Post by Terry Harbin on Jun 6, 2005 19:45:36 GMT -5
A debate in the Ithaca Journal
over that community's commitment
to preserving Rod Serling's legacy,
and to remembering its own film making past.
February 11, 2000
Remembering Movies,
Rod Serling
by E. J. Novak, Guest Columnist
As a 1974 graduate of Ithaca College, I recently
moved back to Ithaca after nearly 25 years as
a network television writer and producer and
magazine editor in New York City.
I served as an instructor of television and radio
last year at Ithaca College and am currently working
as a writer.
My reason for returning to Ithaca is probably not
unlike that of other 're-locatees;' to live out my
middle age amidst the kinder and gentler
atmosphere of my favorite town.
Back in 1973, I wrote, starred in and served as
interviewer for the Ithaca College documentary
"They Made Movies in Ithaca" with Rod Serling,
which attempted to chronicle the story of Ithaca's
early silent movie-making period.
During that same period, I hosted the classic film
series "E.J.'s Flicks" as well as "Sunday," a
magazine format show co--hosted by Mr. Serling
on the old Ceracche station WCIC-TV, Channel 2.
Upon my return to Ithaca almost three years ago,
I was surprised and perplexed to discover just how
little remembrance was being paid to the era of
Ithaca s movie-making days and, especially, to the
legacy of the late Rod Serling, undoubtedly
Ithaca's most famous resident and spokesman.
Aside from a few unheralded presentations by the
DeWitt Historical Society and the personal work of
the late historian Gretchen Sachse, the importance
of Ithaca's film fame has become forgotten.
Infact, if not for the tireless efforts of my friend
Terry Harbin of the Tompkins County Library who
has almost single-handedly spent the last 20 years
of his life unearthing and compiling the history and
artifacts of Ithaca's silent movie past, this subject
would've remained as sorely neglected and buried
as most of the films produced here.
It seems odd that there is more interest in these
subjects in Binghamton and Syracuse than in the
very town they took place in. Perhaps Ithaca's own
version of Hollywood's `Walk of Fame' on The
Commons, with sidewalk stars commemorating
these people might not be a bad idea.
A short while ago, while attending a museum
screening by Mr. Harbin of "The Lottery Man", an
Ithaca-produced comedy of 1916, I spotted a
young, unknown Oliver Hardy (later of Laurel &
Hardy fame) playing a comically rotund female
cook in the fixture.
Previously unknown to Mr. Harbin or any other
film historians worldwide, my discovery of Hardy's
work here in Ithaca created great excitement
among film collectors and historians alike.
Thanks to the interest of The Ithaca Journal's
Joe Wilensky, who reported the discovery in his
"Ticket" section of the Journal on Dec. 23, 1999,
an important part of Ithaca's past and of film
history in general was well documented.
But what of the other luminaries and locals who,
through their film work, put Ithaca "on the map"
as a movie capital more than 90 years ago?
And what of the memory of our friend Rod Serling
who passed away 25 years ago this coming June?
Through the mass syndication of his classic "Twilight
Zone" series and the plethora of documentaries
turned out on him over the past few years, Rod's
fame and importance has grown incredibly, except,
it appears, right here in Ithaca.
The city of Binghamton has numerous exhibits and
organizations bearing Rod Selling's name and
memory and on Feb. 7, WCNY in Syracuse aired
a segment on Ithaca's movie making on its new
daily magazine series "Upstate Mornings."
It seems odd that there is more interest in these
subjects in Binghamton and Syracuse than to the
very town they took place in!
The great silent serials were shot here in Ithaca,
not Syracuse, and Rod Serling, although having
grown up in Binghamton, spent his final years living
out on the lake and teaching and inspiring hundreds
of students like myself in his writing classes at
Ithaca College. Rod loved this town and it is important,
I think, to return the favor.
I believe that some sort of permanent exhibit
commemorating these people and their local
work be considered. Not only for Rod Serling but
also for the Wharton Brothers who produced their
famous silent movie serials here, as well as the
future film superstars they discovered and employed
right here in town, actors like Pearl While,
Lionel Barrymore, Irene Castle, Warner Oland
and of course, Oliver Hardy, writer and director
George Sent, and future Oscar-winning MGM
cinematographer and local Ithacan Ray June.
Perhaps Ithaca's own version of Hollywood's
"Walk of Fame" on The 'Commons, with sidewalk
stars commemorating these people might not be
a bad idea.
