Hoffman Center Blog

In 1967, intermarriage between African Americans and Caucasians was still illegal in 14 states. This was the political climate of the country in which “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” would be made.

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” will be screened at 7pm on Saturday, February 27th in honor of Black History Month as part of the Manzanita Film Series.

The Manzanita Film Series at the Hoffman Center was created to highlight these moments in film history as well as support local and emerging filmmakers. “We hope people will want to stay and have a discussion after these films”, said David Dillon, Director of the Hoffman Center, speaking before the last screening in January.

Towards the end of production, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Loving v. Virginia. The Loving decision was made on June 12, 1967, two days after the death of star Spencer Tracy, who had played a “phony” white liberal who grudgingly accepts his daughter’s marriage to a black man. In Loving, the High Court unanimously ruled that anti-miscegenation marriage laws were unconstitutional. In his opinion, Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote, “Marriage is one of the ‘basic civil rights of man,’ fundamental to our very existence and survival. To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State’s citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discriminations. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.”

Ekahni Books will be on hand offering books for sale written by or about prominent members of the African American community.

The Manzanita Film Series is a program of the Hoffman Center in Manzanita, Oregon. Films will be screened on the 4th weekend of the month throughout the year. Admission will be $6 and theater concessions will be available for purchase.  For more information or to volunteer, contact Franz Hasslacher at franzhass@gmail.com.

Chip MacGregor, MacGregor Literary

Chip MacGregor, president of MacGregor Literary, will present a workshop from 1 to 3pm on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the Hoffman Center in Manzanita, titled “How to Find and Approach a Literary Agent.” This workshop is one in a series of writing workshops presented by the Manzanita Writers’ Series.

In this two-hour seminar you’ll learn exactly what a literary agent does and why they are a crucial part of today’s publishing process. Find out how to research and identify an agent, how to approach and pitch them, and how to create eye-catching proposals. Chip will cover the keys for successfully working with an agent once you have one, plus how current trends in publishing are changing the author/agent relationship.

 Attendees are invited to bring a proposal to the workshop, for a short in-class evaluation of each entitled, “Will I read on?”

The registration fee is $25. Click here for a registration form.

Chip MacGregor has been in the publishing business for more than two decades, first as author/collaborator on two dozen titles himself. As a literary agent he’s represented more than 1,000 books, including many award winners. He’s negotiated deals with some 40 publishers, including all the major US publishing houses and had books on all the bestseller lists, including one at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Prior to being an agent, Chip worked at several publishers including Time Warner Book Group. He offers a well-rounded perspective on the publishing business.

Stop by the Hoffman Center on Saturday, February 13 between 11am and 2pm, and have fun making a creative one-of-a-kind card for your Valentine. 

Lisa Fenton, local artist and experienced art teacher, will be on hand to inspire and assist participants in making fun, creative, and one-of-a-kind cards for their Valentine. Art supplies are free and include all sorts of materials: from fabric samples and lace to glitter, pastels and paints. There will even be a ‘writing table’ to help attendees to put their thoughts into words.

All ages are welcome and families are encouraged to attend together. The PlayShop will be held at the Hoffman Center at 594 Laneda Avenue in Manzanita.