Garden City Library News
Surprise Guest At Film Program

Bunty Bernstein surprised the audience at the library.

The October 1 st performance of "Monday's Marvelous Movie Matinées" began routinely. Co-host Tom Richmond introduced the day's film, the acclaimed British import "The Red Shoes," which is fondly remembered for its 15-minute ballet sequence depicting the well-known Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. He told how the debut of the film in America in 1948 created an intense interest in ballet. He then advised the audience to remain seated after the film ended as he had a surprise in store.

As the house lights went on when the film ended, Mr. Richmond introduced Ms. Bunty Bernstein, a longtime Village resident. She announced that she had been a member of the Sadlers Wells Ballet Company and was a close companion of Moira Shearer, the film's star ballerina. Ms. Bunty also had an extensive career as a dancer. She migrated to America and appeared in the Broadway productions of "Oklahoma" and "Brigadoon." She married a dancer, Harry Bernstein, who became chairman of the dance department at Adelphi University.

A lively question and answer period followed her brief remarks.

Funding for this program was provided by The Friends of the Library.