Halligan’s Hits & Misses: “Lena: A Life in Folk”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time on Phila Street, home to the longest continuously operating folk music venue in the United States: Caffè Lena.
Although I’ve always known the Spa City landmark to have an extraordinary history of hosting talented musicians including Don McLean, Arlo Guthrie and Bob Dylan, I didn’t know much about the lady who started it all - Lena Spencer - until seeing WMHT Public Media’s new documentary “Lena: A Life in Folk.”
This one-hour documentary takes a thorough look at Spencer’s colorful and challenging life, sharing with viewers a wealth of information about the caffè’s founder and her roots.
“I was drawn to Lena’s unbridled ambition,” the documentary producer, WMHT’s Nicole Van Slyke, said in a press release. “She was looking for something and she found it in a rundown building in downtown Saratoga. It was her destiny.” Watching the documentary made me realize that Caffè Lena has always been a labor of love, and it made me really respect the people who carry on that legacy today, as the venue prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2020.
Though Spencer’s passionate spirit created Caffè Lena, it’s people like Sarah Craig that we have to thank for the caffè’s continued success. As the executive director that has seen Caffè Lena through its most transformative phase yet, Craig enjoyed reflecting on the past with “Lena: A Life in Folk,” for which she was interviewed.
“We’ve been so focused on the rebirth of the Caffè for the past couple years that it feels good to step back and remember where we came from. This documentary reminds us of how much Lena is at the heart of our style and values. But it also is a stunning reminder of how far we’ve come. As of this year, we’ve been without her as long as we were with her,” Craig said. “Lena created a community that has lasted for 30 years beyond her death, and keeps getting stronger.
“This documentary reveals that she did that despite lack of family support, illness, lack of money, lack of a husband. It could have been a sad story, but ultimately it’s about tenacity and love, and the power of music.”
In the documentary, I learned that at one point Lena dreamed of being a journalist. While lots of people, including myself, are happy she instead chose the path she did - to create an amazing space for art at Caffè Lena - I’m glad the local journalists who worked on “Lena: A Life in Folk” are finally telling her story in full.
“Lena: A Life in Folk” premieres at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19 on WMHT-TV and WMHT’s Facebook page (facebook. com/PublicMediaWMHT).