tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85345871551537124002024-03-13T15:26:48.893-04:00Welcome to Silent MoviesKallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-76669162609825019802023-12-20T10:19:00.001-05:002023-12-20T10:19:19.721-05:00Update, Cleveland Silent Film, and animation link<p> Hey, look at me, blogging for the first time in how long??</p><p>What can I say; I've been busy.</p><p>Anyways, what prompted me to start up again is 1) I've been working on updating the site (I know, right??) and 2) I am happy to say I'm on the Board of Directors for the<a href="https://www.clevelandsilentfilmfestival.org/" target="_blank"> Cleveland Silent Film Festival and Colloquium</a>, so I have started regularly scouring the web for news to post on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CLESFF" target="_blank">our FB page</a>.</p><p>Which leads me to this post, from today's NYTimes.com on <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/nyregion/stathes-vintage-cartoons.html?mwgrp=a-dbar&unlocked_article_code=1.HU0.qHLm.gdvP4GqSAo3J&smid=url-share" target="_blank">a young man who has a deep library of silent animation</a>. This is a gift link, so use it wisely!</p><p>Happy Holidays, everyone, and see you (more regularly) in 2024!</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-77122660132492820562017-11-28T15:55:00.000-05:002017-11-28T15:55:06.283-05:00The Passion of Joan of ArcThe New York Times has a review of this digitally restored masterpiece now playing at the Film Forum in New York.<br />
<blockquote>
It took some 500 years for the Roman Catholic Church to declare Joan a saint. “The Passion of Joan of Arc” was canonized more or less instantly. If novels like “Madame Bovary” or “Crime and Punishment” are must-reads, then “The Passion of Joan of Arc” is a cinematic must-see.</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/movies/the-passion-of-joan-of-arc-new-digital-restoration-film-forum.html" target="_blank">Read the review</a>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-19476582016840498742017-07-26T12:21:00.000-04:002017-07-26T12:21:35.987-04:00The Secrets of Silent-Film Footage Found Buried in the Earth<p>I love when silent films are found, as they tend to be found in the most interesting places: Attics, yard sales...and now in the frozen tundra of the Yukon.</p>
<p>From the New Yorker's Facebook page:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In 1978, a construction worker in Dawson City was excavating the site of a new recreation center when he discovered reels of film poking out from the hard-packed terrain.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The result is a film from Bill Morrison, "Dawson City: Frozen Time," that looks at the surviving films and reconstructs the extraordinary arcs of political and cultural history that are latent in them.</p>
<p>Myself, I'd love to know what films were found and if they're available, but nonetheless the film sounds interesting.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-secrets-of-silent-film-footage-found-buried-in-the-earth" target="_blank">Read the article</a></li>
</ul>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-70018903615091358482016-11-23T14:45:00.000-05:002016-11-23T14:46:21.481-05:00Limited Edition<p>You know you want this.</p>
<p>Buy it now.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpMoGMeIaJaV1XhXqDIIregETe25BnwAvyf-rclJ57zp4NI_uCqhlAUWXFipvkdSuKkb2RxoizmVDicS_2u-gocyAMCYorInkOGNZ7SVRoMqBCNcBQDL3dP0MTby1tuvOL_vOdHLyYDJC/s1600/tshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpMoGMeIaJaV1XhXqDIIregETe25BnwAvyf-rclJ57zp4NI_uCqhlAUWXFipvkdSuKkb2RxoizmVDicS_2u-gocyAMCYorInkOGNZ7SVRoMqBCNcBQDL3dP0MTby1tuvOL_vOdHLyYDJC/s320/tshirt.jpg" width="320" height="289" /></a></div>
<p><a href="http://teethunder.com/i-still-miss-mary-pickford?target_us=002_18gt_checkout" target="_blank">Buy the shirt.</a></p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-52817427801967226702016-09-29T10:33:00.000-04:002016-09-29T10:34:12.866-04:00Help the Library of Congress<p>I received an email from the Library of Congress. Every week they post movie stills that they ask the public for help in identifying. This week it's silent films. If you know any of these, they'd love to hear!</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"This week, in our ongoing series of unknown movie stills, we go way back to the silent days of filmmaking. We hope you can help us <a href="http://blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2016/09/mystery-photos-8-mysterious-silents/" target="_blank">identify these performers or the productions they are in</a>. As always, “clicking” on the images below will increase their size. Please put any suggestions you have in the “comments” section below. As the images are positively ID’ed, we’ll update this blog. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!</p>
