Welcome to Long Island’s home of classic Hollywood!
I have enjoyed classic films my entire life. Comedy, mystery, drama, film noir, gangster, horror, western, war and action films have all interested me in the past and continue to do so. Growing up in the 1960’s, these films and television programs amazed and entertained me on my family’s sole black and white television set (remember those?). As I became older, reading many books about Hollywood stars, their films and their stories became a hobby that I still practice today.
High School saw me collecting movie memorabilia, books and autographs of the stars, sometimes by writing to them directly and receiving many responses. It was a great thrill and encouraged me to research more deeply into the lives of the stars and the films that they made. On-line and college Theater courses added to my appreciation of entertainment performers and their skills, as did being a Master of Ceremonies and my own stage and Dinner Theater acting performances, writing, producing and directorial efforts.
And now I am able to bring this life long enthusiasm, knowledge, film memorabilia and the love of classic Hollywood films and its stars to you either in person or by Zoom on-line!
Enjoy a wonderful stroll down memory lane. My interactive, informative and enthusiastic presentations address the personal and professional lives of many classic Hollywood stars and the back story to famous films. Adjunct Professor, actor, writer, Master of Ceremonies, lecturer, producer, director and historian - all of these skills are incorporated into each subject that I present. These interactive Power Point lectures are not only informative, but also fun!
Whether it is a biographical lecture or a talk about a specific film, the subject matter will come to life! Films or film highlights are included with every lecture and they will be made to fit into your specific time period in any location - from a clubhouse to an auditorium or even in a formal classroom setting. Lectures include period music, newspapers, autographs, books and original movie memorabilia displays to put your audience, guests, students or employees in the mood for the lecture of your choice. I provide the laptop (or flash drive, depending on your system), a DVD player and all other equipment to use with your system. If you do not have a projector or large screen television - no problem! I can provide a projector (you provide the blank wall) and a speaker for a slight additional charge. If you want a Zoom lecture, I will just use your Zoom account. This is perfect for people and organizations not located in the New York area.
Questions are always encouraged and audience involvement and enjoyment are my prime concern. I take great pride that after my presentations, audience members will watch additional films, contact related websites for further research or read recommended books based on the topic they have seen. If you are publicizing the lecture in a newsletter or journal, I will also write an announcement for you that will describe the program!
Lectures can be either In-Person or on-line by Zoom. If you are not located in the Long Island, New York area, please consider a Zoom presentation for your target audience. Either way, these lectures will enhance your day!
To schedule a presentation, discuss possible topics for your group or if you just have an entertainment question of a general nature, I can be reached by telephone at (631) 942 - 5237 or by email at wolffman@optonline.net I will always be glad to assist you. Please feel free to contact me at any time!
As an example of what I bring to audiences, here is a statement concerning one of my appearances at a public event -
The Plainview - Old Bethpage Public Library - 12/19/23 - “Holidays with the Honeymooners” - (Seventy nine attendees) - From the Library - “Your presentation was great, as always, and we know it's going to be a good day when one of your lectures is on the calendar. Actually, we had over 100 people yesterday come into the office to pick up tickets for an upcoming show, and I can't tell you how many attended your lecture Tuesday and absolutely loved it. One patron said how impressed she is that you can do the whole lecture unscripted and that it is evident how much you care about the topics you lecture about because you know them so well and the way that you talk about them is so spirited. When something brings you happiness and you share it in the way that you do, you really connect with people and it was evident in all of the kind words the patrons had for you yesterday. Thank you for everything.”
I am always very grateful for the kind words and comments from all of the audience members that attend my presentations. For additional feedback reviews, press articles and other information of interest, please see my “Related News and Stories” and “News and More” tabs.
all programs include period music,movie memorabilia, books and autogrphs for display and examination by the audience
I have been presenting Hollywood lectures for more than fifteen years and have entertained at the following libraries - Amityville, Bellmore, Bethpage, Comsewogue, Commack, Connetquot, East Islip, East Northport, Elmont, Freeport, Island Trees, Islip, Half Hollow Hills, Hampton Library at Bridgehampton, Huntington, Glen Cove, Great Neck, Merrick, Middle Island, Mineola, North Bellmore, Northport, Oceanside, Oyster Bay - East Norwich, Peninsula, Plainview - Old Bethpage, Sachem, Seaford, Shelter Rock, Smithtown, South Huntington, West Islip, West Babylon and West Hempstead. Other venues include Farmingdale State College Senior Learning, educational lectures on appreciation of film and entertainers at the Nassau County Museum of Art for the Frick Estate Lecture series, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Knights of Columbus, corporations, historical societies, as a regular instructor for the various Molloy University MILL program for Continuing Education and Professional Studies groups, clubs, churches, synagogues, Senior Organizations, Homeowner Associations, private and fraternal organizations, the United Federation of Teachers Retirees, private parties and the Suffolk County Veterans with excellent results and a large attendance by patrons. Now, more than ever, audiences need to be entertained and I am more than happy to provide an afternoon or evening of fun and information with more than sixty topics to choose from (with even more on the way!) by Zoom and in-person. From private screenings to public venues, no venue or audience is too large or too small for me to share my knowledge and the fun stories of classic Hollywood.
History
As a public speaker, I have been featured in the Newsday Act 2 section published on 1/1/23 (see the story in full under the “Related News and Stories” tab or follow the attached link address at)-https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/retirement/long-islander-talks-love-of-hollywood-and-its-lore-bynjiwpn . I am a member of the New York State Performers & Programs Database, a regular lecturer for all segments of the Molloy University MILL program for Continuing Education and Professional Studies, a guest lecturer for the Frick Estate Lecture series held at the Nassau County Museum of Art, spoke multiple times for the Farmingdale College Senior Learning program, and was a regular contributor and film critic for the “A & P Podcast Show”. I have also appeared on Lou Telano’s radio program “Streetwise” as a film comedy expert and discussed various films on the W. Zehava Schechter, Attorney at Law podcast (listen in at https://lilawpodcast.podbean.com/ ). I have been conducting lectures discussing films, celebrities and the Sons of the Desert (the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society) for over fifteen years by appearing at various libraries, fraternal and business venues. I am also the Co-Grand Sheik (Co-President) of the Sons of the Desert Chapter on Long Island and a contributor to the New York and national Abbott and Costello Fan Clubs as well as being quoted in Newsday (That’s me with the fez on the right - photo courtesy of Newsday) as a film historian and comedy expert for various articles. (For a sample of how a lecture would be experienced, go to the “Related News and Stories” tab and click on the Youtube link to view my in-person presentation for the Bayshore Historical Society on Charlie Chaplin.)