Slapstick 2010 with Michael Palin!

January 21-24, 2010

Slapstick 2010

Something Almost Completely Different with very special guest
Michael Palin

Bristol, England
Colston Hall
Check it out NOW!

TCM Classic Film Festival Passes

Turner Classic Movies Film passes go on sale today, for the April 2010 event in Hollywood. Prices range from $499 to $1,199. MORE>

• The "Classic" Festival Pass: $499 -- Includes access to all film programs at festival venues; access to all Club TCM events, including festival headquarters, the festival lounge, panel discussions, social events, the festival boutique and poolside screenings at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; an opening-night welcome party; Friday and Saturday evening passholder gatherings; the closing-night event; and a commemorative festival program.

• The "Essential" Festival Pass: $599 -- Includes all privileges available to "Classic" passholders, plus entry to the opening-night red carpet screening of A Star is Born at Grauman's Chinese Theatre and official TCM festival collectibles.

• The "Spotlight" Festival Pass: $1,199 -- Includes all privileges available to "Classic" and "Essential" passholders, plus entry to an exclusive opening-night party following the red carpet screening of A Star is Born, hosted by Vanity Fair magazine; priority entry to all events; a meet-and-greet breakfast with Robert Osborne; and an official TCM Classic Film Festival poster signed by Osborne.

Here is the official link from Turner Classic Movies.

Charlie, Buster and Harold in Niles!

Saturday November 21, 2009
7:30 PM
Suggested donation $5
Bruce Loeb (piano)Short Subjects Night
The Cure (1916, Lone Star) Charlie Chaplin
Get Out and Get Under (1920, Rolin) Harold Lloyd
My Wife’s Relations (1922, Schenck) Buster Keaton
Pass the Gravy (1928, Roach) Max Davidson

Saturday November 28, 2009
7:30 PM
Suggested donation $5
Frederick Hodges (piano)
The Duchess of Buffalo (1926, Constance Talmadge)
Constance Talmadge plays an American dancer in Russia, chased by a grand duke.

With shorts:
The Dumb-Bell (1922, Roach) Snub Pollard
Long Fliv the King (1926, Roach) Charley Chase

Check the Niles link for the latest in weekly silent film events!

Major Fouad Khalil Aide, longtime Edna and Charlie fan

Major Fouad Khalil Aide
1931-2009
Longtime Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance fan

Today, very saddened to learn of the passing of longtime Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance fan, Major Fouad Khalil Aide. Major Aide has written to Edna's for years and it was always great to hear from him. Major Aide and his wife, both loved Edna, and he will be missed in the circle of Edna fans, worldwide. Our heart felt condolences to his family... Linda Wada, ednapurviance.org/com

About Major Fouad Khalil Aide (from tribute site):
Fouad was commissioned from the University of Texas ROTC Program in 1953. He served as a Military Police Officer for his twenty years in the Army. He served three tours of duty in Viet Nam, with one year as an Infantry Officer. He was recalled to active duty for service in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He was attached to the FBI on their Terrorism Task Force because of his expertise in the various Arabic dialects and cultures. He was fluent in Arabic, Spanish and Vietnamese and had a good working knowledge of Italian, Portuguese and French. He was the Chief, International Military Student Office of USAMPS for 33 years. Some of Major Aide’s awards and decorations include three awards of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with seven campaigns. For his combat service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.


First email and a few others, over the years...

Hi,
I am a big Charles Chaplin fan. I have many of his films on 8mm film. I have recently purchased the available films on DVD. However there are a number of his films that are not included in these DVDs.

I would appreciate any help you can give me in finding the following Chaplain films on DVD.
1.Mabel at the Wheel,
2. Caught in the Rain,
3. Her Friend the Bandit,
4. Mabel's Busy day,
5.The Property Man,
6. Gentleman of Nerve,
7. His Trysting Place,
8. His Prehistoric Past,
9. The Professor,
10.How to Make Movies,
11. Show People.

If I am able to obtain them, I would have a almost complete collection of his films. He is the best of the best. Your listings are outstanding in providing excellent information on him.

