Neversink museum shows silent films

CUDDEBACKVILLE, NY — The Neversink Valley Area Museum will sponsor a film program consisting of six silent movies (rated G), directed by D.W. Griffith between 1909 and 1910 and filmed in Cuddebackville, on June 13 beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the Visitors Center in the D&H Canal Park off Route 209. The program will include an introduction by William Rabsey, feature piano accompaniment by Dan Bradley and offer a unique, live, old-time experience for all ages.

The film-making industry actually has its roots in New York City, not Hollywood and thousands of movies were filmed in the tri-state area. Film stars including Mary Pickford and Lillian Gish and directors like the father of American film directing, D.W. Griffith, started their film careers in New York.

William S. Hart, one of the first western movie heroes, was born in Newburgh and many of the early western films were made here. They all worked in Cuddebackville where D. W. Griffith shot many of his movies. Many critics and historians consider the silent film era the greatest era in film making history.

The program includes “The Modern Prodigal” (1910), “1176 or the Hessian Renegades” (1909), “The Mountaineer’s Honor” (1909), “The Broken Doll” (1910), “In Old Kentucky” (1909) and “Comata the Sioux” (1909).

The cost is $3 for non-members and free for members. Seating is limited.

As an added bonus, the exhibits, “Movies Before Hollywood; A Legacy of Film Making in the TriState Area” and “Black Diamonds of the D&H Canal” will be open to the public before and after the show from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. Museum admission is $3, $1.50 for children, free for members.

The Neversink Valley Area Museum is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve, document and interpret the history of the Neversink River, from its beginnings to the present, though exhibitions, educational programs and publications for children and adults and the acquisition, preservation and restoration of artifacts and historic sites.