12th Historic Marker Dedication & Film Screening in Loch Sheldrake
On Thursday, July 17, the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project will host the 12th dedication in their Historic Marker Series, honoring Brown’s Hotel and other iconic resorts of Loch Sheldrake. These beloved destinations were far more than vacation spots—they were cultural epicenters that welcomed legends like Jerry Lewis, Sid Caesar, Joan Rivers, Totie Fields, Liberace, and Jackie Mason. This latest marker also highlights the area’s ties to Jewish gangsters, the golden age of boxing, and the evolution of the historic Karmel Hotel into today’s Stagedoor Manor.
The ceremony begins at 6:00 pm at the corner of Route 52 and Loch Sheldrake-Hurleyville Road, where we will unveil the new marker with remarks by Bruce Turiansky, grandson of Brown’s Hotel founders Lillian and Charles Brown along with photographers Marisa Scheinfeld and Isaac Jeffreys.
Following the dedication, join us for a screening of the acclaimed film A Walk on the Moon in the historic Fan-Fare Nightclub! Located at Vacation Village (you might remember it as Hotel Evans), this special evening offers the rare chance to spend time in a vintage Catskills nightclub complete with great vibes and a classic Catskills film. Whether you’re a film lover, nostalgia seeker, or Catskills history buff, this is your chance to experience it all under one storied roof!
The 1999 film A Walk on the Moon, starring Diane Lane, Liev Schreiber, and Viggo Mortensen, captures the culture of Catskill bungalow colonies amid the backdrop of the 1969 moon landing and Woodstock. The film was inspired by screenwriter Pamela Gray’s own childhood spent at bungalow colonies such as Dr. Locker’s in Mountain Dale and Silverstein’s in Swan Lake.
Event Details
Thursday, July 17
Dedication Ceremony
6:00 PM
Grassy area near the Stagedoor Manor bus stop (Loch Sheldrake-Hurleyville Rd & Route 52)
Film Screening: A Walk on the Moon 7:30 PM
Vacation Village (formerly the Evans Hotel), 712 Loch Sheldrake-Hurleyville Road
Additional Highlights
Food & Drinks by King of Delancey
Vacation Village’s on-site restaurant will be open before and after the screening.
Oral Histories with Bethel Woods
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will be collecting personal stories from attendees—preserving the voices and memories of those who lived this remarkable history.
RSVP & Tickets
Reserve your spot – capacity is limited!
