Documentary Explores Legacy Of TwoWho Put Huntington On The Cultural Map

A documentary about local arts legends Vic Skolnick and Michael Rothbard by local filmmaker Steve Taub premiers at Cinema Arts Center Nov. 8.

Filmmaker Pays Tribute To Cinema’s Vic Skolnick And IMAC’s Michael Rothbard

By Peter Sloggatt

psloggatt@longislandergroup.com

Huntington’s Cinema Arts Centre will appropriately be the site for the premiere of filmmaker Steven Taub’s documentary about two men who he says helped make Huntington the “culture capital” of Long Island. The documentary, “Impresarios and Visionaries” is Taub’s homage and tribute to two men who he called mentors, and tells the story of how each separately followed a vision to bring a Manhattan style arts scene to the suburbs.

The late Vic Skolnick founded Cinema Arts Centre in the 1970s with Charlotte Sky who still runs the arts- and indy-flavored movie house with their son Dylan Skolnick. To meet a lack of independent and arts film offering, Skolnick and Sky rented film reels themselves, and famously stretched a bed sheet across the wall of rented space above a dance studio.Patrons brought their own chairs.

At about the same time, Rothbard cofounded Inter-Media Arts Center, better known as IMAC, with his partner  Kathy Bodily. On a shoestring budget, they lured some big names in the blues and jazz worlds to perform at the theater. Richie Havens, David Bromberg, K’eb Mo, Taj Mahal and countless others played the venue until it closed due to funding issues almost 10 years ago. Rothbard died shortly after the theater closed.

Taub interviewed many people associated with the venues, including Bromberg, filmmaker and actor Ed Burns, poet and humanitarian Sandy Chapin, Long Island Cares CEO Paule Pachter, to weave together their stories that while separate shared a common trajectory. “By bringing the arts to our community they made it a better place on myriad levels,” Taub said. “They were the first to bring New York City entertainment to the suburbs.”

 Taub hopes his film will inspire others to follow their artistic visions in the same way, and perhaps bring the the arts to their communities.

 The film’s premiere is Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. at Cinema Arts Center and is a fundraiser for the movie house. Tickets are $20. To continue their humanitarian work, Taub asked moviegoers bring non-perishable foods for Long Island Cares, as well.