Refresh Your Village Memory with Our YouTube Channel
Looking through our past programs, it’s amazing to remember the vast array of topics we’ve explored with our lecturers and guests. Presenters have educated us about the amazing architecture, colorful characters, and transformative social movements central to our neighborhoods. And, thankfully, we’ve filmed the majority of them, to enjoy again and again! Today we’re looking back at some more highlights from our YouTube collection.
A Bohemian Love Affair: Floyd Dell and Edna St. Vincent Millay with Jerri Dell
Jerri Dell, granddaughter of Floyd Dell, joined us at Jefferson Market Library on Sunday, March 5th, 2017 to tell the incredible story of her grandfather’s romance with Edna St. Vincent Millay. Dell prefaces this with the story of producing her book, Blood Too Bright: Floyd Dell Remembers Edna St. Vincent Millay after she discovered first-hand documents from the two writers’ love affair. She explains, “Blood Too Bright is my version of the book that Floyd never actually wrote, but most of the words inside it are his very own words.”
The two lovers met in 1917, not long after Millay graduated from Vassar College and arrived in Greenwich Village. Dell describes the many places where Millay and her grandfather worked, socialized, and ultimately began their affair. These included the Liberal Club/Polly’s Restaurant at 137 MacDougal, The Masses headquarters at 91 Greenwich Avenue (where Floyd was the managing editor), Webster Hall, and the Provincetown Playhouse. Though Floyd and Millay didn’t stay together, the relationship undoubtedly remained with Floyd. Dell shares her grandfather’s telling words: “One feels for Edna Millay a strange mingling of awe and tenderness. No, it cannot be said in prose. There is too much magic in it.”
New York Deco with Tony Robins
On October 18th, 2017 (again at Jefferson Market Library), expert tour guide and author Tony Robins guided us through the breathtaking works of Art Deco architecture throughout our city. Beginning with information about the style’s background and terminology, Robins explores its development from skyscrapers and grand residential buildings to charming garages, diners, hotels, banks, and theaters.
Perhaps the most wonderfully entertaining bit of Robins’ presentation is the photograph of architects dressed as their buildings. But his entire lecture contains such fascinating stories and information about the aspects that make Deco works still so impressive. He highlights their sharp vertical lines, their eye-catching color schemes, and their appeal from all angles.
Carole Teller’s Changing New York: A Close Up on the Photos and the Photographer
True followers of Off the Grid will be well familiar with Carole Teller, a longtime East Villager, artist, and photographer who contributed hundreds of her stellar photographs to our Historic Image Archive. What caught her eye? Were they carefully chosen or happy accidents? And how were the subjects and locations of hundreds of these pictures identified? In this program from January 25, 2018, conducted at the Salmagundi Club, Village Preservation’s Executive Director Andrew Berman sat with Carole for an insightful conversation about her works and inspiration.
During their discussion, Carole speaks lovingly about her muse – the neighborhood that became her home in her early 20’s. She expresses how her skillful compositions stem from a great understanding of the exciting shapes and contrasts of the Village, as well as a deep interest in its people and activity. Throughout this discussion, Carole so humbly recounts her memories of walking around the neighborhood, capturing these interesting sights.
Of course, here at Village Preservation, we don’t just post videos of our public programs. On our YouTube channel, we also have footage from past historic plaque unveilings, rallies, and more. By going to our YouTube page you can subscribe and get links to all new videos when uploaded.
To see our last roundup of highlights from Village Preservation’s YouTube channel, click here.