</blockquote>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-68979474280163946902016-08-25T14:36:00.002-04:002016-08-25T14:37:14.886-04:00Film Preservation 2016<p>It's me, and oh my goodness, it's been almost a year since I posted - eek!</p>
<p>I got married last year...that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it. In the meantime: GREAT article on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/28/movies/the-race-to-save-the-films-we-love.html" target="_blank">preserving films from NYTimes.com</a>. Definitely read!</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-85653244117193357552015-10-27T15:54:00.001-04:002015-10-27T20:10:28.530-04:00Restoring Buster Keaton<p>Had I known about this sooner, I would have posted sooner:</p>
<p>Help fund a Kickstarter campaign that is looking to raise funds to restore ALL of Buster Keaton's short films - all 32 of them.</p>
<p>As of right now, they are soooo close to raising the money - help push them over the edge! Go! Now!</p>
<p>Buster himself would want you to.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1154182684/buster-keaton-project-restauration-films" target="_blank">Kickstarter: Buster Keaton Restoration</a></p>
<p><strong>It's official: They met their goal!</strong> Really looking forward to seeing these when they're available.</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-6680639422588701222015-10-20T16:22:00.000-04:002015-10-20T16:23:02.293-04:00Garbo and Gilbert: A Great Love, or a Great Lie?<p>Slate recently posted a story on the fabled romance between Garbo and Gilbert.</p>
<p>It's based on a podcast, "You Must Remember This..." and reviews some of the research that went into the cast.</p>
<p>So what do you think: A true love affair, or a publicist's trick?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/you_must_remember_this/2015/10/the_true_story_of_the_romance_between_john_gilbert_and_greta_garbo.html" target="_blank">Listen and then judge for yourself.</a></p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-12423441062545916702015-09-07T18:06:00.003-04:002015-09-07T18:06:51.401-04:00The End of an Era...<p>It is with sadness that I post that Jean Darling, of the "Our Gang" comedies beginning in the silent era, has passed:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/07/movies/jean-darling-actress-in-our-gang-series-dies-at-93.html" target="_blank">Obituary from NYTimes.com</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3225542/End-era-Silent-film-actress-Jean-Darling-star-Gang-comedies-dies-Germany-aged-93.html" target="_blank">Obituary from Daily Mail</a> (I know,right?!)</li>
</ul>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-19944382161563899662015-08-28T17:30:00.000-04:002015-08-28T17:30:04.452-04:00Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Love Letters<p>I never thought in a million years I'd be linking to the Daily Mail, but...here we are.</p>
<p>The article recounts Douglas Fairbanks' years in Hollywood, in honor of a new book being published with love letters to Mary Pickford.</p>
<p>You can read more about the tumultuous affair between the two on <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3213623/Passionate-love-affairs-bitter-rivalries-lavish-divorces-silent-movie-star-created-Hollywood-just-like-modern-counterparts-couldn-t-speak-screen.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail (U.K.)</a> website.</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-57460902565320714002015-07-08T16:16:00.001-04:002015-07-08T16:16:47.140-04:00The (Pie) Fight of the Century<p>From <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/movies/comedys-sweet-weapon-the-cream-pie.html" target="_blank">NYTimes.com:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Ah, the thrown pie. Among the sweetest delights in life is the sight of an airborne cream-and-crust concoction finding purchase. It is the great leveler, a puncturing of pretension, and those who find pie throwing beneath their refined comic sensibility deserve nothing more than a lemon meringue treat, smack in the kisser.</p>
<p>So it is with unrestrained glee that we share the news of the recovery of a long-missing portion of the greatest pie-throwing fight ever recorded, far superior to the pastry melee of “In the Sweet Pie and Pie,” a 1941 Three Stooges short, or the baked-goods battle in “The Great Race,” a 1965 comedy with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.</p>
<p>That, of course, would be the epic custard conflagration in “The Battle of the Century,” a 1927 Laurel and Hardy short that dispensed with 3,000 pies, thrown not with abandon but with slow-burn precision, heightening the comedic effect.</p>
