echo62-1 — 17 years ago(October 12, 2008 08:17 PM)

HOLLYWOOD LEGEND NORMAN LLOYD TO SHARE SHOW-BUSINESS MEMORIES AT UNA
FLORENCE, Ala. The University of North Alabama Distinguished Events Series and Pillar of Fire will welcome legendary Hollywood actor, director and producer Norman Lloyd to the UNA campus for two special appearances set for Monday, Oct. 27, and Tuesday, Oct. 28.
The 93-year-old Lloyd is best known to film and television audiences for his roles as Alfred Hitchcocks sinister SABOTEUR (1942), the kindly Dr. Auschlander in the hit medical series ST. ELSEWHERE (1982-88) and the stern headmaster in the Oscar-winning Robin Williams film DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989). Lloyd also served as producer, director and occasional star of the long-running television anthology series ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS and THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR.
Described by fellow actor Karl Malden as the history of our industry up to now, Lloyd will discuss his memorable creative collaborations with Hitchcock, Charles Chaplin, Orson Welles, John Houseman, Jean Renoir, Lewis Milestone, Peter Weir, Martin Scorsese, Stephen Frears and Curtis Hanson during a special program titled The Plummeting Man: A Conversation with Norman Lloyd.
The free event will take place from 7-9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in the Performance Center of the Guillot University Center on the UNA campus. The program moderated by film historian Terry Pace, who teaches English at the university will includes clips from Lloyds career as well as a question-and-answer session with the audience. Afterward, Lloyd will greet the public and sign copies of his 1994 book STAGES OF LIFE IN THEATRE, FILM AND TELEVISION. Books will be available for sale that evening.
Film critic Leonard Maltin has called Lloyd a show-business renaissance man, adding, What a treat to spend time in his company. The New Yorker magazine proclaimed Lloyd a fount of stage and movie lore, full of juice at the age of ninety-three.
At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, Lloyd and special guests James Best and UNA graduate George Lindsey will attend a Performance Center screening of The Jar, an Emmy-nominated 1964 episode of THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR. Based on a Ray Bradbury short story, The Jar was directed by Lloyd and stars the late Pat Buttram (a native of the northwest Alabama town of Addison), Collin Wilcox (best known for her role as Mayella Ewell in TO KILL A MOCKI5b4NGBIRD), James Best, George Lindsey, Slim Pickens, Jane Darwell, William Marshall, Jocelyn Brando and Billy Barty.
I think Im safe in saying, Lloyd explains, that The Jar was Hitchcocks favorite show of the series.
Originally published in the pages of the pulp magazine WEIRD TALES, Bradburys eerie 1944 tale of The Jar deals with a gullible farmer in the Louisiana bayou (played by Buttram in the ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR adaptation) who purchases a mysterious and seemingly supernatural jar from a traveling carnival sideshow. Best-selling horror author Stephen King has cited Bradburys terrifying tale as one of his chief creative influences, noting in his book DANSE MACABRE, Ive never forgotten the effect of The Jar.
Following the Tuesday night screening, Pace will moderate a panel discussion between Jar director Lloyd and actors Best (well known for his roles as guitarist Jim Lindsey in THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane in THE DUKES OF HAZZARD) and Lindsey (best known as Goober in THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and MAYBERRY R.F.D. and host of the Emmy-winning series LIARS & LEGENDS). The three guests will be joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Bradbury (via telephone from his home in Los Angeles) and actress Collin Wilcox Paxton (who will participate in the discussion through a video interview filmed especially for the occasion).
In terms of unfor2000gettable television, The Jar is undoubtedly one of the mediums finest hours, Pace observed. That singular episode of the Hitchcock series still has a profoundly haunting effect on anyone who sees it. Were extremely thrilled that every surviving contributor to that classic television production will be part of this reunion event in one way or another. Were also honored that several members of Pat Buttrams family will be with us that evening. Like George, Pat is one of our areas native sons.
Following the panel discussion, Lloyd, Best and Lindsey will greet the public and sign autographs. Books, photos and commemorative Pillar of Fire posters will be available for sale that evening. Bradbury and Wilcox will pre-sign several items for the occasion.
Admission is free to both events. For more information, call Pillar of Fire at (256) 366-4512, e-mail pillaroffire@bellsouth.net, or call UNA Distinguished Events at (256) 765-4208 or visit www.una.edu.
Terry Pace
pillaroffire@bellsouth.net