Mayor's Message: Special Issue - The Hastings Oz Connection
Posted on: September 9, 2019 - 10:09pm
Dear Everyone,
This year is the 80th Anniversary of the iconic film The Wizard of Oz, which was released to critical acclaim in August 1939 and was based on the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (first published in 1900). Here in Hastings-on-Hudson, we have a unique link to the film because it starred two of our residents: Billie Burke who played Glinda the Good Witch and Frank Morgan who played the Wizard (as well as a few other characters).
Already a major star of the stage, Billie was in her mid-20s and single when she bought her home in Hastings-on-Hudson in 1910. Her mother Blanche named it “Burkeley Crest” and it was located where the Burke Estate playing fields are now. After being courted relentlessly, in April 1914 she eloped with Florenz “Flo” Ziegfeld (who was about 15 years her senior), impresario of the enormously popular variety show the Ziegfeld Follies. They had a home in New York City, but both moved to Hastings more or less full-time in 1916 when their daughter Patricia was born. Their opulent lifestyle has been chronicled in many fascinating articles of the Hastings Historian, which is published by the Hastings Historical Society (my favorite is a piece by their daughter that was published in Vol 29, No.2, Spring/Summer 1999 with many intimate details about their life here). The celebrity guests, the boisterous menagerie of animals including a baby elephant, and the exquisite gardens, cars, furnishings, and clothes are all well documented and interesting to read about. But the family’s time here in Hastings was cut short. After losing all their money in the stock market crash of 1929, Billie moved to California with her daughter so she could continue making movies to support the family. Flo stayed in New York but soon became sick with pleurisy and was taken to California by Billie, where he died in 1932. Billie finally sold the Hastings estate in 1940. Billie’s career spanned six decades with roles in more than 80 motion pictures. She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in Merrily We Live (1938), but arguably her most memorable role was as the witch in the pink bubble who assists Dorothy in finally going home. It is hard to believe, but Billie was 54 when she took on the role of Glinda! She died in Los Angeles on May 14, 1970 at the age of 85, and is buried with Flo not too far from here at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, Westchester County.
Frank Morgan (born Francis Wuppermann) was 21 when his family moved to Hastings-on-Hudson in 1911. He was from a wealthy family that produced the famous Angostura-Wuppermann bitters (used in cocktails) and was one of eleven children. The Wuppermann family lived in a house they called Miramonte at 18 Calumet in Riverview Manor. Frank received a degree from Cornell but ended up following his older brother Raphael into theatre. Raphael, or Ralph Morgan as he was known on the stage, was trained as a lawyer but dropped jurisprudence to become an actor and was a founder and first President of the Screen Actors Guild. Frank was a much-beloved American character actor on radio, stage and film. He was known both for his silent movie appearances starting in 1916, and then numerous sound films throughout the 1930s and 1940s (mostly as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer). His most celebrated performance was playing the title role in The Wizard of Oz (he also played Professor Marvel, a gatekeeper, a carriage driver and the doorman in Oz). Frank died of a heart attack on September 18, 1949, at the age of 59, in Beverly Hills, California and is buried in Brooklyn.
Billie and Frank were fascinating people, and this month there will be an opportunity to learn more about their lives here in our Village, and attend events inspired by their most famous film: The Wizard of Oz.
Opening Reception for Art Exhibit Inspired by Oz: September 12th
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An art exhibit, hosted by the Hastings Village Arts Commission and titled, We're Not In Kansas Anymore: Journeys to Places Real and Imagined, is already on display at the Hastings-on-Hudson Village Hall Gallery and it will be available for viewing till November 2. The show is a multimedia exhibit and celebration of art’s ability to transport us to places we’ve experienced or places we’ve only dreamed of. Through a variety of media—painting, photography, mosaics, watercolors and fiber arts—the show highlights individual responses to the question, “Where does your art transport you?” The Opening Reception will be on September 12, from 6 to 8 pm in the Village Hall Gallery. Please come and meet the artists, enjoy some wine and cheese, and this time as a special bonus there will also be jazz!
