Edna Purviance's bio

June 6, 2018 - Re-editing Edna Purviance's family biography 2nd Draft. Photo: Leading Ladies © used by ednapurviance.org

Friday, December 30, 2005

CHARLIE CHAPLIN MUTUALS - WALES/UK

COMING MARCH 19th - The Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff plan a live orchestra accompaniment of the new music conducted by Carl Davis for the Mutuals Films: Behind the Screen, Easy Street and The Adventurer. This is the new music that is available on the BFI released MUTUAL Collection. Mr. Davis plans a question and answer session after the program. Tickets are now available for the March 2006 program. Edna Purviance co-stars in all three films.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Hetty Kelly - Charlie Chaplin's First Love

December 27th, 2005 - I hope your Christmas was a very happy one!

For a little after Christmas present to Edna visitors I have been updating Edna's site with new items I have found over the years. I just updated the Chaplin's Wives page with a picture and small article about Hetty Kelly, Charlie Chaplin's first love. This image is not in the last edition of David Robinson's book. It was taken in America during her visit. The item is from the ednapurviance.org research file. More will be coming about this in the future so...

Watch for more updates in the coming year! Happy New Year to All of YOU!

Hetty Ketty

Monday, December 19, 2005

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!












We like to send our BEST WISHES for a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, during this Holiday Season!

And just a few ways of saying Merry Christmas around the world! Joyeux Noel, Gesëende Kersfees, Een Plesierige Kerfees, Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo, Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun, Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan, Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun, Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok, Glædelig Jul, Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar, Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame, Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah, Buone Feste Natalizie, Shinnen omedeto

Chaplin Library

Just a quick note that Dominique and I have been updating the Chaplin Library with the latest books from his collection on the latest page! The books in the library is from all different years from current to very rare. I will be adding more over the coming week and will be selecting some new feature items as well!

A Woman of Paris

'A Woman of Paris' starring Edna Purviance and Adolphe Menjou, will be on Turner Classic Movies, January 24th, 2006, 9:45PM Eastern and 6:45PM Pacific. Directed by Charles Chaplin, it was the first film he did not star. This is part of an evening of silent films that include 'Souls for Sale' and 'Greed'. Check TCM for schedule changes.

NOTE: TCM has a Canadian listing for December which varies some from the USA film schedule.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Charlie Chaplin Ready to Wear Line....

Krypton Imagination announces the coming of a new line of ready-to-wear clothing to household accessories based on Charlie Chaplin's image.

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Born the same year as Chaplin?

A story out this week that according to Guinness World Records, Maria Esther de Capovilla is the oldest person alive at the age of 116. She was born the same year as Charlie Chaplin, in 1889.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

The Mutual Films Volume 2 - BFI

For UK visitors, here is a review of The Mutual Films Volume 2 just released on DVD. The review is from DVD Times. REVIEW

Update: Feburary 2, 2006 - The BFI Mutual Film Collection with Carl Davis's new music recordings will be release in the USA in 2006 through Image Entertainment. Date of release will be announced in April 2006.

Edna's Site

If you were having problems getting Edna's site to load the last couple of days, the server was going through some testing and updating. Sorry for any problems...

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Special Guest Charlie Chaplin Question

Dec. 11 - In honor of Edna's fifth year, a special quiz question from Garen Ewing, Charlie/Edna fan, and creator of the award winning Rainbow Orchid. He didn't know this would be part of a tribute to Edna's fifth year, but I thought it was the perfect time to do it. Garen's question is a Chaplin question and does fit the latest broadcast on BBC:

Garen's question:
"Everyone knows Richard Attenborough made the biopic 'Chaplin' in 1992, but in which Chaplin film does Richard Attenborough appear?"

Send your answers by email or leave on the comment page. As for the last question the answer was 'Triple Trouble' and 'Work'.

I have a change up for the film and like you to visit RAINBOW ORCHID instead. This award winning comic is being currently created by Garen Ewing. You can read the finished episodes he has done now, and follow the development of the project. Also, see if you can spot Garen's interest in Edna in this stunning work. Check out Garen's Chaplin UK DVD and Video Guide. And check out his other great sites as well, including The Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Note: Due to some server problems experience and not enough time to fix the sites on some of the links to my special entry about Edna entering her fifth year, I had to remove that entry for now. I will be working to repair those older sites and replace the entry back soon. Thanks...

