Edgar Allan Poe's Birthday Celebration 2024

Edgar Allan Poe's Birthday Celebration 2024

In cooperation with the Westminster Preservation Trust, it's that time of the year fast approaching when people from around the world celebrate the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe!

Last year over 330,000 people tuned in from around the world to honor Poe! Amazing! Astounding!

This is the "original" Poe Birthday Celebration started in 1981! I'm so pleased to be able to continue to bring Poe alive for all the fans around the world!

This event will be viewed on the Edgar Allan Poe: Evermore Facebook page ! There is no charge or fee involved. This is not a zoom event.

Starting at 11:50 am with an introduction by Jeff Jerome the first segment begins at noon on Saturday, January 20, 2024, and on the hour we will present six different segments highlighting Poe's stories and discussions about his Providence Rhode Island adventures and delve into the myths and legends of his death!

The finale segment at 5 pm will be broadcast LIVE from the Poe Monument at the historic Westminster Graveyard on the Edgar Allan Poe: Evermore Facebook page.

In the safety of your home or tomb you will witness the terror of the Spanish Inquisition!

You'll be shocked at the horror of being immured alive!

Shutter at the terror of the ancient house of Usher!

Listen to the romance between Edgar and Sarah Helen Whitman in Providence Rhode Island!

Be amazed at the newly discovered facts surrounding the mysterious and tragic death of Poe featuring independent Poe scholar David Gaylin, author of the upcoming book "The Final Day's of Edgar Allan Poe: Nevermore in Baltimore!"

Enjoy the LIVE appearance of the famous Poe Toaster as he returns to present his world famous Toast to Poe!

PLEASE NOTE! DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS THE TOAST TO POE SEGMENT WILL BE HELD INSIDE OF WESTMINSTER HALL AND NOT AT THE POE MONUMENT. THE CEMETERY IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO ICEY CONDITIONS! THIS SEGMENT IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Join Jeff Jerome, curator emeritus, formerly with the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum and actor Mark Redfield with Ron Savage from WCBM Talk Radio as they hold the traditional and time honored Birthday Toast to Poe inside the historic Westminster Hall!

Share with a slice of a specially designed Poe Birthday Cake just for you and a Amontillado Toast to Poe!

Jeff Jerome will read the Governors proclamation and a proclamation from the Mayor of Baltimore City recognizing January 19th and Edgar Allan Poe Day in Baltimore and Maryland!

English Actor Stephen Mead will present a theatrical reading of "The Pit and the Pendulum." It's truly one of Poe's masterpieces! You'll almost feel the swoosh of the pendulum blade!

Actor, film maker, playwright, artist, voice actor is the man of many talents and faces, Mark Redfield will present a gothic horror tale of a decaying ancient mansion. Prepare for "The Fall of the House of Usher!" He'll end his segment with a reading of "the world's most perfectly constructed poem!" The Raven! He'll do it justice! You don't want to miss it!

Mark recently appeared in the Netflix production of "Fall of the House of Usher."

Curator emeritus, Jeff Jerome takes the stage after 30 some years of listening to actors perform Poe's stories and presents his rendition of Poe's classic tale of a delightful tale of a horrible and vicious act of revenge! The Cask of Amontillado! Just don't go into the catacombs!

Jeff has been involved with Poe for over 35 years as curator of the Poe House and Museum. The Poe House is what it is today due to his dedication and drive to bring Poe to life and to smash the vicious rumors about Poe that have been circulating since his untimely death in 1849. Other dedicated people in the City should also be proud of their efforts to keeping the house open to the public.

Jeff Jerome travelled to Providence Rhode Island to discuss the romantic and brief troubled relationship between Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman. What a story there is to tell! He is joined by independent Poe scholar Levi Leland where they will discussed this controversial and somewhat romantic relationship.

The event concludes at 5 pm with the exciting Toast to Poe held in the historic Westminster Hall and not at the Poe Monument due to dangerous snow and ice conditions surrounding the Poe Monument.

Jeff is joined by WCBM Talk Show Host Ron Savage and Mark Redfield as they raise their glasses to the memory of Poe with an Amontillado toast to Poe. You are invited to join them in this toast by raising your own glass of your favorite drink be it wine, amontillado or a non alcoholic drink. Raise your glasses with Jeff, Ron and Mark!

A ceremonial cake made expressly for this event will be shared with you! A slice of this cake will be cut for all the people from around the world as they partake of this event.

But wait!! it's not over yet!

The famous and beloved Poe Toaster will appear with his touching musical toast to Poe before the Toast to Poe begins with Jerome and his colleagues.

This magnificent tribute started some time in the late 1940's and ended in 2009, the Bicentennial of Poe. It was resurrected by the Maryland Historical Society in 2015 much to the surprise and delight of Poe fans and the public at large! The tradition continues. Beware of imposters!

He will appear inside the Westminster Hall for his tribute.

This event does have its expenses and this is where you come it! I've continued this event because of support by people like you! You contribute because you love Poe and you enjoy what you see and hear!

PLEASE BE AWARE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY MOVE THE TOAST TO POE SEGMENT INSIDE OF WESTMINSTER HALL. UNFORTUNATELY IF THIS HAPPENS THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INSIDE OF THE HALL.

Please assist me in continuing to showcase the genius of Poe! We can't let him slide into obscurity in Baltimore!

If you don't like donating on line you can send a check to:

Jeff Jerome

P.O. Box 1226

Severna Park, Md. 21146

Check made payable to Jeff Jerome.

All proceeds support this Poe event! Unlike Gofundme which takes a small percentage of monies collected, 100% of this campaign pays the bills!

Would you please make this event happen!?

Your support is deeply appreciated and needed.

I hope you can join me and the thousands of other Poe fans around the world as we celebrate Poe!

Thank you sincerely,

Jeff Jerome

Curator Emeritus, formerly with the Poe House and Museum.