New York Adventure Club

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1980555977243

Exactly 100 years ago, the unimaginable happened: alcohol of every kind was effectively banned in America. But for cities like New York City, a little ol' constitutional ban wasn't going to stop people from continuing to have fun — rather than shut down, the city's nightlife simply moved underground (literally and figuratively). This is the story of how illicit drinking spots known as speakeasies were born, and how they not only defined the "Roaring 20s" in New York, but ushered in social changes that are still felt a century later.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the history of speakeasies in New York City, and how the strict men's only drinking clubs of pre-1920s America were replaced with cosmopolitan watering holes where the only rule was to have fun.

Led by Sylvia Laudien-Meo — art historian, museum educator, and NYC tour guide — this virtual journey around NYC's speakeasies will include:

-An overview of the Temperance Movement, from the series of events that led to the 18th Amendment in 1920, to the complex effects it had on NYC's social life, to creative ways people worked around it

-The rise and proliferation of the Speakeasy — while it created new trouble in American society like bootlegging and organized crime, it also paved the way for a burgeoning of gifted entertainers and the women's social liberation movement

-A closer look at some of the most infamous NYC speakeasies , including Lansky's Lounge and Chumley's, larger dance halls like the Stork's Club or 300 Club, and secret beer caves in the Bronx

-How speakeasies kept their operations hush-hush, from quietly transporting booze to their bars, to escape routes and tunnels, to tricks they used to hide their illicit operations in case they were raided

-Suggestions on today's best speakeasies in NYC , both original and revival

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Sylvia — any and all questions about New York's speakeasies are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!

See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week

About Sylvia

Sylvia Laudien-Meo is a freelance Art Historian who works in and around the city in various capacities, specializing on Modern and Contemporary art, with a strong focus on Public Art. She teaches art history at Fairleigh Dickinson University and has been working as a museum educator at MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Jewish Museum for over many years, engaging visitors in conversation based, interactive art experiences of permanent collections and changing exhibitions.

For the Municipal Art Society, UFT, Brandeis Univ., and private clients, she has been touring the city for over 20 years, exploring art and architecture, parks, neighborhoods and history. Working in various different capacities gives her a unique opportunity to make intriguing connections and weave together the complex perspectives that make out the tapestry of our fascinating city.

SLM holds a Masters Degree in Art History (with minors in History and American Studies) from the Joh. Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, as well as a Tourism degree from the EST in Paris France.

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1980868569214

To best appreciate this webinar, we encourage you to first watch the full episode of "Walking Distance" on Pluto TV!
A carousel in motion. A man out of time. A town that may no longer exist — or never changed at all. When The Twilight Zone aired “Walking Distance” on October 30, 1959, it delivered one of the most poignant time-travel stories ever told on television. What does this haunting tale of nostalgia, regret, and unreachable youth reveal about the human condition and the psychological scars of adulthood? Step beyond the veil of memory as we revisit what may be The Twilight Zone’s most personal and profound episode.

Join New York Adventure Club for a retrospective and analysis of The Twilight Zone’s Season 1 episode “Walking Distance” (1959), a melancholy meditation on time, identity, and the impossible yearning to return home — often cited as one of Rod Serling’s most autobiographical works.

Led by esteemed Twilight Zone scholar and author Arlen Schumer, this in-depth episode critique of the TV series he considers "The Father of American Popular Culture" will include:

• An in-depth analysis of “Walking Distance” — how its emotional tone, structure, and visuals elevate it into one of the most celebrated half-hours in television history
• A look at the parallels between this episode and the nightmare sequence in Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life, and how both deal with altered realities and personal reckoning
• Why “Walking Distance” is considered a sister episode to Serling’s own favorite, “A Stop at Willoughby,” and how both explore themes of escapism and dissatisfaction with modern life
• The controversy surrounding Ray Bradbury’s claim that the episode plagiarized one of his own short stories
• An exploration of the episode’s deeply autobiographical roots, reflecting Serling’s personal struggles with success, fame, and the loss of childhood innocence

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Arlen — any and all questions about The Twilight Zone are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Arlen
Arlen Schumer, MFA is one of the foremost historians of comic book art, named by Comic Book Artist magazine in 1998 as "one of the more articulate and enthusiastic advocates of comic book art in America." His coffee table book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, won the Independent Publishers Book Award for best Popular Culture book.
Schumer is also one of comic book art’s most idiosyncratic practitioners, creating award-winning illustrations for the advertising and editorial markets.
Arlen Schumer is also an esteemed Twilight Zone scholar, and an author/designer of the only coffee table art book about the series, Visions from The Twilight Zone.
“One of the country’s pre-eminent authorities on comics and culture.” —Jon Meyerson, Producer, ABC News’ 20/20
“Nobody speaks about comics with more authority, understanding and love than Arlen does. He is to comics what Pauline Kael was to movies.” —Clem Robins, letterer for DC and Marvel Comics

