Film with Producer Lex Gillespie: The Catskills

With a trove of lost and found archival footage and a cast of characters endowed with the gift of gab, The Catskills journeys into the storied mountain getaway north of New York City that served as a refuge for Jewish immigrants fleeing poverty, as well as a lavish playground for affluent Jewish families. As bungalow colony proprietors, guests, waiters, comedians, and beauticians share colorful tales of Catskill farms, boarding houses and luxury resorts, they paint a picture of vibrant American Jewish life and culture in the 20th century.

Director Lex Gillespie is a three-time Peabody Award-winning public radio journalist turned filmmaker and will join us in person for a post film discussion.