Fort Lee Film Commission Raises Funds for Fort Lee High School Drama Department on John Barrymore's Birthday

The Fort Lee Film Commission and a few friends AKA brave souls this past Saturday night (February 15) defied the elements and walked thru the tundra of lower Main Street for our John Barrymore Birthday Pub Crawl fundraiser for the Fort Lee High School Drama Department and student actors of Fort Lee High! Thanks to the great owners of In Napoli (Sammy and Flo), JD's (Manager Sarah Lim), Santorini Taverna (Angelo Rizos), and GW Grill ( Owners Donald Sposa and Joe Kerr) for being generous hosts and supporters!!! Though the weather prevented many from attending the Fort Lee Film Commission can guarantee $1,000 raised in actor John Barrymore's name.

This is the fourth consecutive year the Fort Lee Film Commission has raised over $1,000 for the student actors of Fort Lee High School in John Barrymore's name.  John Barrymore made his stage debut at the age of 18 in a benefit fundraiser directed by his father, Coytesville (Fort Lee) resident and Broadway thespian Maurice Barrymore.  The play " A Man of the World"  was performed in 1900 at Buckheister's Hotel on the corner of Main Street and Central Road in Fort Lee and raised funds for the Coytesville (Fort Lee) Fire Department of which Maurice Barrymore was a volunteer member.  Today that same corner of Main Street and Central Road is John Barrymore Way in  honor of the contributions of the Barrymore family to life in Fort Lee and in recognition of young John making his stage debut in Fort Lee, NJ.  

The Fort Lee Historical Society will open the next exhibit at the Fort Lee Musuem (1588 Palisade Avenue) on February 22nd and the exhibit is "Welcome to Coytesville Home of the Barrymores."  This exhibit will highlight the presence of the Barrymore family in Fort Lee and the neighborhood they lived in, Coytesville, in the northern section of Fort Lee.  This exhibit will feature artifacts and archival photos and will run through June 29th, 2014.  Museum hours are weekends noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday evenings 7 - 9 p.m. and for grpoups during the week by appointment.  For further info visit www.thefortleehistoricalsociety.org or call (201) 592-3580. 

To make a contribution to benefit the Fort Lee High School Drama Department and student actors in John Barrymore's name contact the Fort Lee Film Commission at (201) 693-2763 or visit www.fortleefilm.org.