<p>For several decades, the 20-minute, two-reel classic has been missing its second reel, which provided most of the logic for why dozens of people were pelting one another with pastries. Film historians have puttied the gaps in “Battle” with explanatory title cards, but these could never replicate Laurel’s look of thought-free innocence, Hardy’s frown of eternal exasperation.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/movies/comedys-sweet-weapon-the-cream-pie.html" target="_blank">Read more...</a></p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-81703011204224891352015-04-07T10:47:00.002-04:002015-04-07T10:48:28.651-04:00Lumiere Exhibition<p>Time to head to Paris; from the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/06/arts/design/lumiere-inventing-cinema-in-paris-celebrates-the-birth-of-movies.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Timed to the 120th anniversary of the first film screening shown to a paying audience, a new exhibition at the Grand Palais here celebrates the aptly named Lumière brothers, Louis and Auguste, whose last name means light and who helped invent cinema as we know it — as well as color photography and 3-D technology. </p>
<p>"On view through June 14, the exhibition “Lumière! Inventing Cinema” showcases early films by the brothers, restored by the Institut Lumière in Lyon, a film history and restoration center; along with examples of early cinema technology — kinetoscopes, zoetropes — and documentation about the rapid spread of the medium at the turn of the 20th century."</p>
</blockquote>
Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-40416749629161596082015-03-18T11:51:00.003-04:002015-03-18T11:51:50.032-04:00Nazimova Treasures!<p>Bored at work, I wandered down a rabbit hole and what did my astonished eyes find but this latest entry on the <a href="http://www.allanazimova.com/" target="_blank">Alla Nazimova Society</a> page!:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.allanazimova.com/2015/03/alla_nazimovas_iconic_1923_salome_wig_discovered_in_ga/" target="_blank">Alla Nazimova’s Iconic 1923 ‘Salome’ Wig Discovered in a Trunk in Georgia; Wig Was Designed by Natacha Rambova, Wife of Rudolph Valentino</a></p>
<p>An amazing story. Why am I never this lucky??</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-29575992868051935972015-03-15T14:47:00.002-04:002015-03-15T14:47:56.757-04:00Oh, This Breaks My Heart<p>But I understand that things change. Still,...</p>
<p><a href="http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/03/the_grand_finale_cinefest_caps_a_35-year_run_of_bringing_rare_movies_to_the_scre.html" target="_blank">Cinefest Caps a 35-year Run of Bringing Rare Movies to the Screen</a></p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-57329978529787117952014-09-21T11:18:00.002-04:002014-09-21T11:18:52.142-04:00A Century of Black Film<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/21/nyregion/coming-soon-a-century-late-a-black-film-gem.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes.com</a> has an article on a recently discovered film at MOMA.</p>
<p>According to the article, the 1913 film contains "...the earliest surviving footage for a feature film with a black cast. It is a rare visual depiction of middle-class black characters from an era when lynchings and stereotyped black images were commonplace. What’s more, the material features Bert Williams, the first black superstar on Broadway. Williams appears in blackface in the untitled silent film along with a roster of actors from the sparsely documented community of black performers in Harlem on the cusp of the Harlem Renaissance. Remarkably, the reels also capture behind-the-scenes interactions between these performers and the directors.</p>
<p>"MoMA plans an exhibition around the work called “100 Years in Post-Production: Resurrecting a Lost Landmark of Black Film History,” which is to open on Oct. 24 and showcase excerpts and still frames."</p>
<p>Looks like a trip back to New York is in my future...</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-39136964579676182302014-06-04T09:26:00.000-04:002014-06-04T09:26:14.609-04:00Max Linder on DVD<p>From <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/01/movies/homevideo/mr-magoo-the-theatrical-collection-on-dvd.html" target="_blank">NYTimes.com</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>THE MAX LINDER COLLECTION</strong> The French comic Max Linder was the first international movie star. Charlie Chaplin regarded the insouciant dandy as a model. Most of Linder’s early work has been lost; these three digitally restored short features — “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0011948/" target"_blank">Be My Wife</a>” (1921), “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0127834/" target="_blank">Seven Years Bad Luck</a>” (1921) and “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013674/" target="_blank">The Three Must-Get-Theres</a>” (1922) — and one two-reeler — “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181680/" target="_blank">Max Wants a Divorce</a>” (1917) — are from his two late-career American periods.