Category: Arts & Entertainment

Carrie Fisher On The Star Wars Holiday Special

Ok, this has nothing to do with Columbia County, or even our planet, but I’m a huge Star Wars fan and this is a blog post I wrote for another website but also wanted to share with you.

Ok, this has nothing to do with Columbia County, or even our planet, but I’m a huge Star Wars fan and this is a blog post I wrote for another website but also wanted to share with you.

Enjoy!

Carrie Fisher was recently interviewed by the New York Times’ ArtsBeat and in the interview, she discussed the Star Wars Holiday Special. For anyone unfamiliar with this special, it was a TV holiday special that aired on CBS in 1978 and is, without a doubt, the worst thing to ever legally come out of the Star Wars universe. The holiday in the special is the Wookie celebration of Life Day and the TV fiasco reunited the main players of the 1977 Star Wars movie with some spliced-in footage from that movie and added a handful of television “stars” including Art Carney, Bea (Beatrice) Arthur, Harvey Koreman, Diahann Carroll and musical guest – Jefferson Starship.

In the ArtsBeat interview, Fisher talks about the Holiday Special and how she made Lucas give her a copy, one of the few in existence.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t embed the video of the interview but you can watch it by clicking here. It’s short and definitely worth watching if you are a Star Wars fan.

 

For more local happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent on Facebook, and twitter @CoCoCurrent.

Jeff McKinney is a Realtor in Columbia County, NY. Connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Pinterest.

 

The Crandell Theater

I’ve always been a huge fan of going to the movies, which means leaving my home and traveling to a movie theater to watch a movie as apposed to renting/buying the movie and watching it at home. During high school and college going to the movies was almost a weekly treat but then, shortly after graduating, I moved to the big city–Jersey City–and eventually over the bridge into NYC.

While living there, going to the movies became an ordeal and unless I went in the middle of the week during an obscure time, the theater would be packed with obnoxious, loud assholes who seemed to be under the impression that they were watching the film in their own living rooms, where taking a phone call or having an outdoor-voice conversation with the person next to them was completely acceptable. City crowds ruined the movie experience for me and I rarely went unless I had a few stiff drinks in me first.

Now I live in the bucolic setting of Upstate New York and going to the movies is like traveling back in time thanks to The Crandell Theatre in Chatham.

movies

The Crandell was built in 1926 by Walter S. Crandell, as a vaudeville house, and not much has changed since then. The stage has been replaced with a screen but they still have one of those soda vending machines where the cup drops into an opening and then fills up with the beverage of your choice. There’s one large screen and all the movies are just five bucks!

I saw the new GI Joe flick at the Crandell on Wednesday and I’m pretty sure I saw a girl in a poodle skirt necking with greaser in the balcony. If you ever have the chance to see a movie here, I highly recommend it.

Here is a lovely little film, made by a local film maker, all about the Crandell. Enjoy!

Beach Cottages by Mary Emmerling

I just received Mary Emmerling’s Beach Cottages: At Home by the Sea
by Mary Emmerling.

The book is a great collection of photos of beach homes from southern California to Nantucket Island. Not only are the pictures and accompanying text inspirational design ideas, but the book looks great in any beach-themed room.

Happenings: Free Art Show at Chatham House

From now until March 8, 2008, The Chatham House is hosting a collection of local artists’ works. Paintings and photographs from artists including Jerry Freedner, Barbara Peduzzi and Jim Nelson can be viewed throughout Chatham House’s dining rooms, hallways, cocktail bar and the promenade.

Viewing the art is free so why not stop in for a look and stay for a drink or meal. While there, take note of the painstaking efforts that have restored this historic 1859 hotel.

Details:
The Chatham House is located at 29 Hudson Avenue in Chatham, NY.
The building is open everyday but Tuesday from 11am -9pm
For more info, please visit TheChathamHouse.com or call 518-392-6600.

Happenings: Colonial Theatre


There is a great variety of events taking place at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA, this month.

Friday, Dec 7th 2007
Warren Miller’s PLAYGROUND
6:30pm & 9:30pm $18.50

“Warren Miller’s PLAYGROUND, the largest action sports film on the planet, will kickoff the winter sports season. Presented in stunning high definition, PLAYGROUND chronicles extraordinary action and breathtaking cinematography from Sweden, Japan, Dubai, Alaska and more. Warren Miller premiers are an experience, a party and a phenomenon not to be missed.”

Saturday, Dec 8th 2007
Oldies but Goodies: Are We There Yet?
7:30PM A: $22 B:$15

“Guest Presentation to benefit United Cerebral Palsy.”

Sunday, Dec 9th 2007
The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley
2:00 pm and 4:00 pm $8-$12

Children are encouraged to bring their own Flat Stanley figures to the performance. Several will be chosen to have adventures with Colonial Theatre performers before being mailed home to their original artists. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

Thursday, Dec 13th 2007
Celtic Yuletide
8:00 pm $22-$45

Michael Londra, the Irish Tenor best known as the vocalist of Riverdance, presents an evening of “Christmas from Ireland,” told in song, dance and the classic stories of his youth.

Saturday, Dec 15th 2007
Albany Symphony Orchestra: Memories of the Old Country
7:30pm $27, 3 Concert Series $77

The centerpiece of the December concert is a Klezmer Fantasy for Cello and Orchestra, written by Williamstown composer Stephen Dankner for the brilliant Israeli-American virtuoso, Matt Haimovitz. Matt gained particular attention for his multi-year solo recital tour in unconventional venues, bringing concert music to new listeners (in roadhouses, bars, pizza parlors, etc…). For this work, Dankner imagines the orchestra as a giant Klezmer Band, and pays homage to his own and Haimovitz’s Jewish ancestry. Also on the program, Haimovitz performs Shostakovich’s achingly beautiful Cello Concerto No. 1, and the orchestra performs Bartok’s Rumanian Folk Dances and the Schubert “Unfinished” Symphony.

Friday, Dec 21st 2007
Albany Berkshire Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker
12/21 at 4:30PM & 7:30PM
12/22 at 1:00PM & 4:30PM
$19-$32

The Colonial Theatre is located at 111 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
For more information, call 413-448-8084 or click on thecolonialtheatre.org