And The Oscar Goes To…

By: Elaine Silber, Co-Chair P&D Committee

It all started with Minor Bishop, preservationist, architect, former trustee of The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, and leader of the original Murray Hill walking tour. Minor’s filmed tour, originally a videotape and later transferred to DVD, has been a classic for years. When the Preservation & Design Committee decided to make a new production of the walking tour, it was only natural to dedicate the film to Minor, who passed away earlier this year.

The film premiere of the new Walking Tour of Historic Murray Hill was held on Saturday, November 2nd at the Bowdoin Carriage House, a NYC landmark, now the Henry George School of Social Science. This beautiful space was a perfect setting for this sold-out event.

The program began with a welcome by Susan Demmet, Chair of the Preservation & Design Committee, followed by touching tributes to Minor Bishop by longtime friends Enid Klass and Barbara Kraebel and Minor’s neighbor, Michael-Ann Rowe. Remarks by Steve Weingrad, past president of the MHNA, focused on the history of Murray Hill and the importance of preserving this unique neighborhood. The film was introduced by producers and editors Jon Gilbert of Videotex Global Networks and Pattie Meyer of Edge City Design, who spoke about its production, a labor of love for those involved.

Led by professional tour guide and P & D member Robin Garr, with 7 participating tour members, this lively and captivating film shows spectacular footage of our historic neighborhood. Vintage photos are interspersed with fascinating historical and architectural commentary that accompany Robin’s talk about each of the landmarked buildings.

At a reception following the movie, guests were able to purchase the new walking tour DVD, along with Minor Bishop’s sketchbook, Sketching on Murray Hill. A book on the history of the Murrays, The Murrays of Murray Hill, by Charles Monaghan was also for sale.

The audience left with a much greater knowledge and appreciation of the historic treasures we have right here in Murray Hill.

DVD’s of the film can be purchased at murrayhillnyc.org/dvd.

Photos: Robin Garr, tour guide in the new walking tour film, speaking at the Film Premiere event at the Bowdoin Carriage House , a NYC landmark, now the Henry George School of Social Science. (top), Murray Hill preservation lovers at the reception.