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The set is available from <a href="http://www.kinolorber.com/video.php?id=1645" target="_blank">Kino</a>.</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-17519672934916097592014-06-03T17:33:00.001-04:002014-06-04T09:27:14.753-04:00"Modern Times" at LACO<p>Recently I was pleased and honored to be asked to write an article for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Every year they hold a silent film screening; this year's offerings are two Chaplin films, in honor of his 125th birthday: <em>Kid Auto Races in Venice</em> and <em>Modern Times</em>.</p>
<p><em>Kid Auto Races in Venice</em> is notable not only for observing its 100th birthday this year but for featuring the first Chaplin's Little Tramp character in its first full debut. While the Tramp had made an appearance in <em>Mabel's Strange Predicament</em>, <em>Venice</em> is the first film with the Tramp as star.</p>
<p>But I'm giving away too much! If you live in the Los Angeles area, information on attending the screening can be found on their <a href="http://www.laco.org/events/245/" target="_blank">website</a>, and my article can be found on their <a href="http://www.laco.org/blog/717/" target="_blank">blog</a>.</p>
<p>Many thanks to LACO for asking me to be a part (albeit a small one) of their celebration.</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-90698988329397199552014-05-28T11:21:00.001-04:002014-05-28T11:25:18.924-04:00Films at UCLA<p>Recently received from the UCLA Film & Television Archive:</p>
<p>On Friday, June 6, UCLA Film & Television Archive presents two 1923 dramas featuring legendary silent era star Richard Barthelmess!</p>
<p>The films will be presented in 35mm prints restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive with live musical accompaniment—and include early performances from Mary Astor, Dorothy Gish, William Powell and more.</p>
<p><em>UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Hugh M. Hefner Classic American Film Program present:</em></p>
<p><strong>Archive Treasures</strong><br />
Friday, June 6 @ 7:30 p.m.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2014-06-06/bright-shawl-1923-fighting-blade-1923" target="_blank">http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2014-06-06/bright-shawl-1923-fighting-blade-1923</a></p>
<p><em>Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive with funding provided by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.</em></p>
<p><strong>The Bright Shawl</strong><br />
1923<br />
Associated First National Pictures. PROD: Charles H. Duell. DIR: John S. Robertson. Based on a story by Joseph Hergesheimer. SCR: Edmund Goulding. CINE: George J. Folsey. EDIT: William Hamilton. CAST: Richard Barthelmess, Dorothy Gish, Mary Astor, Jetta Goudal, William Powell.</p>
<p>Praised in its day for capturing the authentic look of 1850s Cuba and its fight for independence from Spain, The Bright Shawl was a showcase for silent era stars, Richard Barthelmess and Dorothy Gish, but also proved a springboard for three future stars of the talkies: Mary Astor, William Powell and Edward G. Robinson. Barthelmess plays an American adventurer caught up in romance and revolution with Gish as the seductive cabaret dancer after his heart.</p>
<p>35mm, b/w, silent with musical accompaniment, 80 min.</p>
<p><em>Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive as part of “Saving the Silents,” with funding provided by the Stanford Theatre Foundation.</em></p>
<p><strong>The Fighting Blade (1923)</strong><br />
1923<br />
Inspiration Pictures, Inc. DIR: John S. Robertson. SCR: Josephine Lovett, Don Bartlett. CINE: George J. Folsey. EDIT: William Hamilton. CAST: Richard Barthelmess, Lee Baker, Morgan Wallace, Bradley Barker, Frederick Burton.</p>
<p>The first in a series of costume dramas starring Barthelmess during this period—including The Bright Shawl—The Fighting Blade finds the silent-era heartthrob in fighting form as a soldier of fortune embroiled in the English Civil War. As Variety described the film’s sweep at the time, “'In power of incident and in climacteric [sic] punch, The Fighting Blade has much that neck-and-necks with Dumas.”</p>
<p>35mm, b/w, silent with musical accompaniment, 90 min.</p>
<p><strong>Venue:</strong> <a href="http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/billy-wilder-theater" target="_blank">Billy Wilder Theater</a> in Westwood Village, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024 (corner of Wilshire & Westwood Blvds., courtyard level of the Hammer Museum).</p>
<p><strong>Ticketing:</strong> <a href="http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/programs/ticketing-information" target="_blank">Advance tickets</a> are available for $10.</p>
