Jack Palance to be special guest at Anthracite Museum's 25th jubilee

SCRANTON, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum on May 31-June 1 will celebrate 25 years of serving the public. It will kick off a yearlong 25th anniversary series of special events with a 25th anniversary gala dinner-dance and a public recognition with actor Jack Palance as a special guest.

On Friday, May 31, the museum will celebrate with a dinner-dance at the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Center in Mayfield. The special guest that evening will be Mr. Palance, and previous directors of the museum have been invited to participate in a special program.

Mr. Palance began his film career in 1950. He has made over 40 films, and in 1991 won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar Award for his role as Curly, in "City Slickers." Mr. Palance was born Vladimer Palaniuk on February 18, 1919, in Lattimer Mines, Pa. He once commented that growing up in the coal fields was about "three meals a day, picking berries, wheeling coal - and that's about it."

Mr. Palance owns a 500-hectare cattle ranch north of Hollywood in the Tehachapi Mountains, but maintains a home outside of Hazleton in Drums. "I'm still a Pennsylvanian," said Mr. Palance. "I spend four months a year traveling around the country but I spend most of my time here. I'd never give it up! My home has been there for 40 years and I love to go home."

"I am happy to help celebrate the museum's 25th anniversary. I have previously visited the museum, and appreciate the work it does in preserving the coal region heritage," he added. Mr. Palance will be making remarks and taking questions from the audience during his part of the gala program.

The Anthracite Heritage Museum will host a public 25th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 1. It will begin at 1 p.m. with a concert by the Donegal Weavers and continue at 2 p.m. with recognition of the museum's 25 years of service, featuring the participation of Mr. Palance.

As a birthday present to the community, the museum will waive its admission fee for the June 1 celebration.

The Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum is located in McDade Park, off Keyser Avenue, in Scranton (Exits I-82 or 191 B off I-81, and Exit 122 off I-476.) The museum is open year-round, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is charged. Call the Anthracite Heritage Museum at (570) 963-4804 for more information.

The Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 19, 2002, No. 20, Vol. LXX

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