Author To Appear At Jackson Center Tuesday

By The Post-Journal Staff

Aaron Beckwith will appear at the Robert H. Jackson Center at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday to show the film Follow the North Star to school children with limited seating on Wednesday for the general public.

The presentation is free. Sponsors include the M&T Bank Charitable Foundation, Sotir and Goldman Attorneys, Hope’s Windows, Ahlstrom- Schaeffer, Food is Good Inc., Jamestown Mattress Company, Shults Auto Group and the Paul W. Sandberg Fund of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

‘‘We are grateful to Mr. Beckwith for bringing back his film for a new audience of school children,’’ said Rolland E. Kidder, Jackson Center executive director. ‘‘In introducing the film, Aaron talks with the children about the need to get along with other people. The children respond very well to him.’’

A Syracuse University graduate, Beckwith, 92, began his career in film production in New York City, where he became vice president of the Music Corporation of America, a media giant that owned Universal Studios. His next move was to the American Broadcasting Company, where he became director of program sales. As vice president of a large New York advertising company, Beckwith represented advertisers to the popular shows of Lucille Ball, Red Skelton and Groucho Marx.

Beckwith’s career turned to films when be became the head of Radio Keith Orpheum Pictures. When RKO decided to stop film production, Beckwith established his own production company, Beckwith Presentations. ABC hired Beckwith to produce an after-school special entitled Follow the North Star.

‘‘I present the movie to school children because it makes me feel good to share with others and it’s something the children need to see,’’ Beckwith said. ‘‘Teachers who have seen it ask me to return with the program because it makes such an impression on their students.’’

Beckwith is a summer resident of Chautauqua County.

The Post-Journal

June 18, 2006

Vol. 179, No. 362

Section B, Page 1