Historical Society presents 'History in the Headlines'
Tickets are now on sale for "A Celebration of the Golden Age of Hollywood," the fifth annual History in the Headlines dinner, sponsored by the Mount Prospect Historical Society. It will be held at Rob Roy Country Club, 505 E. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights, Saturday, April 16.
The 1930s and 1940s are remembered as Hollywood's Golden Age. During this period, new genres were formed, new stars were born and the studio system rose to mammoth status.
The eight major studios, each known for its distinctive style and stars, collectively produced 95 percent of all American films. More than 7,500 features were released by the studios between 1930 and 1945 to eager audiences.
Stars like Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Shirley Temple and Ingrid Bergman became America's version of royalty as more than 80 million people took in a least one film per week at the height of the cinema's popularity, according to Lindsay Rice, executive director of the historical society.
This year the Mount Prospect Historical Society will re-imagine the days when folks in both small towns and large cities crammed local theatres to see blockbusters such as "The Wizard of Oz," "Gone With the Wind," "The Grapes of Wrath" and even "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
As with the society's four previous History in the Headlines dinners, patrons can choose from two meal options. Those who picture themselves as aspiring actors and actresses, working as extras and taking any role they can get, can choose the $30 "Backlot Canteen" buffet meal of salad, bread, Marsala chicken, penne pasta with marinara sauce and vegetable medley.
On the other hand, those who picture themselves as established stars or movie directors/producers may dine more elegantly. They will want to choose the $75 "Brown Derby" steak dinner including soup, bread, twice-baked potatoes and green beans. Two complimentary bottles of merlot will adorn each "Brown Derby" table.
There will be dessert and a cash bar for everyone with signature cocktails of the era offered.
No matter where you choose to sit, partygoers, who are welcome to dress casually or elegantly and even to wear clothing of the 1930s and 1940s, will be entertained after dinner by "Bette Davis," played by living history actress Leslie Goddard.
"Few actresses in the history of film can rival Bette Davis for longevity and sheer public appeal. In a career that stretched from 1930 to 1988, she appeared in such classics as 'Jezebel,' 'Dark Victory,' 'Now Voyager' and 'All About Eve.'
By 1942, she was the highest paid woman in America and had earned two Academy Awards. She also created new kinds of film heroines: strong women grappling with power, romance, luxury and even violence," says Goddard.
Davis also earned a reputation for being difficult to work with and her personal life was as tempestuous as her life on-screen. Goddard's portrayal is inspired by the book, "Dark Victory," by Ed Sikov.
There will also be a Hollywood trivia competition inserted during Ms. Davis' intermission and a movie-themed raffle.
Tickets are limited and may be reserved individually or in tables of 10. Guests will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets will be sold at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets via PayPal, visit www.mtphist.org or call (847) 392-9006 Tuesday through Thursday during office hours.
All of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Mount Prospect Historical Society's Operating Fund.
The Mount Prospect Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to preserving the history of Mount Prospect, through artifacts, photographs and both oral and written memories of current and former residents and businesspeople.
On its campus, in the heart of the village, the society maintains the 1906 Dietrich Friedrichs house museum and carriage house and an ADA-accessible education center. The society is also in the midst of an adaptive restoration of the 1896 one-room Central School, which was moved to the museum campus in 2008.
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