On Thursday, August 5, Celebrate John Huston's Birthday at the Ava Gardner Museum

Museum Offers Buy One Get One Free admission to Celebrate Huston's 104th Birthday. End Quote

Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (1888PressRelease) July 28, 2010 - The first time they met, he chased her around his pool in San Fernando Valley. The second time they met, they became lifelong friends.

John Huston actually played a small part in Ava's breakout role in The Killers, having adapted the Hemingway short story to the screenplay with Anthony Veiller. But it was their work on The Night of the Iguana that brought the two Hollywood legends together. Ava said of the film that it was the "start of my relationship with John, one of the greatest and most enduring friendships of my life, one that lasted until the day he died."

They later worked together on other projects, including The Bible and The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean. "The director I trusted most of all was John Huston. Working with him gave me the only real joy I've ever had in movies," recounted Ava in her autobiography Ava: My Story.

To celebrate their friendship, the Ava Gardner Museum will offer "Buy One, Get One Free" admission Thursday, August 5th - John Huston's 104th birthday. Visitors only need to mention that it is John Huston's birthday to receive this special discount.

The Night of the Iguana will be shown during the 2010 Ava Gardner Festival, scheduled for October 8-9, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Ava Gardner Museum.

Activities scheduled during the Ava Gardner Festival include the Gala on Friday evening, October 8, when the Museum's newest exhibit, Ava on the Small Screen, will be unveiled. Items from Ava's television projects The Long Hot Summer, Harem, A.D., and multiple appearances in the television series Knot's Landing will be featured.

On Saturday, October 9th, heritage tours will be scheduled throughout the day. Visitors will be shown points of interest in Ava's hometown, including Ava's birthplace, the Teacherage where she grew up, the Howell Theater where Ava first went to the movies, and will end with a visit to her gravesite at Sunset Memorial Park. Heritage tour passes are $10 per person.

During the Festival, the classic Ava Gardner films The Barefoot Contessa and The Night of the Iguana will be screened at the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield during the afternoon of Saturday, October 9th. That evening at 7:30 PM, the musical Show Boat will be screened at the Neuse River Amphitheatre, 200 Front St., Smithfield Town Commons. All film screenings are free to the public.

For accommodations, two local hotels are offering special Ava Gardner Festival discounts. The Best Western Smithfield Inn (919-989-4047) is offering a special rate of $64.00 + tax and the Sleep Inn & Suites of Smithfield (919-209-2360) is offering a 15% discount on rates. Call the hotel directly and mention the Ava Gardner Festival to take advantage of these special discounts.

For more information about the festival, including Festival Package rates, please call the museum at 919-934-5830.

The Ava Gardner Museum is located in downtown Smithfield, at 325 E. Market Street and more information may be found on the museum website, www.avagardner.org or by calling 919-934-5830. The museum is open Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm and Sunday 2pm-5pm with admission of $6.00 adults, $5.00 seniors and groups and $4.00 children.

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