Author Archives: beth

Gatsby: From the Page to the Silver Screen


1948 Gatsby-PosterSaturday, Nov 14 at 2pm.  Richmondtown Branch Library, 200 Clarke Ave, SINY 10306.

Filmmaker Dean Thompson will examine how several different writers adapted F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” into screenplays, for three different generations. Dean will consider the 1949 film version (starring Alan Ladd as Jay Gatsby), the 1974 version (starring Robert Redford), and the 2013 version (starring Leonardo DiCaprio).

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Talking About Gatsby in New Dorp

Gatsby covers multipleFriday, Nov 13, 2:30pm at New Dorp Branch Library, 309 New Dorp Lane, SINY 10306.

Staten Island OutLOUD invites our community to join the creative and insightful librarians at the New Dorp Branch NYPL to discuss F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”. The New Dorp book discussions are always stimulating, and we look forward to this “Gatsby” event with special interest. Plenty of free parking on the surrounding streets.

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Race, Faith & Sexuality in “The Great Gatsby”

Saturday, Nov 7th, 2pm at Staten Island Arts’ Culture Lounge, in the St. George Ferry Terminal, 1 Richmond Terrace, SINY 10301.  (The Culture Lounge is located along the main concourse, just before you enter the Ferry waiting room.  Look for the orange overhead “Culture Lounge” sign, across from the Tourist Information Booth and the stairs to the SIR train.  The Culture Lounge is next door to the River Dock Cafe.)

Staten Island OutLOUD continues our exploration of the complex issues in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.  Our Nov 7 event features a conversation on Fitzgerald’s examination of 1920’s views on race, anti-Semitism and sexuality.

This event is best for high school students and adults.  Free & open to the public.    Gatsby cover-pale green and text

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Gatsby, the Lighthouse and the Wolves of Wall Street

7Sunday, Nov 1 at 2pm.  Noble Maritime Collection, Building D, 1000 Richmond Terrace, SINY 10301

Staten Island OutLOUD’s Great Gatsby series comes to The Noble Maritime Collection​, whose new Lighthouse exhibit remind us of the green light across the harbor that beckoned Gatsby.
In addition to that romantic element, we’ll consider Gatsby’s darker side: To win Daisy, he had to get rich. Very rich. So he engaged in bond fraud, maybe similar to modern Wall Street shenanigans. We’ll compare Gatsby to some characters in Liar’s Poker, Bonfire of the Vanities, and The Wolf of Wall Street. (Neither a borrower nor a lender be)

Come early & enjoy the marvelous exhibits throughout the Noble Maritime Collection, which was the home of retired mariners for over a century.  The museum opens at 1pm on Sundays.  Co-hosted by Victoria Hallerman & Avi Gvili.Gatsby cover -Green light

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Scott & Zelda’s Speakeasy

Saturday, Oct 31, 7-10pm.  Venue info provided when your RSVP.  RESERVATIONS ESSENTIAL:  LIMITED SPACE!   RSVP by Oct 28 to sioutloud@yahoo.com.

Price of admission:  Beverage or finger-food to share.

Join Scott & Zelda, Staten Island OutLOUD to kick up your heels on All Hallow’s Eve, old sport!  Our favorite Staten Island speakeasy is just like the French Riviera.  Sorta.  (OK, it’s local, but it’s an easier commute than Cannes!)

We’ll feature a Fitzgerald ghost story, music, dancing and Le Jazz Hot.  190s songs by a favorite chanteuse, Joan Moore of Allergic to Bs.Gatsby flapper dancing

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Gatsby: Hit & Run

Saturday, Oct 24, 2pm.  Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave, SINY 10314

For the Halloween season, Staten Island OutLOUD looks at mystery and crime-solving in the 1920s, when The Great Gatsby takes place.  At that time, there were none of the advanced tools available today: No traffic cameras, no GPS, no DNA evidence,  etc.  How did police investigate the hit-and-run in Gatsby, or the smuggling & bond fraud by some of Jay Gatsby’s shady associates?  How do they investigate such crimes today?

For little detectives, we’ll stage a short walk outside where kids can hunt for clues, and maybe find a surprise or two.  Each child can have an evidence bag – A little Halloween seasonal fun for the kids while the adults talk about true-crime-solving.  Greenbelt pathway

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Gatsby and “Absolution”

Scott at desk - YoungFriday, Oct 23, 7pm at Staten Island Academy, 715 Todt Hill Road, SINY 10305

Staten Island OutLOUD hosts a reading & discussion on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” together with excerpts from his short story “Absolution” – One of the “Gatsby quartet” of stories that helped germinate and develop ideas that Fitzgerald incorporated into his novel.

“Absolution” is an unsettling story about Jay Gatsby’s youth.  Can you guess what his story might be, prior to Nick Carraway’s narration?

Hosted by Prof. Edward Fiorelli

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El Gran Gatsby

Sunday Oct 18 at 3pm.  El Centro de Hospitalidad, 1546 Castleton Ave, SINY 10302.   El Gran Gatsby

Staten Island OutLOUD hosts a book giveaway, bilingual reading & conversation on “El Gran Gatsby” in the heart of the Island’s Mexican community.  Bilingual readings for kids, too.  Delicious refreshments for all.

Thanks to Rev. Terry Troia and our neighbors at Project Hospitality for hosting us – and thanks to them for all they do for our community.

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Reading “Gatsby” In Tehran

HuSunday, Oct 11, 4pm.  At the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, 338 Lighthouse Ave, SINY 10306.

A brave and inspiring professor taught “The Great Gatsby” in to her class at the University of Tehran as revolution raged. Some students criticized the book as decadent, while others said it exposed the corruption of the filthy rich. The professor had a clever response; she and her students put the book on trial. In the spirit of Jacques Marchais, the Tibetan Museum’s founder, this event will explore how art and literature can foster cross-cultural dialogue.

Side door to Shrine RoomThis Big Read discussion of “The Great Gatsby” is inspired by a chapter from “Reading Lolita In Tehran” by Azar Nafisi. The author shares her experience teaching Nabokov, Fitzgerald, Henry James and Jane Austen in the Islamic Republic of Iran. A story of courage, discipline, hard work and hope.

Co-hosted by James Anthony Phillips.  James is a freelance writer and a longtime instructor in the ESL and the writing departments of Kingsborough Community College.

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Gatsby and “The Rich Boy”

1921 FSF sketch by Gordon BryantSaturday, Oct 10, at 2pm.  Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave, SINY 10306.

This program is part of Historic Richmond Town’s special Columbus Day event, “Rome Through Richmond Town”, celebrating Italian culture.  Scott and Zelda lived in Rome while he worked on The Great Gatsby, and this event recalls the novel’s Italian connection.

Staten Island OutLOUD hosts a reading & discussion on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” together with excerpts from his short story “The Rich Boy” – One of the “Gatsby quartet” of stories that helped Fitzgeralod germinate and reflect ideas that he incorporated into his novel.     PLEASE NOTE PARKING OPTIONS FOR ROME THRU RICHMOND TOWN ON SAT, OCT 10th:  Valet parking available at Richmond Town, or park for free at SI Mall & take the free shuttle to Historic Richmond Town.  THANKS!

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