The Catskills on the Big and Small Screen
The Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC) presented three virtual programs about the portrayal in TV and film of the Catskills, when it was perhaps the most well-known playground and summer retreat for Yiddish speaking and other Jewish residents from the New York City area. A discussion was led by HMTC’s scholar-in-residence, Dr. Linda Burghardt, who talked about the historical accuracy of the films. She also answered questions from the audience about the Catskills and its’ image in popular memory.
The talk that took place on March 9, 2021, focused on the fictional Lorraine Hotel at the end of the Catskills’ heyday as depicted in the 1987 film “Sweet Lorraine.” This slice-of-life comedy about old friendships and new romance traces the struggle of owner Lillian Garber (Maureen Stapleton) about whether to repair the Catskills landmark or sell it to developers, and the life of her granddaughter (Trini Alvarado) who takes a summer job in the kitchen and falls headlong into a summer romance.
If you missed the program you can watch it now on youtube:
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