<p>Tickets are also available at the Billy Wilder Theater box office starting one hour before showtime: $9, general admission; FREE to all UCLA students with valid ID; $8, other students, seniors and UCLA Alumni Association members with ID.</p>
<p><strong>Parking:</strong> At the Billy Wilder Theater for a $3 flat rate after 6 p.m. Enter from Westwood Blvd., just north of Wilshire.</p>
<p><strong>Info:</strong> <a href="http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/" target="_blank">www.cinema.ucla.edu</a> / 310.206.8013</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-39501279048654528142014-04-08T17:07:00.001-04:002014-04-08T17:07:24.634-04:00NYTimes.com Review of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"<p>Just a quick post: Flicker Alley has recently released "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" on DVD and Blu-Ray; read the <em>NYTimes.com</em> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/movies/homevideo/lon-chaney-in-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-on-blu-ray.html" target="_blank">review here</a>.</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-80685481984146982812014-03-01T08:52:00.001-05:002014-03-01T08:52:35.070-05:00Ramona at UCLA<p>Please join UCLA Film & Television Archive for a special World Premiere of the new restoration of the seminal California story, <em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019305/" target="_blank">Ramona</a></em> (1928)!</p>
<p>The program screens on Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Billy Wilder Theater in Westwood Village. The renowned Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra will provide live musical accompaniment, and the film will be followed by a lively discussion with a distinguished group of authors, film historians and scholars.</p>
<p>Fullprogram details can be found at <a href="http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2014-03-29/special-screening-ramona-1928" target="_blank">http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2014-03-29/special-screening-ramona-1928</a>.</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-68667965266577147612013-12-31T11:33:00.000-05:002013-12-31T11:33:25.755-05:00It is ON!<p>It could just be me - I've not been as good as I'd like in keeping up with what's going on with silents on the web, Facebook, Twitter, etc., but I recently found this wonderful site, "<a href="http://moviessilently.com/" target="_blank">Movies Silently</a>," and been enjoying it.</p>
<p>If you already knew about it, then yay! (And shame on you for not suggesting I link to it.) If you haven't visited, well then, now's a good time to start, by voting in "<a href="http://moviessilently.com/2013/12/30/the-silent-leading-man-tournament-round-1/" target="_blank">The Silent Leading Man Tournament</a>."</p>
<p>I can't wait to see who wins these rounds. Should be fun!</p>
<p>And on an unrelated note, Happy New Year, everyone! Best wishes for a happy, healthy 2014 - may it be the best one yet!</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-86473078998868933832013-12-03T18:14:00.001-05:002013-12-03T18:17:34.165-05:00Help Save Essanay!<p>I wrote about Essanay Studios in Chicago a while back...</p>
<p>Following them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/essanaystudios" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, their fundraising campaign is still going:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>After appearing in a handful of films for Essanay, including "Detective Dorothy," 4-year-old Sadie Frances Osman made a film with Chicago's own Selig Polyscope. Following that, she retired from the film business. She remained in Illinois with her parents, continued her education, and married Gene Barrett. Frances, as she was known following her departure from showbiz, stayed in Illinois and died in 2001.</p>
<p>Time is running out! Help us preserve our rich legacy, and discover more about the stars that passed through our doors by supporting our restoration campaign <a href="http://bit.ly/HY3sG2" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/HY3sG2</a>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Please help and donate if you can!</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-25345501963001712752013-11-13T16:25:00.001-05:002013-11-13T16:48:42.326-05:00Sunset & Vine<p>Mike Blake, noted biographer and expert in all things Lon Chaney, posted this photo on Facebook today, along with this:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Filming at Sunset and Vine in Hollywood. A few feet north of me is where the FIRST FULL- LENGTH movie, DeMille's THE SQUAW MAN was partly filmed in a rented barn in 1913.</p>
<p>This iconic mural was made in the late 1960s when the bank was Home Savings. Yes, Lon's name is amongst them.</p>