Friday, December 02, 2005

Stage by Stage - A.J. Marriot

Dec. 2, 2005 - 'Stage by Stage' by A.J. Marriot has spent many years researching Chaplin's work on the stages from the UK, before Charlie Chaplin reached films. It is exciting to me, because I had a long interest in this same area researching the Karno Tour in the USA. I like to thank Mr. Marriot for his recent links to Edna after I shared information from my file on Denver, Salt Lake and San Diego.

Dominique Dugros has updated his collection in the Chaplin Library recently, where you will find Mr. Marriot's book listed on the Chaplin Library LATEST page.

UPDATE DECEMBER 6TH, 2005 - I was excited and surprised about seeing this about the Karno Tour, because I spent many years researching the Karno Tour in the USA myself and saw things exciting from my own research of the tour but had no idea someone from the UK was doing the same thing until November 25, 2005. I have contacted Mr. Marriot and he has kindly given Edna's links under Denver and Salt Lake City, which I supplied information he did not have for those cities and help him confirm the San Diego dates, as well. It is not easy as I spent seven years researching and gathering information myself on Karno. I have 60% of the tour documented with nearly all the western cities and mid-western dates fully documented. I have some of the eastern dates, but the hardest part is getting the films from from the east. I know from all my years working on Karno research and on Edna research just what it takes to gather the information, so congratulations to Mr. Marriot on his research. -
Linda, ednapurviance.org

PS - to my librarian friends, Rita and JoAnne, a special thanks to you for all the help you have done over the years for both my projects! And to my husband, Wes, who knows how much I love research. You will be credited in Edna, for sure!

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

CHAPLIN Part 2 - BBC RADIO

Nov. 29th - If you missed Nov. 29th live broadcast on radio and on the web, you can catch it on the BBC 2 website during this week. Part TWO next Tuesday, December 6th, 8:30PM UK time, 3:30PM Eastern and 12:30PM Pacific.

Check this link to listen to November 29th - PART ONE
Hear the Letter Chaplin wrote, but never sent to Edna...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/documentaries/#chaplin

Monday, November 28, 2005

Question & Film Week Nov. 28th

This week I mainly got email answers to the question, so thanks to everyone who responded. Last week's question was in Charlie's scene with Edna in the film 'In the Park' 'What does he fall over?' The answer is a baby buggy. Now the real question, 'Where are the babies in the baby buggy?' Edna is listed as playing a nurse maid in this film and appears to be rocking the buggy in the scene. Charlie falls right into the buggy and would have crushed anything that would have been in it. Of course, there were no babies in the buggy, only acting like there were. I wonder how many people who saw this film in 1915 and were wondering...

This brings me to the new question for this week. Not counting this film, with Edna playing a nurse maid, 'In what other films did Edna play a maid?' And for a change up this week, instead of a film, it would be a good week to listen to 'Smile: The Genius of Charlie Chaplin' a documentary from BBC Radio 2. Check this site and ednapurviance.org for more details. Thanks for visiting!

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Chaplin Airlines - Sydney Chaplin

Nov. 24th - Happy Thanksgiving to the US! Edna enters her fifth year on the web, starting November 25th. I am currently updating pages for her fifth year, with some information not shared on the site before. Some of you may already know about Chaplin Airlines. This short lived adventure of Sydney Chaplin lasted pretty much during 1919. This was during the time Charlie Chaplin was working on 'The Kid'. Sydney was doing other things in business too. He even had a short run being Edna Purviance's agent, as the actual contract is still in the Edna Purviance Collection at BFI.

As Edna enters her fifth year, we plan to have new sections. The Chaplin Library will also continue to grow. Thanks to everyone returning over the years and to the new visitors as well!

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Kevin Brownlow's - I'm King Kong

Nov. 23 - Kevin Brownlow's latest documentary 'I'm King Kong' on Turner Classic Movies, can be seen again on December 13th, 2005. 9:45 PM Eastern and 6:45 PM Pacific. Check TCM Schedule. (Remember Tuesday, November 29th & December 6th, for the BBC Radio 2 documentary on Charlie Chaplin. Details.)

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Question & Film- Week Nov. 20th

Nov. 20th- Everyone who answered last week's question got it right! The Lovelock New Year's Eve Annual Masque Ball.This ball was very popular with all the families. Thanks for reading about this on Edna!

