A medley of animated films from the R.O. Blechman Collection,

including Suzan Pitt's El Doctor, James McMullen's 1914 and

George Griffin's It pains me.   Also to be screened, Fred Mogubub's

The Great Society, a pioneering quick cuts film from the 60s.  

Capping the evening are Ralph Barton's home movies of Charlie

Chaplin, which includes footage of Chaplin directing City Lights.  

For the Friday screening, R. O. Blechman will introduce the films; question-and-answer will follow.

R. O. Blechman's singular drawings have graced 19 New Yorker

covers.   In his long career as an artist, illustrator and animator, he

has created books, films, graphic novels, editorial cartoons, television ads and other work that is wry, beautiful and instantly recognizable. 

His best-known works include the book The Juggler of Our Lady;

TV commercials for Alka Seltzer and Perrier and other products;

and the Emmy Award-winning animated PBS Special Great

Performances: The Soldier's Tale.  Blechman is also a collector of

vintage films  and animations.

On August 27th and 28th, The Ancram Opera House will screen

eleven short films (the longest 20 minutes), little known contemporary and vintage masterworks from the R. O. Blechman Collection.