MONTVALE — The Montvale Public Library will host “Borscht Belt Architecture: Designs of the Jewish Alps” on Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m.
Presented by historian and collector Alex Prizgintas, the program is the second in his Borscht Belt lecture series. It will explore the interior and exterior architectural styles that shaped the Catskills resorts known as the Borscht Belt, from Victorian-era hotels to bungalow colonies and midcentury modern resort design.
According to event information, the talk will examine styles associated with Sullivan County, including Mission and Tudor influences, and how design in the region helped define the Borscht Belt experience, from guest rooms and recreation spaces to entertainment venues and outdoor settings.
Prizgintas will use postcards, photographs, images from antique brochures and modern-day scenes to illustrate how the architecture evolved and which features can still be seen today.
Since he began collecting Borscht Belt items a decade ago, Prizgintas said, public awareness of that history has grown through efforts such as the opening of the Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville, the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project, and new films and books on the subject.
“Seeing this history finally receiving the recognition it deserves is incredibly rewarding, and I am honored to be a part of this new chapter for the memories of the Borscht Belt,” he said.