The Cineforum, 463 Bathurst Below College Across From The Beer Store. 416-603-6643.

 “Do you mean Canada’s Communist Training Center?” asked a police officer in Hollywood in 1970 when he asked Reg Hartt (at right in 1970) what he had done in Toronto and Hartt replied, “I showed films at Rochdale College.”

In that moment Hartt knew that if the police in Hollywood knew about Rochdale College it was the most important place in the world to be.

He returned to Toronto at once to become Rochdale’s Director Of Cinema Studies. While there he, himself, majored in LSD (Rochdale being the only place on the planet one could study legally the effects of acid).

Rochdale College was the boldest experiment ever undertaken in self education. There were no teachers and no classes. Each Rochdalian was called to be their own teacher. Out of it came some of the best people in Canada.

After Reg Hartt self-published his THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED ROCHDALE Jane Jacobs sent him a fan letter. She wrote, “Everything you write is worth reading but in THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED ROCHDALE you have really found your voice. It’s shocking, hilarious, sorrowful, and told with a rhythm as compelling as a beating heart. When I finished it I wanted more.” Copies available at the door.

 

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