<p>This site was where NBC Radio shows were produced.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I got his permission to post because the mural is amazing (it looks like mosaic?), and because so many silent stars are included.</p>
<p>In addition to Lon Chaney, I see Rudolph Valentino, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Colleen Moore, Lillian Gish, Charlie Chaplin/Jackie Coogan, Nanook of the North and Clara Bow, but I can't read/recognize the others - anyone want to chime in?</p>
<p>Many thanks to Mike for allowing me to post it here!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6JfGMCq6mV07ni_prgqQxiyLIxE6aEsyh2GqfFxKMh8xsNSVX1zTzdLBbc4WmTKcVnhEAxrnln1_La_k3u5hhO7vASRE7UsKUSXldijBf5NHwbgyOLWUfe2FHc2GXm0tpySq7udK4wHz/s1600/building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6JfGMCq6mV07ni_prgqQxiyLIxE6aEsyh2GqfFxKMh8xsNSVX1zTzdLBbc4WmTKcVnhEAxrnln1_La_k3u5hhO7vASRE7UsKUSXldijBf5NHwbgyOLWUfe2FHc2GXm0tpySq7udK4wHz/s320/building.jpg" /></a></div>
<p><em>Click the image to view larger</em></p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-8779060337048201272013-10-17T17:03:00.001-04:002013-10-17T17:03:03.379-04:00Essanay Studios Restoration Project<p>Just received an email from Janelle Vreeland of Essanay Studios regarding their restoration campaign.</p>
<p>Per her email:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson and Ben Turpin all made their way through the historic Essanay Studios in Chicago on their way to stardom. Although they’re gone, the studio that helped bring them to the rest of the world still stands, and we’re working to bring it back into the spotlight.</p>
<p>Our newly launched Indiegogo campaign seeks to preserve and revitalize one of the world’s first and last remaining silent film studios and a unique piece of a great city’s history. The restoration and rebirth of the Essanay Film Studio Complex will provide an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn and experience the magic and mystery of early film-making and Chicago’s unique role. It will also extend and expand the studio’s cultural legacy by providing a community space for the performing arts. Last, but far from least, it will enhance the educational mission and prestige of St. Augustine College through its stewardship of this historic site and as a community partner and anchor of the historic Uptown Entertainment District.</p>
<p>The rise of the film industry and Chicago’s leading role is an important story for people in Chicago and beyond. You can help preserve this story by spreading the word about this incredibly important project.</p>
<p>To learn more about or contribute to our campaign, visit our Indiegogo page: <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/save-and-restore-essanay-studios" target="_blank">http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/save-and-restore-essanay-studios</a>.</p>
<p>Or visit the official Essanay Studios site: <a href="http://essanaystudios.org" target="_blank">http://essanaystudios.org</a>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Really hope this project takes off; would be wonderful (and another fine reason to visit Chicago!).</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534587155153712400.post-32183885516166017022013-09-24T17:25:00.002-04:002013-09-24T17:26:29.241-04:00Silent Treasures from New Zealand<p>Great article from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/movies/homevideo/silent-treasures-from-the-new-zealand-film-archive.html" target="_blank">NYTimes.com</a> on a recently-released anthology from the <a href="http://www.filmpreservation.org" target="_blank">National Film Preservation Foundation</a>.</p>
<p>One of the features includes <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000406/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">John Ford</a>'s <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0018530/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Upstream</a>, which I went to L.A. to see 2 years ago. I mentioned going here on my blog, but never got a chance to write about it (I know, I know) but the article does a really nice job of summarizing how the films came to the attention of the NFPF.</p>
<p>What's great is the collection includes many of the films "found" in New Zealand (read the article! <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/movies/homevideo/silent-treasures-from-the-new-zealand-film-archive.html" target="_blank">Go</a>! <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/movies/homevideo/silent-treasures-from-the-new-zealand-film-archive.html" target="_blank">Read</a>!) making this a great addition to a collection. I know it will be in mine - it will be on my Christmas list to the fiance (we upgraded!).</p>Kallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981044638515779201noreply@blogger.com0