FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Carrie Phillips, Director of Marketing & Communications
803.252.7742 x 17 cphillips@historiccolumbia.org
Cait Costello, Marketing Coordinator
803.252.7742 x 16 ccostello@historiccolumbia.org
Celebrate Director Stanley Donen’s 90th Birthday with
Historic Columbia, Nickelodeon Theatre
COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 16, 2014)— Join Historic Columbia and the Nickelodeon Theatre to
explore the neighborhood where director Stanley Donen grew up for opening night of “A
Lotta Talent and A Little Luck: A Celebration of Stanley Donen” on Saturday, July 26.
Starting at 6 and 6:30 p.m., Historic Columbia will lead guided walking tours through the
Hollywood-Rose Hill neighborhood. Notable sites include the former home of Governor
Duncan Clinch Heyward, the 2010 Preservation Award winning Murray-Rice-Moon House
and the childhood home of Stanley Donen. The tours begin at Hollywood Park, and admission
is free for Historic Columbia and Nickelodeon members, $8 for adults, $5 for youth and free
for children 5 and under. At 7 p.m., enjoy a picnic and DJ in Hollywood Park followed by a
free screening of Donen’s classic “Singin’ in the Rain.”
In honor of Donen’s 90th birthday, the Nickelodeon is hosting a citywide celebration in honor
of his work. Donen is the last of the notable directors from Hollywood’s golden age still
living. The recipient of an honorary Academy Award in 1998, Donen, who worked closely
with Gene Kelly, directed such classic films as “Singin’ in the Rain,” “On the Town,” and
“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”
Designed to be separate communities, Rose Hill and Hollywood were established in 1914 and
1921. Characterized by a common architectural form—the bungalow—many of Rose Hill's
houses were constructed from Aladdin Company kits. Meanwhile, Hollywood generally
featured a variety of larger, architect-designed residences. Rose Hill and Hollywood were
annexed with other southeast Columbia suburbs in 1926 and 1927. Today, these two
neighborhoods often are perceived as a single community, despite their physical differences.
Reserve your spot for a tour of Hollywood-Rose Hill online at historiccolumbia.org, by calling
803.252.1770 x 23 or emailing reservations@historiccolumbia.org. For a full list of events in
celebration of Stanley Donen’s birthday, visit nickelodeon.org.
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About Historic Columbia:
In November 1961, a small group of individuals intent on saving the Ainsley Hall
House from demolition officially incorporated as the Historic Columbia
Foundation. Over the next five decades the organization, which was founded on
the premise of preservation and education, would take on the stewardship of seven
historic properties in Richland County. Today, the organization serves as a model
for local preservation efforts and interpretation of local history. Visit
historiccolumbia.org or find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube for
more details.