Guest Jay Duncan joins hosts Stephanie Valle and Lisa Elliott for a look back at the Drive-In.
Jay Duncan is a lifelong film fan and has been an internationally recognized film historian, archivist and collector since 1962.
In 1974 he began teaching "Introduction to Film Theory and Criticism", an accredited university Junior level film history course, and through the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Texas at El Paso, still offers non-credit courses as his schedule allows.
Also, in 1974 Jay was instrumental in saving the Plaza Theater from demolition. The magnificent 1930 movie palace is one of only a handful remaining. His efforts have helped provide the opportunity for the El Paso Community Foundation to instill new life into the historic Grande Dame for future generations.
He has been Film Program Chairman, guest speaker and panelist to over a dozen Science Fiction film conventions, and originated and served as co-editor and publisher of SPFX (Special Effects) Magazine in 1977.
Jay has over twenty-years experience in the television industry, serving as Program Director, film producer/director, station announcer and writer-producer-host of "Jay's Pix," a popular weekly television program providing on-screen commentary and historical background to film classics. He holds a BA degree in Mass Communications and is also a lifetime member of Alpha Epsilon Rho, the National Honorary Radio-Television Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Psi, the National Honorary Band Fraternity.
In 2004, Duncan was the originator of the Memorial Day weekend film festival in El Paso called IT! Came From The ‘50s; which, in effect evolved into the annual PLAZA CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL. He has been on the Program Advisory Committee at the EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION since 2008 and celebrated the return of films to the PLAZA THEATRE in an eleven-day festival August 14-24, 2008.
He is currently available as a Speaker, Writer, Educator, Consultant and Programmer on the History of the Motion Picture, and is also a buyer/seller of Vintage Movie Memorabilia.
The 13th Annual Plaza Classic Film Festival also ensured the festival went on during the pandemic. F. Murrary Abraham made an appearance on Zoom and movies were shown as Drive-In Movies and Digital Streaming films.
"Plaza Classic Film Festival to Feature F. Murray Abraham, Drive-In Movies" (elpasotimes.com)