MASS MoCA Brings Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason to the Big Screen with The Hustler

12:00AM / Sunday, July 22, 2001Print Story | Email Story

MASS MoCA brings the classic 1961 film, The Hustler, to the big screen on Friday, August 3, at 9 pm. Paul Newman shines as arrogant hustler Fast Eddie bent on beating Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason), the kingpin who hasn't lost a game in 15 years. The film won two Oscars and earned nine Oscar nominations, including one for each of the four stars, Newman, Gleason, Piper Laurie, and George C. Scott. Paul Newman plays Fast Eddie Felson, a charismatic and talented pool hustler whose fundamental flaw, arrogance, causes a series of mistakes. It's not enough just to win; his opponent must concede that he's the best. In a rare dramatic role, Jackie Gleason's Minnesota Fats uses that to hustle this hustler out of everything he's got. A dejected Eddie walks away from his long-time manager and friend, Charlie and falls for an alcoholic would-be writer and sometime prostitute Sarah played by Piper Laurie (Carrie, Children of a Lesser God, Twin Peaks). Then he falls under the spell of Bert Gordon, played by George C. Scott, a successful gambler who offers to teach Edie how to play in the big time. Pool champ Willie Mosconi makes a cameo appearance and provides Fast Eddie's best shots. Jackie Gleason shot his own game in the film. Paul Newman scored his second of eight Academy Award nominations for Best Actor for The Hustler. He finally won the Oscar for The Hustler's sequel The Color of Money. Though Newman has gradually moved away from Hollywood, he continues to be a prominent public figure through extensive charitable work, including the Scott Newman Foundation which he founded after the drug-related death of his son and "Newman's Own" the gourmet foodstuffs products with all profits going to various charities. Jackie Gleason broke into show business by winning an amateur-night contest at age 15 and then performing in vaudeville, carnivals, nightclubs, and roadhouses. He performed in several Broadway shows before becoming known as "The Great One" for starring in The Life of Riley, The Honeymooners, and The Jackie Gleason Show. Gleason is also well known for his role as the sheriff in the Smokey and the Bandit film series. Though Gleason is well known as a comedian dramatic roles are rare for him and The Hustler brought Gleason his only Academy Award nomination. George C. Scott spent four years in the Marines before beginning his acting career. He received an Academy Award for starring in Patton and declared that he would not accept, insisting that the Oscars were "a meaningless, self-serving meat parade." He later won and refused to accept an Emmy for his work in the TV production of Arthur Miller's The Price. Piper Laurie received Oscar nominations for her portrayal of the religious fanatic mother in Carrie and her part in Children of a Lesser God as well as her role in The Hustler. She also received an Emmy nomination for her role in David Lynch's cult TV series Twin Peaks. The Hustler at MASS MoCA is sponsored by Legacy Banks. The Cinema Classics series is sponsored by Holiday Inn Berkshires. Lickety Split will serve full dinners or snacks starting at 8 pm when the doors open. There will also be a full bar. In case of rain the film will move indoors where the Hunter Center will have been transformed into a full movie palace. Tickets for The Hustler are $5. MASS MoCA members receive a 10% discount. Tickets are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office off Marshall Street in North Adams from 10 am until 6 pm daily. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413.662.2111 during Box Office hours or purchased on line at www.massmoca.org. MASS MoCA, the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the United States, is located off Marshall Street in North Adams on a 13-acre campus of renovated 19th-century factory buildings. MASS MoCA 1040 MASS MoCA Way North Adams, Mass. 01247 413.MOCA.111 www.massmoca.org

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McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course.

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication.

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates.

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.

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