Testimonials From Past Analyzing The Twilight Zone Webinars
"The speaker is wonderful and his insights are fantastic. Liked the isolation theme.... so relevant to now." -Sheryl
"Timely topic. Arlen linked TZ series episodes to events/art/people in the past and had interesting connections to later series and films (and, the past influences on the episodes as well)." -Brent
"I loved all the rich visuals and Arlen's obvious passion for the material. Very informative." -Emily
"Great synthesis of today's events and the messages of the TZ from almost 60 years ago, tied into art and culture of the time. Excellent thesis." -Ron
"The presenter spoke very clearly. Great summaries of the episodes before he showed excerpts. Great interaction through the chat while videos played. Amazing curation of relevant episodes." -Rosalie
"Arlen was an excellent presenter. Very enthusiastic and knowledgable!" -Michael
"As always, Arlen's knowledge and insight. How he seamlessly connected the Twilight Zone episodes highlighted with the themes of loneliness, monotony, isolation, paranoia, fear, which on some level we're feeling or have felt at some point during this quarantine." -Hope
"The examples and videos were really well thought out. Excellent presentation style. His passion for the topic was very evident and contagious." -Len
"Really interesting subject and presented in a very organized way...I thought it was well done and the presenter was excellent" -Janice
"Well organized and very interesting!!" -Eileen
"Topic was interesting, presenter clearly put a lot of time into preparing it" -MK
"Lots of detailed content; interesting connections between episodes; interesting perspective to compare with current lockdown situation" -Alan
"Describing episodes in context of the times. Clarity around Serling being prescient." -Maureen
"EVERYTHING! The hos/presenter Arlen was fantastic--so knowledgeable nd engaging. There was also goo interaction among the attendees, within the chat feature. So glad I caught it! First time particpating." -Althea
"Enthusiasm from host, well thought out content and choice of clips." -Michael
"The speaker’s enthusiasm and love of the subject matter was evident from the start and continued throughout. Well done!" -Samantha
"The presenter was well prepared and very informative. It's clear he liked what he was doing. Looking forward to more in the future" -Jonathan
"Arlen Schumer's vast knowledge and presentation skills to help make a great overview of the subject matter." -Charles
"The presenter had a deep depth of knowledge about TZ and was clearly well versed in the subject matter (and enthusiastic about it)." -Guest
"Presenter's impressive knowledge & insights about pop culture & media history." -Steven
"Excellent graphics quality and knowledgeable presenter" -F
"Fabulous deconstruction of a favorite Twilight Zone episode, lots of clips, aspects of the story I never considered, amazing webinar" -Susan

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
This event is an educational presentation organized by New York Adventure Club and is not affiliated with Rod Serling, his estate, CBS Studios, Paramount Global, or any other associated entities, institutions, or rights holders. Our event is a fan-inspired experience that celebrates the legacy, artistry, and cultural impact of The Twilight Zone. Any references to The Twilight Zone, its episodes, characters, images, or related materials are made solely for educational and commentary purposes, and no official endorsement or sponsorship is implied. The Twilight Zone and all related trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Photo Credit: The Twilight Zone
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1980555991285

Before Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, nearly all shows on Broadway were either revues or silly stories with minimal plots. But that all changed when Oklahoma! premiered in 1943 and proved that musical theater could not only handle darker themes and more complicated issues, but use interwoven dance, dialogue, and songs to advance a narrative and help delineate characters. It's time to explore one of the most significant productions in the history of American musical theater.

Join New York Adventure Club for a deep dive discussion on the fascinating history of the landmark Broadway musical Oklahoma!, from its origins as an obscure 1931 non-musical play to a theatrical heavyweight that catapulted Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein into the most successful composer / lyricist / production team in all of American culture.

Led by award-winning author Will Friedwald, who is widely considered one of the nation's most prolific music writers, our virtual journey surrounding this pioneering theatrical work will include:

• The pre-history of Oklahoma! — the backstory of the 1931 play "Green Grow the Lilacs" and the forces that led Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein to form the most successful collaboration in broadway history
• The elements that made Oklahoma! the biggest hit in Broadway history up until then — running for 2,212 performances from 1943 to 1948, it immediately launched a national tour, regional productions, a London version, and an extremely successful movie adaptation in 1955 (not to mention three full-on Broadway revivals)
• A discussion of the classic songs that you know by heart: "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top," "Kansas City," "People Will Say We're in Love" and more
• A look the casts of the original production and revivals, including Alfred Drake (1943), Shirley Jones (1955), Hugh Jackman (1999), and Ali Stroker (2019)
• Great pop and jazz interpretations of the score by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Blossom Dearie, Jack Jones, Ray Charles, and many others
• **The cultural legacy of *Oklahoma! ***as represented by productions from all over the world, and references to the work from The Simpsons and Watchmen
• An analysis of historical footage of performances and interviews, including a performance by Richard Rodgers himself conducting selections from his best-known score

