The Glory Days of the Catskills

Description

The evening will be a celebration of the glory days of the Catskill Mountains.  The 1986 documentary, Rise and Fall of the Borscht Belt, chronicles the popularity and demise of the summer pilgrimage from New York City to the Catskills once made by a million people each year from the 1920s to the 1960s. Written and directed by Peter Davis.  Starring Joseph Wiseman. 
Following, a short film on the upcoming Catskill Resort Museum will be shown by it’s director Jack Godfrey.  The Catskill Resort Museum will enlighten visitors of all ages and they will be educated about the unique history of the Catskill resort region. The legendary comedians who performed during the glory days of the Catskill resort era will be enshrined in a Comedy Hall of Fame. Many of these comedians and entertainers went on to star in stage, screen and television. The core exhibition will include photographs, videos, film documentaries, music, oral history and numerous artifacts. The principle objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the history of the resorts and the contribution to American culture.
There are few people around who can tell the real story of those classic Catskill days better than Elaine Grossinger Etess, granddaughter of Selig and Malke Grossinger.  Elaine will present the history of Grossinger’s Resort, one of the great hotels of the world in its day.