This week is Thanksgiving in America, so I wish a Happy Holiday to you! For the question this week, I decided to pick a short film, with people busy with the US holiday and the Christmas holiday season starts in full swing very soon everywhere. In all the films Edna made with Chaplin, there were no films they made together with a holiday scene. In fact, except in 'The Gold Rush', Chaplin does not refer to any holidays. He mentions Christmas in 'Limelight', but that is it. So I will go back to one of Edna's earliest works, a film I have been watching recently. It is 'In the Park'. Filmed in the San Francisco Bay area in March 1915, it was Edna's third film and when she really started to shine on camera. It is a perfect example of Chaplin's claim that all he needed for a film was a park, a policeman and a pretty girl. The pretty girl was Edna. In Edna's scenes with Charlie, Charlie falls over something, 'What does he fall over?' Follow-up question next week about that scene. Until than, Happy Thanksgiving to the USA!

Also don't forget to listen for the Chaplin Documentary on the BBC Radio 2 coming soon, details below. And this holiday weekend you can catch Robert Downey Jr. latest work in 'Good Night, Good Luck'. If you like to get a taste of the McCarthy era and early 1950's USA network news, this film really shows it...

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Smile: The Genius of Charlie Chaplin

Nov. 16 - Smile: The Genius of Charlie Chaplin (PART 1) will air on BBC Radio 2 at 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM UK time, Tuesday, November 29th, 2005. Hosted by Robert Downey Jr., it is part one of a two part radio documentary that will air part two, Tuesday, December 6, at the same times listed. It will included many interviews from David Robinson, Geraldine Chaplin, Kevin Brownlow, Eddie Izzard and more...

Note for fans elsewhere: If like their other broadcast you will should be able to listen live by the internet from the BBC RADIO 2 website. East coast US times would be 3:30PM - 4:30 PM Eastern. Pacific Coast Time US - 12:30PM-1:30PM Pacific. Check radiotimes.com for current schedule. Otherwise, this broadcast will be available to listen to on the BBC RADIO 2 website for a short period of time after the broadcast. More

Never listened to radio by internet before? Check out this October 2004 piece from BBC Radio 4 from MAKING HISTORY. It is a piece about Gandi and Charlie Chaplin. Also check out BBC Radio 2 live broadcast to test it out, if you never done it.

Charlie Chaplin Library

November 16th - Dominique and I have been busy updating the Charlie Chaplin Library. We now have over 400 books listed in the library with covers from many different countries. The PDF INDEX file has the complete listing of all the books in the library. The LATEST page has all the latest books added to the library since our opening in July. Take a look, if you have not, and re-visit to see what is new!

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Sunrise Silents Update & More

Nov. 5, 2005 - To go along with the last entry, I like to add Sunrise Silents to the list of research and collection resources. Sunrise Silents offers CDs of rare silent film magazines for your collection and enjoyment, including the 1916 Photoplay magazine and article on Edna Purviance.

UPDATE: NOVEMBER 15th, 2005 - I just received my CD copy of the Edna Purviance cover issue, September 1916 of Photoplay. Very nice quality from this service! Watch for a review on Edna soon! - L

UPDATE: A review of the DVD: Charlie Chaplin: The Forgotten Years
UK Fans Nov. 18-20th: A weekend of silent films at the Glasgow Film Festival

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Question & Film for the Week

Nov. 13th, 2005 - Last week I asked, 'What reminds Edna what she came to the store to buy?' Check out Mark's answer under comments on last week's. He got it right! Thanks for all the answers! Anyone was excellent in remembering socks as what she bought...

This week I decided to pick a film to put the summer mood back in place with time at the park or golf course, as Charlie tries his talent. The film is 'The Idle Class'. Created after 'The Kid', it is one of the forgotten films under the Kid's shadow. Edna plays Charlie's wife, or I should say the wife to the husband, as Chaplin plays two roles: The Tramp and the wealthy, but drunk, husband. While Chaplin personally didn't like golf, Edna did like horseback riding. She was very good and spent many days riding her own horse during her Lovelock, Nevada years.