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Will — any and all questions about Oklahoma! are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Will
Will Friedwald is a featured arts writer for The Wall Street Journal and Vanity Fair, and the award-winning author of ten books on music and popular culture, including the new Straighten Up and Fly Right: The Life and Music of Nat King Cole, as well as A Biographical Guide To The Great Jazz And Pop Singers, Sinatra: The Song Is You, Stardust Melodies, Tony Bennett: The Good Life, Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies, and Jazz Singing. He has written over 600 liner notes for compact discs, received ten Grammy nominations, and appears frequently on television and other documentaries. He is also a consultant and curator for Apple Music.

Testimonials
"Well illustrated with tv and movie scenes." -Declan
"The excellent selection of video clips." -Harold
"The film clips of interviews and various productions of Oklahoma!" -Doug
"Loved the examples from so many productions. I had no idea, and I thought I was familiar with most!" -Barbara
"Knowledgable and enthusiastic presenter, and informative introduction to musical performances. Thank you!" -Fiona
"The explanation of the relationship of other musicals to Oklahoma. Well done and very interesting!" -Jacqueline
"Presented much information about "Oklahoma" that I didn't previously know. Very informative and entertaining event." -Ken
"Loved all the clips Will showed." -Wendy
"Fun, sang along, well presented chat room lively......really enjoyable." -Pam
"All the knowledge that Will has. I have taken several mod Will's webinars and have always am amazed at all the into. I am so.looking forward to.more of these. Wish I had found these earlier, but so happy I found them now." -Laura
"Interesting info. Enjoyed different artists singing songs from show." -Donna
"Wonderful clips! So much entertainment history. And celebrity history, too." -Peggy
"WIll is an amazing presenter and knows his stuff!" -Tom
"The subject matter and hearing about it." -Jean
"The subject matter, presenters insight, historical facts, and videos, especially the two he spliced together to make one." -Cheri
" The wisely-curated mix of clips was delightful!" -Bee
" It was really interesting to hear the music from various performances as well as the history behind the play! The presenter was very knowledgable." -Emily
" Great information. Loved it" -Kenda
" I enjoyed the old clips of the show" -Janet

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
This event is an educational presentation organized by New York Adventure Club and is not affiliated with Rodgers & Hammerstein, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, Concord Theatricals, or any other affiliated rights holders. Our event is a fan-inspired experience celebrating the history, themes, and cultural impact of Oklahoma!. Any references to Oklahoma!, its music, lyrics, characters, or creators are made solely for educational and entertainment purposes, and no official endorsement or sponsorship is implied. Oklahoma! and all related trademarks, music, and intellectual property are the property of their respective owners.
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1980556018366

In the late 19th century, playwright W.S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan revolutionized English theatre with their sharp wit, lively melodies, and satirical storytelling. But who were these two men, and how did their unlikely partnership create some of the most beloved comic operas of all time? It’s time to journey into their topsy-turvy world, where Victorian society was ripe for parody, and operetta would never be the same again.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore how W.S. Gilbert’s sharp wit and Arthur Sullivan’s musical genius combined to create a new style of comic opera — a blend of humor, satire, and melody that still resonates today.

Led by musical historian Jamie Hayes, this in-depth look at the life and legacy of Gilbert & Sullivan will include:

• An introduction to W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, their distinct backgrounds, and how they came together in the 1870s to form a groundbreaking creative partnership
• A look at their most famous works, including The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore, and more
• The role of producer Richard D’Oyly Carte, and how he helped bring their operettas to the world stage with the creation of the Savoy Theatre in 1881
• The rise and fall of their partnership, from their initial successes to infamous disagreements and their eventual split in the 1890s
• The lasting impact of their operettas, from their influence on musical theatre to their cult following across the world today

Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Jamie — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Jamie Hayes
Jamie lives in the UK and has directed many new opera productions, both at home and abroad. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), he worked for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the BBC and the Royal Shakespeare Company. His new opera productions overseas have appeared as far away as Reykjavik, Malta and Melbourne. Jamie was Associate Director on the original production of the hit musical Miss Saigon in the West End and on Broadway.
In 2022 Jamie became an accredited lecturer with The UK Arts Society.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment