Richard Schwartz's Event Dates in 2023 - Speaking Events and Media Events

October 20 and 21, 2023. KPIX Bay Area News. Brian Hackney interviews Richard about the 1868 massive Hayward Fault Earthquake and how it should be a wake-up call for us today. October 20, 6 pm and 11 pm news; Saturday, October 21, 2023, 11pm news. YouTube Video will be posted soon. CLICK HERE TO SEE AA YOUTUBE OF THE PIECE AND INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD.

September 21, 2023, Oakland Heritage Alliance. Sam'l of Posen Comes to Oakland. Richard will present an illustrated talk on the life of immigrant actor M. B. Curtis in the Bay Area of the late 19th century as he mezmerized audiences and threw his overnight fortunes towards all kinds of East Bay Civic improvements and people in need, as well as building a lavish hotel in the East Bay where both actors and working people could congregate. The Peralta Park Hotel was the tallest hotel in the Bay Area in 1891, taller than even San Francisco's Palace Hotel. M. B. Curtis is the Bay Area's most famous and forgotten eccentric, being the only person in American history to personally pay to light the Statue of Liberty when Congress cut the funding of the Lady's lighting right after the October 28, 1886 statue's dedication, never intending to light her again. Curtis loved performing in Oakland where so many friends and neighbors would pack it in to see him perform his famous immigrant character, Sam'l of Posen. Curtis did many benefit performances for Oakland causes. He even did so right after the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. The talk will reveal much new information on Curtis's affect on Oakland and its affect on him. The talk will take place in the Juilia Morgan- designed Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, CA 94611. 7pm.  510-763-9218.

September 12, 2023, The Peninsula Jewish Community Center. Richard will give an illustrated talk about the life of the Bay Area's biggest eccentric, actor, silent movie pioneer, philanthropist, manager, and murder suspect. M. B. Curtis was the first Jewish male actor to portray a Jewish male character on the American Stage. More importantly, the opening of Curtis's play “Sam’l of Posen” was the first time the audience laughed WITH the Jewish character, not AT the Jewish character. This was a seismic change. It quickly became the nation's most popular play and changed how they felt about Jews, immigrants and even traveling salesmen (then called “drummers”). Curtis was sought out by none other than Mark Twain, who so admired his work that he wanted Curtis to produce and star in a play about Twain’s new book “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.” Curtis is the only person in American history to personally pay to light the Statue of Liberty when Congress turned off the lighting as it didn’t want to pay for it. After two and a half weeks of M. B. Curtis lighting the Lady, Congress was so embarrassed, they changed their minds and allocated the funds to light the Statue of Liberty again. If it wasn’t for immigrant M. B. Curtis, the Statue of Liberty might never have been lit again. 800 Foster City Bvd., Foster City, CA 94404. 2PM. 650-212-7522.

July 6, 2023. The Mechanics Institute. Richard will present a special San Francisco vantage-point on the so-much-more than dramatic life and times of forgotten US hero immigrant actor M. B. Curtis, the Man Who Lit Lady Liberty. Curtis cut his theatrical teeth in San Francisco, when gangs still interrupted performances. His record-breaking comic play about an awkward immigrant traveling salesman took the country by storm for two decades. Even President Theodore Roosevelt was compared to Curtis' theatrical character, Sam'l of Posen. Mark Twain wanted to employ the actor's gossamer gifts in promoting one of his books. The comic actor was mugged returning to a San Francisco theater on a dark Folsom St. and wound up being accused of murdering a popular San Francisco police officer. Curtis endured three trials on the charge. His life was never the same and San Francisco's legal corruption became the focus of national outrage. 57 Post St., San Francisco, 94104. 6pm. 415-393-0114.

February 24 & 25, 2023. "Celebration. Commemoration. Remembering." A meeting of California History Groups help in San Diego, CA Location: S.E.S. Portuguese Hall of San Diego. 2818 Avenida de Portugal San Diego, CA 92106 “Celebration. Commemoration. Remembering coming together after the past several years of staying apart.” As people, we are social beings. We gather for many reasons: to share joy, to honor others, to remember good times, or to make our voices heard. This conference showcases events that have inspired us to gather, be they happy orserious. These events may repeat each year (like holiday celebrations) or may have been a one-time event. Hear about events that defined the speakers, their families, or their communities. Learn about gatherings that were pivotal in the speaker’s life and gatherings that keep traditions alive. At “Come One, Come All” we want to hear all about it! This will be our first in-person conference since 2019 due to the pandemic. (The 2020 conference had to be canceled, the 2021 conference was virtual, and the 2022 conference again had to be canceled.)All guests who paid for the 2020 conference are invited to attend the 2023 conference to enjoy the speakers and meet and mingle with history-loving organizations. (We will remind individuals who paid, to confirm you can attend the 2023 conference.) New attendees are welcome to attend! Cost for this two-day conference: · $35 per adult · $25 per Senior (65 & older) $15 for Student with ID (any age) The registration form will be posted soon. You many mail in your check or pay by check or cash at the door. We look forward to seeing you on February 24 and 25, 2023.

Richard Schwartz's Event Dates in 2000-2022 (click on the underlined text to the left to be taken to that page and information)- Speaking Events and Media Events