The theme for the evening is Hollywood at the Hagley, featuring screenings of industrial films, TV shows, and commercials that showcase well-known faces from the early days of television. Kevin Martin, Curator of the Hagley Library, will introduce the films from Hagley’s extensive motion picture collection. The event will take place at the Screening Room @ 1313 in Wilmington, Delaware, on May 8th, 2025, at 7pm.
Attendees will see rare footage, including:
* Comedian Tim Conway in one of his first TV roles playing Santa Claus in commercials for Ohio Bell’s Princess phone (1960)
* TV show host and game show creator Merv Griffin singing about the history of automobiles in Milestones of Motoring, a film sponsored by the Standard Oil of Ohio (1954)
* Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III on Gilligan’s Island) presenting the TV advertising campaign for GE Light Bulbs (1963)
*Clips of Johnny Carson hosting the Tonight Show during his first year on the air (1962)
Mr. Martin will provide a brief introduction for each film and will also discuss Hagley's efforts to preserve motion picture film.
Purchase advanced tickets at the Screening Room. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Running time for the films: Approx. 60 minutes. Entire program will be approx. 90 minutes.
The Screening Room @ 1313 is located at 1313 N. Market St., Wilmington, Delaware 19801.