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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. COC-10.26.09-OakieFilm-JMu
October 26, 2009
College of the Canyons Foundation Presents Jack Oakie Film Series
In November, the College of the Canyons Foundation will celebrate the legacy of beloved Hollywood performer Jack Oakie and his wife, Victoria, by presenting the second film in the College of the Canyons Oakie Film Series.
The Academy Award-nominated 1940 Jack Oakie film “The Great Dictator,” directed by Charlie Chaplin, will be screened at 4 p.m., Friday, November 13, in the College of the Canyons cinema room, located on the Valencia campus in Hasley Hall room 101.
Guests are also invited to a pre-screening reception beginning at 3:30 p.m. when they will have the opportunity to meet trustees from The Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation Trust, to discuss Oakie’s work and learn more about the couple’s Foundation. A brief question and answer period will follow the screening.
This marks the third year The Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Foundation Trust have awarded $10,000 in scholarships to students studying the Fine and Performing Arts at College of the Canyons.
“The College of the Canyons Foundation is very grateful to the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Charitable Trust Foundation for its support of our students,” said Michele Edmonson, College of the Canyons Foundation Assistant Director of Development. “We are extremely happy to have an opportunity to meet the trustees who have made these gifts available and to celebrate the Oakie legacy through this fun film series.”
The primary criterion for the Oakie scholarship awards is for students to watch a Jack Oakie or Victoria Horne Oakie film and critique the film from the perspective of a scriptwriter, a director, an actor, a comedian, a singer, and/or a dancer.
Hosted in partnership with the college’s Division of Fine and Performing Arts and the COC cinema department, the College of the Canyons Oakie Film Series has been designed to expand awareness of who Jack Oakie was and the contributions he made to the performing arts.
About the Oakies
Jack Oakie’s film career was remarkably prolific during a turbulent time in American history. He worked steadily in the film industry from 1927 through the 1940s, and was on contract at Paramount Studios from 1929 to 1934. His career spanned many decades and encompassed stage, film, radio and later, television.
Oakie appeared in 87 films and was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his role as Il Duce of Bacteria in the 1940 Charlie Chaplin film “The Great Dictator.”
Both Jack and Victoria were actors and long-time residents of the San Fernando Valley -- known for being philanthropists and humanitarians throughout their lives. Continuing their legacy of giving, The Oakie Charitable Foundation trustees remain dedicated to the couple’s wishes; “Give the money to the kids!”
For more information about the College of the Canyons Oakie Film Series please contact the COC Foundation at (661) 362-3737.
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