For the past seven years, Dave Filipi, film and video curator at Columbus' Wexner Center for the Arts, has hosted a program of archival baseball footage at the Cleveland Museum of Art (11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org/film). This year's program, Dave Filipi Presents Rare Films From the Baseball Hall of Fame, screens at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2. One of the clips includes scenes from the 1954 World Series, when the Indians lost to the New York Giants.
"There's good footage of the [Giants'] Polo Grounds, which was a historic but unusual field because of its dimensions," says Filipi. "It was short down the lines. A pinch hitter named Dusty Rhodes got big hit after big hit, and in one game, he hit this short home run down the right field line. In any other ballpark, it would have been a fly ball, but there's this great camera angle that shows how short it was."
Other highlights include excerpts from the 30-minute documentary Baseball vs. Drugs and a clip of Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith celebrating his 85th birthday with J. Edgar Hoover. In another clip, Babe Ruth plays catch with a young boy. "I was actually unsure whether there would be enough to do a program of all-new material," says Filipi. "I'm sure they have more material at the Hall, but it's a matter of it being identified and catalogued and re-digitizing it. I imagine they have boxes and boxes of old film." Tickets to the screening are $8.50.
Shaker Square Cinemas (13116 Shaker Square) and the Capitol Theatre (1390 W. 65th St.) will host benefit screenings of Sex and the City 2 at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27 (at Shaker) and 6:50 p.m. Friday, May 28 (at the Capitol). The Shaker Square benefit will feature a free mini spa, appetizers from area restaurants, and complimentary wine and soda. Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Sex and the City character; a panel of judges will pick four winners. Proceeds benefit Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital.
The Capitol benefit will start with a screening of the film, followed by a themed afterparty featuring food from local restaurants. The woman wearing the best Sex and the City-inspired outfit will win a $150 prize package. Proceeds benefit MetroHealth's BREAST Program. Tickets to each event are $40. Find more information at clevelandcinemas.com.
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