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Mark your calendars for two special evenings with one of Hollywood's last living legends ...

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 Hitch****’s 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 HITCH**** PRESENTS and THE ALFRED HITCH**** HOUR.

Described by fellow actor Karl Malden as “the history of our industry up to now,” Lloyd will discuss his memorable creative collaborations with Hitch****, 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 Lloyd’s 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 HITCH**** 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, best known as Gene Autry's movie sidekick and Mr. Haney on GREEN ACRES), Collin Wilcox (best known for her role as Mayella Ewell in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD), James Best, George Lindsey, Slim Pickens, Jane Darwell, William Marshall, Jocelyn Brando and Billy Barty.

“I think I’m safe in saying,” Lloyd explains, “that ‘The Jar’ was Hitch****’s favorite show of the series.”

Originally published in the pages of the pulp magazine WEIRD TALES, Bradbury’s eerie 1944 tale of “The Jar” deals with a gullible farmer in the Louisiana bayou (played by Buttram in the ALFRED HITCH**** HOUR adaptation) who purchases a mysterious and seemingly supernatural jar from a traveling carnival sideshow. Best-selling horror author Stephen King has cited Bradbury’s terrifying tale as one of his chief creative influences, noting in his book DANSE MACABRE, “I’ve 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 unforgettable television, ‘The Jar’ is undoubtedly one of the medium’s finest hours,” Pace observed. “That singular episode of the Hitch**** series still has a profoundly haunting effect on anyone who sees it. We’re extremely thrilled that every surviving contributor to that classic television production will be part of this reunion event in one way or another. We’re also honored that several members of Pat Buttram’s family will be with us that evening. Like George, Pat is one of our area’s 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 Link.

"God, here and there, makes madness a calling." -- Ray Bradbury
Original Post
Please join UNA Distinguished Events and Pillar of Fire for tonight's screening of "The Jar," the Emmy Award-nominated episode of THE ALFRED HITCH**** HOUR from 1964.

The event begins at 7 p.m. with a screening of the original drama (Hitch****'s favorite episode of his long-running television series) at the UNA Performance Center.

The screening will be followed by a special on-stage reunion and panel discussion featuring the show's director, Norman Lloyd (ST. ELSEWHERE, DEAD POETS SOCIETY), plus cast members George Lindsey (THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, MAYBERRY R.F.D.) and James Best (THE DUKES OF HAZZARD, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW).

The author of the story, Ray Bradbury (FAHRENHEIT 451, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES), will participate in the discussion by telephone from his home in Los Angeles.

Leading actress Collin Wilcox has sent a letter expressing her personal reflections for the occasion. The "Jar" episode also starred the late Pat Buttram, an Alabama native best known for his roles as Gene Autry's sidekick and as Mr. Haney on the long-running sitcom GREEN ACRES.

"The Jar," based on a Bradbury story first published in WEIRD TALES magazine in 1944, is a mysterious, eerie and macabre tale of terror that's perfect for the Halloween season.

We hope to see you there.

Terry Pace
pillaroffire@bellsouth.net

“God, here and there, makes madness a calling.” – Ray Bradbury

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