You are to be commended. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.
Happy Easter. Maj. Fouad K. Aide (US Army)

Others over the years...

"I thought that you were a youngster. I was born in 1931. Served 44 years in the US Army, had 3 combat tours in Vietnam and served a year in the first Gulf War. SO I can remember many different decades. Have a great week Linda" - Fouad

Hi Linda, Thank you for the heads up. Will check out the site. Looking forward to seeing the Edna site. PLMK when you get it running.
Regards,
Fouad

Thanks again Linda. I'm looking forward to getting the Keystone films. I know you are also. Regards,
Fouad

Hi Linda,
Will buy the first copy of your second book. PLMK when it will be out.
Regards,
Fouad

Hi Linda,
...I wish we could meet someday. We have the same interests. My wife and I love Edna.
Thanks,
Fouad

Hi Linda,
That is great news. PLMK when you have more info on the dates. Have a great week. I am happy to know that I am one of your special Edna fans.
Regards,
Fouad

Jin Yan

Seattle author, Richard Meyer, talks about his new book, "Jin Yan: The Rudolph Valentino of Shanghai," featuring the history of Chinese silent films. LINK

£3.20 buys Zepped, unknown Chaplin film?

Unknown Chaplin film? Or re-edited film with Chaplin outtakes. That is what Morace Park, a collector in England, who bought a £3.20 film off ebay called 'Zepped' is researching to find out.

'Zepped' contains footage showing Chaplin, but the Chaplin footage could be never released outtakes, which Chaplin had many of during early film career. Still, unseen footage of Chaplin causes excitement. And could be worth up to $40,000.

"The find has caused a storm among experts and features unseen footage of Zeppelins flying over England during World War I, as well as very early stop-motion animation and outtakes from Chaplin films. The main animated sequence starts with Chaplin wishing he could return to England from America and fight with British soldiers. It shows him being taken on a flight through clouds before landing on a spire in England.

Mr Park said: 'It starts with live shots of Chaplin. It then turns into a dreamscape. 'We see a Zeppelin bomb attack. And then we see Chaplin taking the mickey out of the Zeppelin, at the time a powerful instrument of terror,' he told The Guardian.

The movie, shot on 35mm nitrate film, is believed to have been a First World War propaganda piece aimed at lessening the fear of airship bombing raids which Germany had been launching on Britain from the beginning of 1915.

Mr Pogorzelski believes the film is made from outtakes and footage from previous films reedited by Essanay and cut together with shots of Zeppelins and animated material. He described it as 'either piracy or entrepreneurship - depending on which side of the fence you're on'.

Simon Louvish, author of Chaplin: The Tramp's Odyssey, told the Independent: 'There are a number of these compilation films around, and in Senegal there were a number of films that had been cut together by other people using Chaplin footage. 'Keystone Pictures was going bust at the time and footage from these Chaplin films were freely available. This is less so of the Essanay films." - Daily Mail

The footage has been 'classified for exhibition' in Egypt. More about the story at this link.

Update: One of our loyal Edna fans and longtime Chaplin expert said he was asked about this film, and saw some of the footage. The footage he saw was taken from known released films of Chaplin, from the Keystone and Essanay era.

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

Congratulations to our 2009
Edna birthday winner!
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest.
Watch for future drawings at Edna's.

The correct answers were:
1 - What event was this poster created for?
Festival Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Italy

2 - What premiered at this event in 2005?
Restored version of "A Woman of Paris"

3 - Who was a guest of honor at this event?
Lita Hill

ENTRY FORM NOW CLOSED! WATCH YOUR EMAILS!!!!

FIRST NAME WAS DRAWN AND EMAILED. IF I DON'T HEAR BACK IN 24 HOURS - BY NOON PACIFIC COAST TIME, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2009, A SECOND NAME WILL BE DRAWN. GOOD LUCK!!!

Update: as soon as I hear back, I will let you know. So far, all is quiet from the first fan emailed, but they have another 23 1/2 hours and could respond at anytime... Stay tune, if your name is in the pool. I will draw a new name if this fan does not respond.

Second update: Still no answer, but still sometime to go here. Usually, people reply back within an hour or so, but once we had a gal come in about three hours before the end of the 24 hours. So while I never had to draw a second name, as the hours tick up, there could be our first second name drawn. But stay tuned... We have many hours to go still...

Final update: GOT A WINNER ON THE FIRST TRY!

Silent Film event for Hearing Loss

November 11-14, 2009
San Diego, California
Silent Film Festival

Raising Awareness for Hearing Loss
Museum of Photographic Arts
Balboa Park

Four days of silent film fun from Buster Keaton to Charlie Chaplin, to raise awareness for hearing loss. Program by San Diego and Carlsbad Chapters of The Hearing Loss Association of America. Admission is free. Donations are accepted. Visit this link for more details on times.

My video visit of Niles Silent Film Museum

On October 24th, 2009, I visited, for the first time, the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum with guide Michael Bonham (volunteer coordinator, news editor and sometimes MC) and author, Shawna Kelly, who made a special trip down to join us in Niles.


This is just a sample of my visit at the museum. I am not in the video, but Shawna and Michael are, showing us the different locations, cameras and projectors at the theatre. This simple video was all done in fun and I hope you will enjoy... LINK TO VIDEO

I will also have a report coming soon about my visit to Niles.

Grand View Lawsuit settled!

Story with the Glendale News Press (article on web limited time)
"Attorneys representing plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against Grand View Memorial Park have announced a $3.8-million settlement agreement. ...$500,000 would go toward the restoration of Grand View Memorial Park. Ayers will head up the restoration process, which includes obtaining original cemetery records, identifying and storing cremated remains in the mausoleum, installing an irrigation system, rehabilitating its landscaping and keeping track of all project accounts." - Glendale News Press

NOTE: It is reported the Superior Court Judge is likely to approve of the settlement.

Happy Birthday Edna!!!

October 21, 2009 is Edna's birthday! I originally planned to have a drawing, but due to a business trip for our company, I am combining this trip with a visit to some of Edna's old haunts to do some more reserach and seeing a film event in Niles for the first time.


So, instead of a drawing today, please sign up for a chance to win one of Edna's 'A Woman of Paris' posters. Answer the three questions correctly and I will add your name to the growing list of entries. Drawing will be November 4th.

Celebrate Edna's birthday today, by seeing your favorite Edna film! Off and running, now! More when I get back...

Stephen Weissman 'Chaplin: A Life' in UK and Germany

Stephen Weissman
Chaplin: A Life
Available in United Kingdom and Germany
(Watch for editions in Russia, Estonia and Brazil)

From the web, A tour of Star Museum

From the youtube collection a tour of the Star Museum in Abingdon, Virginia, with guide and owner Robert Weisfield.

Grand View open another Nine Days!

October 15, 2009 - Grand View Cemetery will be open for another nine days, after this weekends opening on October 18th. Link to full story at Glendale News. Story online for a limited time. Link to Glendale City Hall.

"Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge John Wiley ordered the cemetery be opened Nov. 1, 15 and Thanksgiving Day; Dec. 13 and Christmas Day; New Year’s Day and Jan. 6, the day many Armenians celebrate Christmas; Jan. 10 and 24. Visitations are from noon to 4 p.m."

Donna Hill's Stolen Moments is Back!

Stolen Moments is back with Donna Hill's latest podcast with author Matthew Kennedy about Joan Blondell: A Life Between the Takes.

1144 and a thought...

Thanks to everyone for signing the petition!

A thought to keep in mind...

If Edna fans are really serious about getting Edna a star on the Walk of Fame, and IF Edna was selected by the Hollywood Walk of Fame Committee, and each of the signed 1000 fans, paid $25 each, that would be $25,000, and would pay for the cost of getting a star on the Walk of Fame for Edna. You would have played a direct role in getting the star on the Walk of Fame for Edna and something you could tell your future generation about.

You could walk up to that star and say, I helped get Edna's star on the Walk of Fame! And you would be part of the history, behind that star. Think about it... $25 isn't much, to be part of film history...