Virtual BLI Alumni Leadership Update - Rod Serling Presentation

Join Larry Kassen via ZOOM to learn about local legend, Rod Serling:

Rod Serling, one of the early pioneers of broadcast television, was proud to call Binghamton his hometown. This presentation will highlight his childhood, his war years and the role he played in television’s “Golden Age.” Also explored will be the corporate interference and censorship that led to one of the medium’s iconic television series, The Twilight Zone and how Greater Binghamton as a community can benefit from its association with Rod Serling.

Mr. Kassan’s credits include Instructor at Adelphi University and Technical Director, for the Fine Arts Committee of the 1980 XIII Winter Olympic Games, held in Lake Placid, NY. Professional associations include residencies with Long Wharf Theatre, and John Houseman’s “The Acting Company”.  Director of Special Projects for the Binghamton City Schools since 1988, he has produced numerous promotional and educational videos, and coordinated video location projects with PBS American Masters and Court TV, as well as managing all performing arts at the Rod Serling School at Binghamton High School. Mr. Kassan served on the Opening Ceremony Committee for the New York Empire State Games 2000, 2004 and 2008 as Production Stage Manager. He founded the Rod Serling Video Festival in 1995 which encourages students K-12 nationally to work more creatively in media arts. In October of 2009, Mr. Kassan coordinated a four-day national celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Rod Serling’s THE TWILIGHT ZONE and spoke about Rod Serling’s legacy at The Paley Center (The Museum of Television and Radio in NYC) and as a featured guest on NPR for the nationally broadcast series “On The Media”. Mr. Kassan is a frequent lecturer at Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications where Serling’s archives are located. He lives in Binghamton and has a daughter Deni who is a doctor of physical therapy at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.