Tim and Defne Schindel visit the Literacy Caravan at the Weston Woods exhibit at the Weston Historical Society. — Bruce Ando photo
The Weston Woods exhibit at the Weston Historical Society, 104 Weston Road, opens today, Sunday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Visitors will have a special opportunity to watch Where the Wild Things Are, Strega Nona, and other favorite childhood films in the comfort of the Literacy Caravan. Today, there will also be storytelling for children by Catherine Revzon and snacks for visitors.
The 35-foot Literacy Caravan, commissioned by the Weston Woods film studio, toured cities and towns across the country in the 1990s, introducing children to reading via films made by the studio from classic children’s books.
When the touring stopped, the Literacy Caravan came to rest at the home of Mort Schindel, the founder of Weston Woods, at his homestead on Weston Road.
But in honor of the historical society’s exhibition, the Literacy Caravan was recently transported to the historical society’s grounds at 104 Weston Road.
On six Sundays, starting today visitors can watch Weston Woods classic children’s films inside the caravan. The caravan is also available as a rental for children’s parties and celebrations.
Weston police provided an escort as the caravan was towed from Weston Woods to the historical society. The towing costs were covered courtesy of a donation from Scholastic Inc., which acquired Weston Woods in 1996.
Recent visitors
Tim Schindel, the son of Mort Schindel, and Mort’s granddaughter, Defne Schindel, 8, visited the Literacy Caravan before and after the moving process.
Tim and Defne live in Istanbul, Turkey, where Tim runs a bed-and-breakfast establishment called Anadolu Evleri.
The pair traveled to America over Thanksgiving to visit Mort Schindel, who turned 97 this year.
Because of the long distance between them, this was only Defne’s second time meeting her famous grandfather.
But it appears the apple may not be falling far from the tree.
A second grader, Defne is inspired by her grandfather’s works, and her major interests are reading and drawing storyboards, Tim Schindel said.
“Defne has an entire collection of Weston Woods DVDs and she watches them often,” he said.
While visiting her grandfather, Defne read him the book A Story A Story by Gail Haley, one of the hundreds of Weston Woods’ children’s films.
Defne used the same African accent used by the narrator in the film Mission Accomplished, said Tim Schindel.
Tim is excited about the upcoming exhibition of his father’s works at the historical society and said he hopes people of all ages will come and check it out.
Exhibit dates, hours, admission
The Weston Woods exhibit, celebrating the children’s films and filmmaking techniques of Mort Schindel, is running from Dec. 6 to Feb. 29 at the Weston Historical Society, 104 Weston Road.
On the six Sundays when the videos will be shown, the admission price to the exhibit includes screenings of the videos.
The Weston Woods exhibit is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1 to 4 p.m., as well as 1 to 4 p.m. on six Sundays — Dec. 6, Dec. 20, Jan. 10, Jan. 24, Feb. 7, and Feb. 14.
Exhibit showings are also available by appointment.
Admission: current historical society members, $3 individual, $8 family.
Non-members: $5 individual, $10 family.
Special free admission: Admission is free for any individual or family who joins the society at the time of the exhibit. (Subsequent visits are at current member rates.)
Schedule of special Sunday events
Sundays are fun days at the Weston Woods exhibit. Weston Woods videos will be screened in the Literacy Caravan. There will also be storytelling, snacks, crafts, and other activities for children.
Sunday, Dec. 6: Films: Where the Wild Things Are, Strega Nona, Chrysanthemum. Storytelling by “Moms in Weston’s” Catherine Revzon.
Sunday, Dec. 20: Weston Woods winter holiday films: The Night Before Christmas, In the Month of Kislev, Seven Candles for Kwanzaa. Storytelling, crafts, photos, and cookies with Santa and his elf.
Sunday, Jan. 10: Films: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Harry the Dirty Dog, Officer Buckle & Gloria. Funny animal stories, crafts.
Sunday, Jan. 24: Films: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Is Your Mama a Llama?, Rosie’s Walk. Stories for the very young (ages 2-4).
Sunday, Feb. 7: Black History Month and stories about presidents, Coretta Scott, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lincoln, and Douglass. Crafts for children.
Sunday, Feb. 14: Love stories and beloved videos. A reading by Cupid.
For more information, visit westonhistoricalsociety.org, the Weston Historical Society’s website.
Children’s films made by Weston Woods will be shown in the Literacy Caravan on Sundays during the exhibit.
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