US here we come

Carousel horses at Recreation Park, Binghamton, New York. The carousel features in the Twilight Zone episode titled ‘Walking Distance’.

Sorry to be jumping around chronologically. We’re back in Canberra but I just sent off the following letter to the Press and Sun-Bulletin newspaper in Binghamton, Broome County, New York State.

We went to Binghamton because of my life-long dedication to the Twilight Zone television series. Its creator, Rod Serling, grew up there.

Anyway, on return to Australia, I just wanted to say ‘thanks’ to Binghamton, and figured the best way to thank an entire city is to write a letter to its local newspaper.

Here’s what I wrote:

“Dear Editor,

“My wife, Joan, and our two children, Joey (aged 14) and Hannah (12), and I visited New York City as tourists in May and, as part of our holiday, decided to have a few days upstate in Binghamton. The attraction was the fact that Binghamton is the hometown of the late Rod Serling, creator of the original Twilight Zone television series. I used to watch the Twilight Zone, as a youngster growing up in Melbourne, Australia, in the 1960s, and have followed it, as re-runs or in new versions, ever since. Serling was a genius and I feel a debt to him for sparking my youthful imagination in ways that helped the development of my critical mind and intellect.

“One of my favourite episodes, ‘Walking Distance’, was based on Serling’s childhood experiences at Recreation Park. Indeed, the carousel was recreated for the episode, which starred Gig Young as a middle-aged executive, alienated from his current situation, who yearns so strongly to ‘go home again’ that he actually does so, meeting his childhood self and parents – only to discover the hard truth that he belongs in the present because ‘there’s only one summer to a customer’!

“It was a thrill for my family and me to visit Rec Park and to see the carousel, not to mention the plaque to Serling in the nearby band shell. But that was only one of many Rod Serling sites that made our visit to Binghamton a highlight of our stay in New York.

“We remain very grateful to our new-found friend, Larry Kassan, the Director of the Rod Serling Video Festival at Binghamton City Schools, for his extreme generosity and kindness to us. He took us to Serling’s high school, Binghamton High, where we inspected the Helen Foley Theatre and art display, showed us the Serling historical marker on the school’s front lawn, and also took us to the downtown walk of fame, where Serling is again commemorated. Larry also took us to the Broome County Forum Theatre, where we were very impressed with the photo display and exhibition dedicated to Serling. Perhaps the most enchanting aspect of the visit was seeing the home on Bennett Avenue where Rod Serling grew up. I just stood there, taking in the ambience, trying to imagine the young Rodman running around the street, or making his way up to Rec Park.

“Thank you, Larry, for giving my family and me some wonderful special memories. And thank you ‘Binghamton’ for recognizing and commemorating one of the greats that your city spawned”.

Barry

We had two days in Binghamton, about three-and-a-half hours upstate from Manhattan by bus. Binghamton is not a tourist destination. Its appeal to me was that it’s the place where Rod Serling, creator of the Twilight Zone television series and Emmy Award winning script-writer, was raised. Affection for one’s hometown was a recurring theme in Serling’s writings and, in one Twilight Zone episode (“Walking Distance”), Serling shows that one actually can go home again – quite literally (in the Twilight Zone, that is). (However, it can’t work out to anyone’s real satisfaction, as “there’s only one Summer to a customer”. In the real world, you only live your life once – so make the most of every moment!).

I’ll post again, in detail, about Binghamton. For now, some photos: “submitted for your approval”….

Barry outside the house on Bennett Avenue where Serling grew up.

Barry on the carousel (merry-go-round) in Binghamton’s Rec Park that featured in Serling’s Twilight Zone episode, ‘Walking Distance’. (The carousel in the episode was carefully recreated at the studio in California where the series was produced).

The carousel in Rec Park, Binghamton.

The plaque at Binghamton’s Recreation Park commemorating the Twilight Zone episode, ‘Walking Distance’, that was inspired by Serling’s hometown. The park is literally within walking distance of Serling’s home on Bennett Avenue.

Joan, Hannah and Joey with our new-found good friend and fellow-Serlingologist, Larry Kassan. (Larry, you are a true gentleman and champion!).

Barry at sign at front of Binghamton High School commemorating Serling, who graduated in 1943.

A patchwork portrait of Rod Serling donated to Binghamton High School. It was made by students from another school.

Joan inspecting the wonderful permanent exhibition in memory of Serling at Binghamton’s Forum Theatre.