In a town where trolley tracks go to nowhere
and an assortment of celestial cemetery
tombstones in memory of Carl Sagan can be
easily implanted, is it not fitting than these
other people, so important to Ithaca's heritage,
be honored as well?
While teaching at Ithaca College last year, l was
dismayed to learn that the Rod Serling archives,
long deposited in the Park Communications building
for use by it students, was being moved up to the
college's library, out of sight and virtually out of mind.
When I asked why this was. being done. a fellow
professor told me it was due to "lack of interest"
Let us hope the is not the case. And if it is, let us
think of a way to correct the mistake now
February 16, 2000
Letter to the Editor
from Gordon C. Webb
Assistant Professor, TV/Radio
Park School of Communications
I'm writing in response to E. J. Novak's recent guest
column in which, among other issues, he lamented
the lack of remembrance of the late Rod Serling.
As a faculty member in the Television-Radio
Department at Ithaca College, I can assure
Mr. Novak that the Rod Serling Archive continues
to be a valuable resource for both students and faculty.
The materials contained therein, including many of
Serling's original typed manuscripts, are of immense
commercial value and needed a more secure home
than was possible in the Park Communications building.
But, although the Serling material was never intended
to be an open collection for use by the public, these
resources are neither "out of sight" nor "out of mind."
In fact, as part of the move to the library building,
Serling's original "Twilight Zone" scripts were microfilmed,
and the collection now has its own web site.
For years, faculty have been making use of scripts and
tapes from the Archive in classes, and the collection
is in heavy demand for various kinds of research such
as my own published study of Serling's work on the
screenplay for "Planet of the Apes"
(July/August 1998 issue of "Creative Screenwriting's journal).
In addition, screenings of "Twilight Zone" and other
Serling works from the Archive have been heavily
attended over the years sponsored by student
organizations like Alpha Epsilon Rho (the National
Broadcasting Society) and the International Radio
and Television Society.
The fact that Carol Serling chose Ithaca College to
house her husband's Archives is undoubtedly a
reflection of the family's love of Ithaca and the
Finger Lakes area; the fact that tomorrow's
writers, produces and directors have the opportunity
to study Rod Serling's work first hand is a tribute
to the memory of one of television's most respected
writers.
over that community's commitment
to preserving Rod Serling's legacy,
and to remembering its own film making past.
February 11, 2000
Remembering Movies,
Rod Serling
by E. J. Novak, Guest Columnist
As a 1974 graduate of Ithaca College, I recently
moved back to Ithaca after nearly 25 years as
a network television writer and producer and
magazine editor in New York City.
I served as an instructor of television and radio
last year at Ithaca College and am currently working
as a writer.
My reason for returning to Ithaca is probably not
unlike that of other 're-locatees;' to live out my
middle age amidst the kinder and gentler
atmosphere of my favorite town.
Back in 1973, I wrote, starred in and served as
interviewer for the Ithaca College documentary
"They Made Movies in Ithaca" with Rod Serling,
which attempted to chronicle the story of Ithaca's
early silent movie-making period.
During that same period, I hosted the classic film
series "E.J.'s Flicks" as well as "Sunday," a
magazine format show co--hosted by Mr. Serling
on the old Ceracche station WCIC-TV, Channel 2.
Upon my return to Ithaca almost three years ago,
I was surprised and perplexed to discover just how
little remembrance was being paid to the era of
Ithaca s movie-making days and, especially, to the
legacy of the late Rod Serling, undoubtedly
Ithaca's most famous resident and spokesman.
Aside from a few unheralded presentations by the
DeWitt Historical Society and the personal work of
the late historian Gretchen Sachse, the importance
of Ithaca's film fame has become forgotten.
Infact, if not for the tireless efforts of my friend
Terry Harbin of the Tompkins County Library who
has almost single-handedly spent the last 20 years
of his life unearthing and compiling the history and
artifacts of Ithaca's silent movie past, this subject
would've remained as sorely neglected and buried
as most of the films produced here.
It seems odd that there is more interest in these
subjects in Binghamton and Syracuse than in the
very town they took place in. Perhaps Ithaca's own
version of Hollywood's `Walk of Fame' on The
Commons, with sidewalk stars commemorating
these people might not be a bad idea.
