love affair between us, the audience, and the silver screen. I also discussed the differences in theatre-going, then, and now. Then: You paid your 25 cent, and entered another world: cathedral-palace like structure, with chandliers. You sometimes got a gift: a dish, a souvenier programe. You bought your popcorn for maybe a dime. You sat in a theatre that looked like Radio City Music Hall, or a sultan’s palace, and you were shown a newsreel, coming attractions, a couple of cartoons, short subjects, a travelogue, and then your A feature, and your b feature. You would receive four hours of entertainment, for only a quarter. You could also stay in the theatre all day.  TODAY: You walk into a plain, stark lobby, You walk up to the ticket booth or counter, and you pay your $13.00. Then,  you walk over to the concession counter, and you pay your $10.00 for your small popcorn, and your small diet soda. You are asked if you 1) want to upgrade and pay 25 cents more, and 2) do you want butter with that? YOu say no to both, since that really isn’t butter they are offering. You then settle into your screening room seat. Then, the theatre darkens, and you get possibly three commercials. Then, the previews: each preview sounds the same, with the same percussion (CA-CHUNG!!!!). Then the main feature. At the very end, you are thanked for coming to the theatre, and then  you are kicked out. Overall, you have spent at least $25, and only got a film. No free gifts to take home.     

Presented a very well received lecture and screening of These Amazing Shadows, on Sunday, May 6th, at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library. The documentary, produced in 2011, demonstrates the importance of the National Film Registry, the list of films preserved by the Library of Congress. Each year, since 1989, the Library of Congress selects 25 films, which are preserved for their historical and cultural signifigance. I opened the program by declaring that audiences and films have had a century old love affair: a beautiful friendship, as mentioned in Casablanca. A few attendees were moved to tears, since the film drives home the fact that film represents us: our dreams, where we were, and where we are going.

Singin’ In The Rain turns 60 on April 11th. This date, in 1952, marked the film’s New York release.  To celebrate the release of one of the greatest musicals ever made, I presented a lecture and screening of the film, in the ornate Gold Hall of the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library. Many patrons of the library attended, and many exclaimed how much they love this film. Singin In The Rain is an affirmation of the human spirit. The title number represents a man washing his cares away in the throes of happiness. Although Singin In The Rain deals with a serious moment in film history: the transition from silent to sound films, it is still a glorious celebration of Hollywood and making films. Ten years into his career as a film actor, Gene Kelly, along with Stanley Donen, presented a superbly crafted film of dance and song. Debbie Reynolds will always say that the hardest things in life were child birth and Singin In the Rain. However, she will always admit that she learned everything she knows from the taskmaster, Gene Kelly. And he was that way because the “work” was the most important thing. That is why Gene Kelly made such a strong contribution to dance and musical film.  You can expect that on the film’s 100th anniversary, we will still be singing and dancing in the rain.

On Tuesday, March 27th, my three part series, The Great Jewish Entertainers, came to a close, with a focus on the Apostle of Pep, Eddie Cantor. There were plenty of clips, including Eddie’s Colgate Comedy Hour, where he recreated his Carnegie Hall concert, which is almost like a visual autobiography of Eddie’s life and career. I also exhibited some of the Cantor sheet music from my archives. I even had a special guest: Brian Gari, Eddie’s grandson. Brian is a songwriter in his own right, and has done wonders in preserving the legacy of his grandfather. Brian also added some of some his insight to the class.  A great way to close the series!

This is the week that Kevin Brownlow’s restoration of Abel Gance’s Napoleon sees the light of day, as part of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. The five and a half hour epic, first released in 1927, will have only four screenings at a theatre in Oakland this week. It is being reported that once these four screenings are completed, that will be the last we will see of Gance’s epic film. The cost of presenting, the orchestra (five and half hours of music) is astronomical. I am hoping that someone will come forward (DeNiro, Scorcese, Spielberg?) who will fund a screening event of this film in New York City. This film must not languish in a vault. It must be seen. It must be experienced!

Hutton House Lectures Spring, 2012 semester, at Long Island University: C.W. Post campus, begins the week of March 26th. First course I will be teaching, on five consecutive Mondays, will be Hepburn and Cukor: A Sophisticated Collaboration. Films will include Little Women (1933) on March 26th, Holiday (1938), on April 2nd, The Philadelphia Story (1940), on April 9th, Keeper Of The Flame (1943), on April 16th, and closing with Adam’s Rib (1949), on April 23rd.  For more information, please be sure to call 516-299-2580.