Events Coming up on 44th Street

The Small Press Center is hosting events that will appeal to all fans of the Round Table. The Dorothy Parker Society is going to attend them, and then we'll move things to the Algonquin Hotel and it's famous Blue Bar for drinks. It is sponsored by The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York; their building is a short walk to the Gonk.

Here is the rundown:

All events are hosted in the General Society building at 20 West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) in New York City. For more information, please call the Society at 212.840.1841.

To request a brochure for "Labor, Literature and Landmarks", email info@generalsociety.org. Admission is $15 per lecture, $5 for students, and $60 for a series of 5 lectures.

Tuesday, February 10, 2004, 6pm
Thomas Kunkel, Dean, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland
"Harold Ross: The Square Peg at the Round Table"
"How did a tall, gangly, gap-toothed fellow from Colorado become the founding editor of the New Yorker, the nation's most urbane literary magazine? It took some doing and therein lies an irresistible and multifaceted story, one that Kunkel tells with flair" -- Booklist. Pulitzer-nominated biographer of "Genius in Disguise: Harold Ross of the New Yorker", and editor of "Letters from the Editor" examines the role Ross played at the Round Table.
$15 or $5 for students.

Tuesday, March 9, 2004, 6pm
Nat Benchley, Actor and Writer
"Robert Benchley: Benchley Despite Himself"
Taking his cue from his grandfather Robert's style (or anti-style) and tone, Nat Benchley leads his audience on a semi-organized romp through the glory period of literate American humor, from post-World War I New York to Post-World War II Hollywood.
$15 or $5 for students.

Tuesday, April 13, 2004, 6pm
Marion Meade, Biographer
"Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell is This?"
Dorothy Parker, queen of the Round Table, was one of the sharpest and darkest wits America ever produced. With her wisecracking verses and stories, she shocked her contemporaries in the twenties and her humor remains legendary eighty years later. Biographer Marion Meade revisits her lively, highly regarded biography to explore what made (and still makes) this funny woman so funny.
$15 or $5 for students.

Posted by Kevin Fitzpatrick on Thursday, January 15, 2004 at 11:15 AM | Permalink

Benchley Films Unspooling in Beantown

We hear the Robert Benchley Society is at it again with their first event of the new year. Society President David Trumbull writes:

You are invited to an EVENING of Robert BENCHLEY'S Hollywood SHORT SUBJECTS.

WHO: Mr. Chris Morgan of the "We've Come for the Davenport" (Boston) chapter of the Robert Benchley Society invites you to join him for a viewing of Robert Benchley short subjects.

WHAT: An evening of watching Benchley motion pictures and drinks/food/conversation with Benchley fans.

WHEN: Saturday, January 17th, 2004, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Chris Morgan's place in Boston's South End

DETAILS: Bring a bottle and/or dessert to share; we'll order pizza or other food when we get there. For details and to save a space (this event is in a private home and we need a head cound) respond to David or call David on mobile number (617) ATLantic 6004.

MORE DETAILS: Chris has a FABULOUS collection of Benchley movies, including "out of print" selections on Laserdisc and a LARGE screen projection system for viewing. And he has order more titles specially for this event. You'll also get to see Chris's fine collection of Benchley BOOKS, including some RARE EDITIONS seldom seen.

Sounds like a good evening!

Posted by Kevin Fitzpatrick on Thursday, January 08, 2004 at 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments

Acting up in Texas

We got a message from Tom Fuschetto, an English teacher for South Texas Community College in McAllen, Texas. He has an original Dorothy Parker play coming up, and he's holding auditions. He has written and produced 10 plays (all comedies) in South Texas. Writers In Literary Discussion (WILD) is an organization that he started in 1995. Tom says"it promotes creativity: we create our own plays, films, poetry readings, and a literary magazine that comes out three times a year called The Writers' Block."

Got acting chops? Here's the announcement:

Auditions
Where In The Hell is Dorothy Parker?
A WILD (Writers In Literary Discussion) Production
Performance Dates: February 26-28

Audition Dates and Times:
January 13-16
4 PM - 7:30 PM
Room 250
Second Floor, Building G
The Pecan Campus
South Texas Community College
McAllen, TX 78502

All are Welcome!
MALES:
All types, 18 - 70 + years
FEMALES:
All types, 18 - 70+ years

Actors, actresses, technical workers, and others of all ages are needed. The play will perform at 8:00 PM during the evenings of February 26-28. Rehearsals will begin in the early evenings of the Building D Auditorium beginning January 20th.

No Acting Experience Necessary - We are looking for everyday people!

The play, a comedy written and directed by Tom Fuschetto, recreates the Algonquin Round Table of the 1920's: a group of well-regarded witty people who met to create a disastrous play. For more information, contact Tom Fuschetto at 928-3487 or tomf@stcc.cc.tx.us.

Posted by Kevin Fitzpatrick on at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

Back to Court Again for Copyright Battle

In the seemingly neverending copyright dispute between Stuart Silverstein and Penguin Putnam, both sides were back in court today. We're waiting to hear what happened. They were at the US courthouse at 40 Centre Street, Foley Square, a three-judge panel of the US 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on Penguin's appeal of Judge Keenan's injunction and order in Silverstein v Penguin Putnam.

If you want to know more about this, read this Wall Street Journal piece. We hope to hear from Silverstein soon.

Posted by Kevin Fitzpatrick on at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments