“If you’d never been born, then you might be an Isn’t! An Isn’t has no fun at all. No, he disn’t.” – Dr. Seuss

Tomorrow, March 2nd, would have been Theodor Geisel, or Dr. Seuss‘s, 108th birthday. Though Geisel died in 1991, he still manages to maintain cultural relevancy in 2012. Universal Studios’ 3-D, CGI interpretation of his environmentally concious 1971 book “The Lorax” is currently playing in theaters around the country, his books still top children’s best-seller lists and there are dozens of theatrical adaptations of the Seuss-themed Broadway musical “Seussical” being produced all over the country by independent theater groups. The National Education Association even honored Geisel by adopting his birthday as the annual Read Across America Day.

Here’s an excerpt from the original, animated version of “The Lorax.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXc2Ih9bJYo&feature=player_embedded]

Many of us were raised on his books and parents continue to read Dr. Seuss books to their children on a regular basis. I know I do. There’s just something about the playful, surreal world that Dr. Seuss creates that’s irresistible and he still manages to spark my imagination, even with books I’ve read a thousand times. It’s exciting to see that same excitement and curiosity when I read his books to my son.

The Cinefamily in Los Angeles is celebrating Seuss’ birthday this Saturday, March 3rd with “Seussapalooza!” showing vintage, 16mm animations of his most beloved characters like The Cat in the Hat and the Sneetches. In addition to the animation, they’ll be screening the only feature-length, live-action film that Dr. Seuss lent his hand to: “The 5,000 Fingers of Doctor T” (1953).
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