For the question this week, you will not find it in a film, but on Edna's site! In 'The Idle Class', Edna gets to dress up for a masque ball. During Edna's years in Lovelock, 'What masque ball did the family attend as a tradition?' If you don't know, the answer is on the site. As before, leave your answer at comment or email to me on Edna's website contact page. Thanks for all your responses last week and thanks for visiting!

Thursday, November 10, 2005

CHARLIE CHAPLIN KEYSTONES ABC NIGHTLINE

ABC NIGHTLINE REPORT- RESTORING OF THE KEYSTONES
This nine minute report can be seen at this ABC Nightline link. Click on the image showing Charlie under 'Audiences are introduced to restored Charlie Chaplin films'. Aired this week, it mentions that BFI (working with Cineteca di Bologna) plans to have the films fully restored in about three years. Whatever time it takes, fans will be happy to finally see this done.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 14, 2005 - Another report from ABC on the Restored Chaplin Keystones.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

CHARLIE CHAPLIN FANS - UK & LA

LOS ANGELES, CA. - NOVEMBER 11th, 12th, and 13th, 2005 - A Show on Hollywood History will be broadcast live from Los Angeles historic Los Angeles Theatre, where 'City Lights' premiered. This Friday's show will focus on Chaplin's history on film with Kiera Chaplin adding her personal insight. Tickets to the audience are FREE. The show will be broadcast between 1-4 PM, but audience members will have to be at the theatre by 11:45 AM to be seated and ready for the live broadcast. Three different shows are planned throughout the weekend, with Friday, November 11th show being of most interest to Chaplin fans. This broadcast will be live on the UK channel called LIVING TV this weekend. In the US, a later date is planned, but not confirmed, with The Biography Channel. INTERESTED? Contact Jessica at: jessica.bath@twofour.co.uk ASAP!

CHARLIE CHAPLIN BBC RADIO

London, England - BBC Radio 2 will air a two-part Chaplin Documentary on Tuesday, Nov. 29th, at 8:30 PM UK time and Tuesday, Dec. 6th, 8:30 PM UK time. Introduced by Robert Downey, Jr. who played Chaplin, it will cover Charlie Chaplin's life and have interviews throughtout. Dr. Lisa Stein has also informed me she will have a small part on the program. You can hear this program on BBC Radio 2, or if you don't live near the broadcast, you can listen to it at BBC Radio 2 website. I will post more details here, as they are known.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Question and Film for the Week

For my film and question for the week, I decided to pick a film Chaplin started working on in November 1918 and didn't release until June 1919. 'Sunnyside' is not thought to be his best work, but I find it to be a favorite to watch. Mainly, I enjoy the scenes of Edna and Charlie, but also the hotel scenes with Charlie's version of 'housekeeping'. I have many thoughts on this film, but the scenes of Charlie trying to impress Edna, after he see her with the 'city fellow' are quite moving. If you have not seen it, I won't say more here.

When watching 'Sunnyside' I found a question to ask this week. In one of the scenes, Edna goes to the hotel store to buy something, but when asked what, she can't remember. 'What reminds Edna what she came to the store to buy?'

Like before, you can comment or email your answer. And yes, the answer was 'Shoulder Arms' for last weeks question. Thanks for writing in your responses! New Question Nov. 13th.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Picturegoer and more

You may have seen this site before, but if not, thought I past the link. As part of Time Warner: Picturegoer, Picture Show, Film Weekly and Film Pictorial magazines has been online for a few years with images of their magazines covers. This is a commercial site with covers being sold as posters. They also have a section where you can search for original copies of these magazines. They do have a collection of Charlie Chaplin images to browse, plus many more from the classic film era. If you have not seen this site, here are a few links to check out.

Home page link to Picturegoer: (this page has links to the three other magazines mentioned)
http://www.picturegoer.net/index.html

Film Pictorial link on Chaplin:
http://www.filmpictorial.com/CharlieChaplinMar36.htm

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Keystone Films Publication

Interested in learning more about Keystone films? "La Naissance de Charlot - Keystone 1914" is a semi-annual review published by Thierry G. Mathieu in France. It is a great source for learning more about Chaplin's work at Keystone as the publication covers step by step, in detail, all the films in order. The work continues, until all the films have been covered. Check this link to Thierry website to learn more and see what has been done, what is in store and how to order.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Movie and Question for the Week

On November 13th, 1916, Charlie Chaplin released 'Behind the Screen' for Mutual Films. It was his seventh film for the company. Chaplin spoofs his old studio, Keystone, while Edna tries to get a job, not dressed as her beautiful self, but as one of the guys, in this fun film about movie making in Chaplin's day.