A short while ago, while attending a museum
screening by Mr. Harbin of "The Lottery Man", an
Ithaca-produced comedy of 1916, I spotted a
young, unknown Oliver Hardy (later of Laurel &
Hardy fame) playing a comically rotund female
cook in the fixture.
Previously unknown to Mr. Harbin or any other
film historians worldwide, my discovery of Hardy's
work here in Ithaca created great excitement
among film collectors and historians alike.
Thanks to the interest of The Ithaca Journal's
Joe Wilensky, who reported the discovery in his
"Ticket" section of the Journal on Dec. 23, 1999,
an important part of Ithaca's past and of film
history in general was well documented.
But what of the other luminaries and locals who,
through their film work, put Ithaca "on the map"
as a movie capital more than 90 years ago?
And what of the memory of our friend Rod Serling
who passed away 25 years ago this coming June?
Through the mass syndication of his classic "Twilight
Zone" series and the plethora of documentaries
turned out on him over the past few years, Rod's
fame and importance has grown incredibly, except,
it appears, right here in Ithaca.
The city of Binghamton has numerous exhibits and
organizations bearing Rod Selling's name and
memory and on Feb. 7, WCNY in Syracuse aired
a segment on Ithaca's movie making on its new
daily magazine series "Upstate Mornings."
It seems odd that there is more interest in these
subjects in Binghamton and Syracuse than to the
very town they took place in!
The great silent serials were shot here in Ithaca,
not Syracuse, and Rod Serling, although having
grown up in Binghamton, spent his final years living
out on the lake and teaching and inspiring hundreds
of students like myself in his writing classes at
Ithaca College. Rod loved this town and it is important,
I think, to return the favor.
I believe that some sort of permanent exhibit
commemorating these people and their local
work be considered. Not only for Rod Serling but
also for the Wharton Brothers who produced their
famous silent movie serials here, as well as the
future film superstars they discovered and employed
right here in town, actors like Pearl While,
Lionel Barrymore, Irene Castle, Warner Oland
and of course, Oliver Hardy, writer and director
George Sent, and future Oscar-winning MGM
cinematographer and local Ithacan Ray June.
Perhaps Ithaca's own version of Hollywood's
"Walk of Fame" on The 'Commons, with sidewalk
stars commemorating these people might not be
a bad idea.
In a town where trolley tracks go to nowhere
and an assortment of celestial cemetery
tombstones in memory of Carl Sagan can be
easily implanted, is it not fitting than these
other people, so important to Ithaca's heritage,
be honored as well?
While teaching at Ithaca College last year, l was
dismayed to learn that the Rod Serling archives,
long deposited in the Park Communications building
for use by it students, was being moved up to the
college's library, out of sight and virtually out of mind.
When I asked why this was. being done. a fellow
professor told me it was due to "lack of interest"
Let us hope the is not the case. And if it is, let us
think of a way to correct the mistake now
February 16, 2000
Letter to the Editor
from Gordon C. Webb
Assistant Professor, TV/Radio
Park School of Communications
I'm writing in response to E. J. Novak's recent guest
column in which, among other issues, he lamented
the lack of remembrance of the late Rod Serling.
As a faculty member in the Television-Radio
Department at Ithaca College, I can assure
Mr. Novak that the Rod Serling Archive continues
to be a valuable resource for both students and faculty.
The materials contained therein, including many of
Serling's original typed manuscripts, are of immense
commercial value and needed a more secure home
than was possible in the Park Communications building.
But, although the Serling material was never intended
to be an open collection for use by the public, these
resources are neither "out of sight" nor "out of mind."
In fact, as part of the move to the library building,
Serling's original "Twilight Zone" scripts were microfilmed,
and the collection now has its own web site.
For years, faculty have been making use of scripts and
tapes from the Archive in classes, and the collection
is in heavy demand for various kinds of research such
as my own published study of Serling's work on the
screenplay for "Planet of the Apes"
(July/August 1998 issue of "Creative Screenwriting's journal).
In addition, screenings of "Twilight Zone" and other
Serling works from the Archive have been heavily
attended over the years sponsored by student
organizations like Alpha Epsilon Rho (the National
Broadcasting Society) and the International Radio
and Television Society.
The fact that Carol Serling chose Ithaca College to
house her husband's Archives is undoubtedly a
reflection of the family's love of Ithaca and the
Finger Lakes area; the fact that tomorrow's
writers, produces and directors have the opportunity
to study Rod Serling's work first hand is a tribute
to the memory of one of television's most respected
writers.