The Columns enters ‘The Twilight Zone' for dinner and a movie

Milford n The Pike County Historical Society’s Columns Museum announced recently that it will once again be hosting its “Dinner and A Movie.” Over the last two years, the meal was an Italian feast prepared by various members of the board of directors; and the movie was a silent movies filmed in and around Milford by D.W. Griffith. The movie was accompanied by piano music, played live, by Ray “Cool Cat” Weeks. Both previous performances sold out quickly and the Society anticipates another great success with this years offering. As a special treat for science fiction fans out there, there will be an episode of “The Twilight Zone” that was originally written by one-time Milford resident and critically acclaimed science fiction writer Damon Knight. (1922-2002). Knight’s first story was published in 1941. He was the recipient of the Hugo Award, founder of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), cofounder of the National Fantasy Fan Federation, cofounder of the Milford Writers’ Conference, and cofounder of the Clarion Writers Workshop. Knight lived in Eugene, Oregon, with his wife, Kate Wilhelm, also a science fiction writer. In 1950, Knight wrote a short story titled “To Serve Man,” which was adapted by Rod Serling as the 87th episode of “The Twilight Zone.” Knight lived in Milford in a home that was known as The Anchorage. It was here that he and others created a method of critiquing works of literature that would become known worldwide as “the Milford Method,” and this was the beginnings of the Milford Writers Conference. The Anchorage was often visited by many science fiction writers, including Milford resident Virginia Kidd and her husband James Blish. Kidd’s house still serves as home to the Virginia Kidd Agency, a hub for the publishing and promotion of science fiction and fantasy writers’ works to this day. Clients represented by the agency include Gene Wolfe, Anne McCaffrey and Ursula LeGuin. This event will also serve as the launch for a new non-profit organization, called The Virginia Kidd Science Fiction Writers Foundation, whose goal is to promote literacy through the arts and offer a “writer in residence” program, with the Virginia Kidd House as its base of operations. Virginia’s home was just as popular as The Anchorage in the 50’s and 60’s, where writers often lived communally and offered praise and criticism of each others’ works. Recipes for the evening’s fare at the Columns have been supplied by some science fiction writers that have passed through Milford. Damon Knight’s Pork and Apple Stew will be featured, and is being provided by Dawny’s Soup Creations and More, along with recipes by Kate Wilhelm, Judy Merrill, and Anne McCaffrey, prepared by museum volunteers, board members and staff. The showing of “To Serve Man” will follow dinner, which begins at 7 p.m., and seating is limited, so reservations are required. The event will take place on May 18 in the Foundation Room of the Columns Museum, located at 608 Broad Street in Milford. Tickets are $20 and include dinner, movie and dessert. Reservations can be made by calling 570-296-8126.