Which brings me to my question, 'What other film did Edna dress as a man?' Happy Viewing and Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 28, 2005

TCM November Schedule

If you get the TCM schedule each month by email, you may noticed it came a bit scrambled this time with double entries and movies placed between other films, like for the entry near Chaplin's Modern Times film showings in November. Just check TCM's online November schedule for the correct listing. (remember, TCM schedule can change without notice.)

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

The Search for Charlie Chaplin

Kevin Brownlow's book, 'The Search for Charlie Chaplin' is available at a couple of online locations. I have been in contact with a few people who ordered from both sources and received their items, but I have not ordered personally from them. Both sources are in Italy, where the book was produced and release July 2005. You can order through Le Mani (details at chaplin.com). The other source is libreiauniversitaria.it.

If ordering from the states or Canada, do expect it to take sometime and figure in the exchange rate for the full cost. No word when this book will be available in America or the UK for those who like to wait. See this review from Chaplin fan Rainer Mann about the book. Rainer writes on a forum at comedyclassic.org.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

UK Fans-Unknown Chaplin DVD

For a few months I heard BFI was going to release Kevin Brownlow and David Gill's the 'UNKNOWN CHAPLIN' on DVD in the UK. On the charliechaplin.com site they mention BFI is planning the release in the future. (Thanks, Nancy for the info!) The US/Canada version will be released this November. More information at USA Chaplin DVD.

Also for UK fans, check this link for a bit more information on the Mutual Films Volume 2 release in November. It is available through the Chaplin UK DVD Guide.

Monday, October 24, 2005

Hollywood Portrait Photography

When buying old photos, it is good to know more about them, especially if they have a photo studio name stamped on them. Having such a photo, I found this web page with an introduction to Hollywood Portrait Photography by David Shields. It lists some of the more known early day studios and photographers and the styles they were known for. It has a check list of the more noticed Hollywood photographers and studios in the field and a small sampling of photos from Shields personal collection. If you are into collecting classic film star photos, a place to get an idea about some of the more important studios of the day.

Link to Hollywood Portrait Photography by David Shields

Friday, October 21, 2005

Question for the Day - October 21th

First off, today is Edna's 110th birthday, so Happy Birthday is in order! She was born on October 21, 1895, in Paradise Valley, Nevada. Since it is her birthday, I thought it was time for a new question for the day. The new question for October 21th, is 'When did you first notice Edna?'

Hope to see some responses to the new question. I also like to still continue the last question before it goes off the first page and in the archives, 'What is your favorite Edna Purviance and Charlie Chaplin film and why it is your favorite?'

If you like to see all the pages posted for the month, just click on the October Archives. I like to thank all of you who have responsed so far and thank you for visiting Edna's Place!

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Chaplin Music and Updating

I have been updating the Chaplin Music CD guide and will be continuing to update in the coming weeks. This includes some minor updates on the Smile page, as well. I have also been updating other pages on Edna's as the site gets ready for its 5th year on the web.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

UK FANS - Mutual Film Vol. 2

As I have mentioned here and on Edna's site, the Mutual Film Volume 2 DVD is finally being released in the UK this November. Check out Garen Ewing's The Charlie Chaplin UK DVD and Video Guide for more information.

US & CANADIAN FANS - Charlie Chaplin: Forgotten Years (2003) is finally available. See this link to CHAPLIN DVD US GUIDE for more information.

Update: The buy buttons are down, but we know Garen is very busy with creating books. I will keep all the links in place during this busy time.

Monday, October 17, 2005

Film for the Week of October 17th

On October 20th, 1918, 'Shoulder Arms' was released. It was Chaplin's second film for First National Films. Chaplin almost didn't release it, thinking it was not good enough, but his good friend, Douglas Fairbanks, laughed so hard after seeing a preview, Chaplin was inspired to release it. It became a very successful film and favorite with GI's.

Edna plays a french girl who is caught up in the fighting in France during WWI. Edna's Purviance Family roots happen to be french.
It is my Charlie and Edna's film for the week!