Lecture About the Life of Billie Burke: September 22nd
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Later in September, Natalie Barry, President of the Hastings Historical Society, will give a special talk titled From Broadway to Broadway: The Magical Life of Billie Burke. Natalie will share details about Billie Burke’s career with special emphasis on her family life in Hastings. The event will be on September 22, from 2 to 4 pm, in the Orr Room of the Hastings Public Library with a reception to follow.
Good Witch Events: October 5th
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On October 5th we will have a variation on the legendary Yellow Brick Road and you will be invited to "Follow The Yellow Balloons" for Oz related events in the Downtown. A number of Oz events have already been planned including:
*The Technicolor Pachyderm. You can pay homage to Billie Burke’s menagerie at Burkeley Crest (and Herman, her baby elephant) by helping to build a papier-mâché replica of him! Thanks to the producers Joanna Prisco, of The Good Witch Coffee Bar, and Bridget McCormick, a museum educator and program developer.
Location: 134 Southside Avenue at the Hastings Train Station, 9 am to 12 pm, weather permitting.
*The Good Witch's Bubble Party. A family-friendly celebration of Glinda's preferred mode of transportation, where families are invited to come make oversized bubbles. There will also be themed refreshments, "cake walks" on the half hour, a musical performance by Amy Lynn Hamlin and other surprises. Thanks to Joanna Prisco of The Good Witch Coffee Bar.
Location: 134 Southside Avenue at the Hastings Train Station, 3 to 5 pm, weather permitting.
*Face painting. Free face painting will be available from 5:30 to 7 pm.
*The Wizard of Oz Sunset Film Screening. An outdoor screening of the film will be presented by the Village of Hastings on Hudson. Bring a blanket and some snacks and enjoy the film in all its Technicolor glory!
Location: Fulton Park adjacent to the Hastings Library, 7 Maple Avenue. Rain location: Orr Room at the Hastings Library, 7:30 pm.
As you follow the yellow balloons, you'll come across a number of more adult-oriented magical offerings thanks to the creativity of our local merchants, for example:
*The Mill will have rainbow cotton candy, there will be Wizard of Oz stickers, and an $8 "Sparkle Like Glinda" cocktail. Who can resist that!
I hear there are more fun ideas in the works and the Village will send out a note with the full range of activities right before October 5th. For same day updates on all of these events: follow the @HastingsArtsCommission on Facebook.
A very special thanks to all the amazing members of the Village Arts Commission and the Hastings Historical Society for finding such fun ways to make history come alive for us! And an extra special shout out to Lisa Oswald, Susan Soriano and Daniel Belasco (HVAC); and Natalie Barry, Jan Clough and Lindsey Jeanne Taylor (HHS).
I hope you’re able to enjoy some of these events and that they inspire you to visit the Hastings Historical Society and become a member. Every time I have a question about the Village, the wonderful team at the Society has been able to provide me with the information I want (however obscure). The Society is located in Draper Park at the Draper Cottage and is open the first Saturday of every month from September to June from 2 to 4 pm (or by appointment by calling 914-478-2249). See HERE for more information.
Downtown: Grand Openings Update
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Here is the information I promised on “Grand Openings” in the Downtown:
* Wild Culture Waffles: Moviehouse Mews, 579 Warburton Avenue,
Miguel and Gaby invite everyone to their “Grand Opening” on September 15th 2019, from 9 am to 5 pm.
* Hudson Line: 541 Warburton Avenue
Bill and Lorna invite all of you to their “Soft Opening” on September 20th (with a grander one to follow!).
* NUR Space: 596 Warburton Avenue
Nuranisa says that the “Grand Opening” will be on Saturday September 28th from 10 am to 5 pm, with a ribbon-cutting at 11 am.
Upcoming Events: Save the Dates
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*Friday Night Live Oktoberfest and Fire Department Demonstrations – Friday October 4 (rain date October 11)
*Fire Department Cornhole Tournament – Saturday October 12, MacEachron Park
*Hastings Halloween Events – October 19, 20 and 31, around the Village
*Hastings Repair Cafe – November 16 at the JHCC, Sponsored by the Hastings Conservation Commission
Do make a point of checking www.destinationhastings.org for an ongoing calendar of what you can do in the downtown.
See you around the Village!
Sincerely,
Nicola Armacost
Mayor