Wednesday, March 17th
(wear green!)
"Yemen: Arabia's Hidden Treasures"
with Wendy Windebank
Wednesday, April 7th
Another DocuTalks with Audrey Stein
Screening of
"The Legend of Pancho Barnes"
with filmmaker, Amanda Pope
(wear green!)
"Yemen: Arabia's Hidden Treasures"
with Wendy Windebank
Wendy Windebank visited Yemen in May of last year and found it to be a gem for the adventurous traveler - changeless, timeless, exotic, and unspoiled by Western civilization. Sana'a, the capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a marvel of ancient adobe architecture and eye-popping souks, with striking mountain scenery and hilltop villages within a day's drive.
However, Yemen has come onto the world stage recently and not for good reasons. It is not a place very many of us would feel comfortable traveling to but wouldn't it be nice to hear about this fascinating country?
Wendy will make Yemen come to life through her colorful slide show and talk that will focus on the history, culture, religion and people. She'll talk about women's lives under strict Islamic law, the effect on the economy of a qat-chewing culture and why Yemeni children are her favorite kids.
Wendy was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, had a traditional British Colonial upbringing and, after marrying an Englishman, lived in his country for 15 years. Wendy started traveling at an early age, and has visited nearly 100 countries. She was also a travel consultant and then ten years ago, re-invented herself, doing exciting presentations to groups like ours on her adventures.
Visit her webiste: www.windebank.com
-----------------------------However, Yemen has come onto the world stage recently and not for good reasons. It is not a place very many of us would feel comfortable traveling to but wouldn't it be nice to hear about this fascinating country?
Wendy will make Yemen come to life through her colorful slide show and talk that will focus on the history, culture, religion and people. She'll talk about women's lives under strict Islamic law, the effect on the economy of a qat-chewing culture and why Yemeni children are her favorite kids.
Wendy was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, had a traditional British Colonial upbringing and, after marrying an Englishman, lived in his country for 15 years. Wendy started traveling at an early age, and has visited nearly 100 countries. She was also a travel consultant and then ten years ago, re-invented herself, doing exciting presentations to groups like ours on her adventures.
Visit her webiste: www.windebank.com
Wednesday, April 7th
Another DocuTalks with Audrey Stein
Screening of
"The Legend of Pancho Barnes"
with filmmaker, Amanda Pope
A charismatic figure immortalized in Tom Wolfe's book, "The Right Stuff," Florence "Pancho" Barnes was one of the most important women in 20th Century aviation. A tough and fearless pilot, Pancho flew on Amelia Earhart's wingtip, performed as a barnstormer throughout California, and made a name for herself as Hollywood's first female stunt pilot in the 1920's and 30's.
Just before WWII she opened a ranch near Edwards Air Force Base that became a famous -- some would say notorious -- hangout for test pilots and movie stars. Known as the "Happy Bottom Riding Club", it became the epicenter of the aviation world during the early jet age. Chuck Yeager celebrated breaking the sound barrier there in 1947, and Howard Hughes and Jimmy Doolittle caroused in the bar. The Club's destruction by fire in 1953 is seen by many to mark the end of a Golden Era in post-WWII aviation.
In the same fashion Pancho herself has become something of a legend, a fascinating yet enigmatic icon whose swagger is often celebrated, but whose story is largely unknown. Until now.
The film features interviews with many of Pancho Barnes' surviving friends including astronaut Buzz Aldrin and test pilots Robert Cardenas, Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager. The film is narrated by Tom Skerritt, with Kathy Bates as the voice of Pancho Barnes. The film premiered at the NewFest film festival in Manhattan in June, 2009.
Director Amanda Pope is a graduate of Wellesley college and is an Associate Professor at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. She is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with "Jackson Pollock Portrait, Stages," "Houseman Directs Lear," and "Cities for People," all aired on PBS. We are thrilled to have her for this exciting evening!