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Variety's All-Time Top 100 Poll

Charlie Chaplin was named in the Top 10 of Variety's 100 Top Entertainment Icons List. Beatles were listed #1. List was created for Variety's 1ooth birthday celebration.

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Charlie and Edna on TCM

Turner Classic Movies next film showing of Charlie and Edna will be 'The Kid' on TCM's Silent Sunday Nights, December 18, 2005. Times 12 Midnight eastern and 9PM pacific.

Three more Chaplin films will be on TCM starting in October:
'Monsieur Verdoux', early Sunday morning, October 23, 2005, 3AM Eastern, and a double bill on November 19th: 'Modern Times', 3:45 AM eastern, followed by 'Chaplin Today: Modern Times', 5:15 AM eastern.


Check Edna's Chaplin on TCM link for the latest showings.
Always check TCM schedule for changes.

Friday, October 07, 2005

London and Italy Tour

In July, I had the honor of traveling to Europe with Edna's great grand niece, Lita Hill. I have two reports on ednapurviance.org about our visit in Bologna, Italy seeing the newly restored 'A Woman of Paris' and our London visit seeing the Edna Purviance Collection at BFI.

We hope you might enjoy the 'tour with us'.


Italy Tour and Woman of Paris Film Event:
http://www.ednapurviance.org/ukitalytrip/italy.html

London Tour and Edna Purviance Collection: Re-visted at BFI:
http://ednapurviance.org/ukitalytrip/london.html

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Film for the Week

'A Woman of Paris' opened in New York City on October 1, 1923. If you have not seen this film or not watched it recently, it is a good time to see it. Edna Purviance did star in the film, but did not go to the opening. Charlie Chaplin did, and it received great reviews. It was Chaplin's first film he did not star in, but he did direct.

Little extra: For visitors who have seen it, do you have a favorite scene?

Follow up: While some books list Edna at the New York opening in October 1923, I have uncovered evidence she was not at that opening in New York. It is part of the reason behind writing a book on Edna to find out and to untangle lots of information on Edna that has been written over the years. What is true and what is not, I am still researching...

Question for the Day

Hopefully we will get a few comments on this one:
What is your favorite Edna Purviance and Charlie Chaplin film and why is it your favorite?

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Comment Section

I decided to include a comment selection to Edna's Blog. Because of the issue of people spamming comment pages, I do require that you register with Blogger with your own user name and password.

It is a very simple form. Just click on COMMENT below for more details.

Once registered, anytime you want to COMMENT, just click on COMMENT, a separate page will appear and you fill in the proper box and special code.

I will be checking this page and hopefully, will be able to continue the comment section.

Unknown Chaplin DVD


As you may already know, and I reported on Edna's site this summer, Kevin Brownlow and David Gill's the 'Unknown Chaplin' series, has been released on DVD.

The first version of the DVD is available in Italy, as part of the book 'The Search for Charlie Chaplin' by Kevin Brownlow.
At the moment, the English/Italy book is only available in Italy.

The English version of the Unknown Series DVD will be released November 29, 2005 in the USA and in Canada.

More Chaplin film news: I have word from BFI the 'Chaplin Mutual Volume 2' will finally be released in the UK on November 28th.

For more information about Chaplin film collections in the UK see 'The Charlie Chaplin UK DVD and Video Guide'.
http://www.garenewing.co.uk/chaplin/chaplinvideoguide.html


For more on Brownlow's book and North America DVD release, see Edna's site (links to the right).

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Picture Palaces and Organs


Welcome to Edna's Place!
After much thought, and several starts and stops, I am on my third blog program to see how this one will work until I have time to learn PHP.

This blog will be for updates for Edna's site, and latest related news and information, plus an opportunity to chat about my personal interests.

Today, I am opening with a piece I recently started on LiveJournal about the places where Edna and Charlie's films played.

In the early days, movie theatres could be rather plain places, being little more than store fronts, in some cases. Movies were not considered good enough for the regular theatre. But during the late 1910's and 1920's picture palaces were all the rage! Built with movies in mind, they became the show place in many towns and cities around the world. While live orchestras were used for more important films, specially built pipe organs were the main provider of music in all picture palaces.

It get an idea what some of these places looked like, here is a link to the American Theatre Organ Society website. These feature photos and articles about the organs and theatres located in the US, with some added articles of interest on that era.

http://www.atos.org/Pages/index.htm