Documentary Duo Film Screening

Renewing the Past: 1100 New York Avenue

First up is the 1991 Renewing the Past documentary tracing the Art Deco Society of Washington’s successful preservation battle to save the 1940 Greyhound Terminal at 1100 New York Avenue, NW. The documentary takes a hard hat look at the process of restoring and incorporating the first 42 feet of the original bus terminal into a newly constructed office tower. The original terminal now serves as the lobby of the office building; the office building’s information desk was adapted from the Greyhound station’s original ticket booth.

Order a poster sized copy of this painting, Deco Reborn, by former ADSW President Richard Striner.

The Middleton Family at the 1939 World’s Fair

The second film is "Westinghouse Presents the Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair." An average American family attends the 1939 World's Fair and learn about the technological wonders to come. The film also features a not too subtle defense of technology and capitalism against the background of the Great Depression.

YouTube features an excerpt from the film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T35A3g_GvSg

You may recognize some members of the Middleton "family." The father is played by Harry Shannon, best remembered for his portrayal as Kane‘s father in Citizen Kane. Mrs. Middleton is played by Ruth Lee, Robert Benchley‘s costar in a series of one-reel comedies. Babs Middleton is portrayed by Marjorie Lord, who played Mrs. Danny Williams on the 1950s Danny Thomas Show. Finally, Bud Middleton is portrayed by child actor Jimmy Lydon. Lydon would gain fame two years later in the recurring role of Henry Aldrich.

Directions: http://www.lib.umd.edu/LAB/directions.html

Rervations required. Space is limited.

For More Information

For more information about this event or to RSVP, send email to Karyn Jarboe, kjarboe@adsw.org, or call 703-864-7070.

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Created November 26, 2008; Modified Sunday, December 28, 2008.