Edna Purviance's bio

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

Thursday, December 30, 2010

BBC Radio 4 - A Family Business: The Chaplin Legacy

BBC 4 Radio
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
11:30 AM London Time
UPDATE: Online for the next 7 Days!
A Family Business:
The Chaplin Legacy



"In this backstage documentary, Tim Brooke-Taylor goes behind the scenes with James Thierree as he prepares to launch his new one-man show RAOUL, combining mime, acrobatics, music, comedy and illusion. How does the Chaplin legacy inform his ideas? How do the marketing people sell his shows, which always defy easy categorisation? How will audiences respond, in London and Paris? The Chaplin biographer, David Robinson, explores the theatrical connections of the Chaplin family: additional commentaries are provided by Thierree admirers Bill Nighy and Terry Gilliam, and by producer Rachel Clare. The voice of Charlie Chaplin himself also makes a contribution from the archives, with shrewd observations on genes and genius." - BBC 4 Radio

Link to more about the program. Available by broadcast in the UK and online by the internet. These programs are usually online for 7 days, after the live broadcast. Adjust the time for your area. Example: 11:30 AM in London, is 3:30 AM, Pacific Time.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

An Edna Christmas greeting from 2002, as ednapurviance.org starts 10 years on the web... CLICK HERE

Monday, December 20, 2010

Charlie's Season Greetings & Chaplin Conference Visit

Very Merry Christmas, Everyone!
A little early Christmas launch, with a visit to ZANESVILLE!

CLICK HERE
FOR MINI VISIT TO ZANESVILLE, OHIO
HOME OF 2010 CHAPLIN CONFERENCE




Saturday, December 18, 2010

Some links for Chaplin viewing in 2011

Cure your 'Chaplin' seeing blues, by checking the
latest
showings at these silent film sites and venues:

Check the current dates for
Janus Films Charlie Chaplin 35 MM Tour for 2011



Live in the UK?
Check out Silent London for silent film
showings in the London area:




Live in the San Francisco area?
Always keep an eye on Niles Essanay Film Museum
for weekly silent film events!



Check this link for silent film festival events during the year. No events in your area? Check your TV schedule for programs like on TCM and BBC in the UK (occasionally). Link to films for home viewing.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Camel News Caravan, Charlie Chaplin & smoking...

From Ben Model's Silent Clowns. A trip back to Sept. 19, 1952. The NBC Camel News Caravan report. The news of that day, including what happened to Charlie Chaplin on this trip to London, as it was reported on the US live evening broadcast. Interesting and important side note: This Camel cigarette sponsored program has two famous actors doing the ads on the program. Both died from lung cancer...

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Alice Artzt Guitar Trio

Are you into collecting Charlie Chaplin music? I picked this up at the recent Charlie Chaplin International Conference:

The Alice Artzt Guitar Trio
(with Alice Artzt, Raymond Burley, Michel Rutscho)
This collection includes music from:
• The Pilgrim
• A Dog's Life
• City Lights
• A Countess of Hong Kong
• Modern Times (including Smile)

If you are into collecting different versions of Chaplin music, this would be a good one to add to your collection. Also, it doesn't include just Chaplin, but music by Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story and a varied selection of George Gershwin's music. For more Chaplin music check this link. If you like to hear samples of this CD collection, check this link.

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Marian Gibbons, Hollywood Heritage Museum founder, has died

Marian Dean Newman Gibbons
(1921 - 2010)

December 9, 2010 - From Janet Hoffmann, Hollywood Heritage Museum - Hollywood Heritage Founder, preservationist, actress, singer and author, Marian Gibbons, passed away December 8, 2010 from lung cancer.

Whether you knew her as "Marian," "Mrs. Gibbons," "Mage" or "Majemahanna" (her mother's nickname for her) Marian was and is an unforgettable Hollywood person.

She was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and lived in Wisconsin and Arizona. A brief stay in Hollywood in 1949 convinced her that this was the town she wanted to live in, but her husband Jim's business took them back to the Midwest. Marian vowed if she ever had the chance to come back, she would.

That chance came in the late 1970's and Marian came to Los Angeles and worked as a publicist with her daughter, Jane, an anchor for KNBC. The 1970's appearance of the town she had worked so hard to return to inspired her with Christy Johnson McAvoy, Frances Offenhauser McKeal, Mildred Heredeen and Susan Peterson St. Francis to start Hollywood Heritage, Inc. Through the inspiration and hard work of these founders, Hollywood Heritage became the success story it is today.

A memorial is planned and we will post that information as soon as it is available. She will be interred at Hollywood Forever in Hollywood.

All 'Metal' Charlie Chaplin

All metal Charlie Chaplin doll!

On auction this week! The seller said they don't know anything about it, but bought it at a museum auction. Looks like it should be in a museum, for people to enjoy. Maybe someone knows more about it, but since I blogged about other Chaplin dolls over the years, thought I pass this one on to you collectors out there to look at.

If someone might know something, it would be great to learn more about it. Meanwhile, here is one up for sale. Auction ends December 15th, 2010. Link to auction (now over) sold for $139+

Saturday, December 04, 2010

A Girl, a dog and an outfit for two


Remember seeing this image?



Recently, I saw this on an online auction: Red Letter Photocard showing this image from the Charlie Chaplin's Essanay period. The film was 'By the Sea' filmed in the Los Angeles area in 1915.

I have seen this card before. It doesn't say Edna Purviance on it, but I have seen sellers place Edna's name on it. But, it is not Edna.


Just looking at it, the face features are all wrong for Edna's:
• Nose different shape
• Eyes different
• Head shape not oval, (Edna has an oval face)

Just to name a few...

Who it is, I am not quite sure. This woman in the postcard wears the same dress and hat actresses Margie Reiger wears in the film. Here is Margie in the film:

Margie Reiger, walking toward the camera in 'By the Sea'
I need a better image, but certainly don't look like button boots, like in the postcard.


But the lady in the postcard looks to have blond hair, and Margie's hair is dark. So, the photocard lady doesn't look like Margie or Edna.

I do know from Edna's photos, Chaplin took test photos to check different outfits and makeup. So this lady in the card could have been one of the ladies testing for the part. Also, Chaplin looked to be trying a dog for the film, but decided against it, since no dogs appear in 'By the Sea' except for two dogs, in the background on one of the beach scenes.


Margie Reiger, sitting on the bench in 'By the Sea'
________________________________________________

By the Sea goes to The Bank...
Another fun bit in researching this image, is to note the jacket Edna Purviance is wearing in 'By the Sea'. It is small line pattern jacket, with black buttons on the front and along the bottom. And also notice the blackish hat with the white bow. (Take out your copy of 'By the Sea' for a better look.)

Edna with hat and jacket in 'By the Sea'

In the movie 'The Bank', which Edna would do a bit later, she is wearing the same hat with bow, and same jacket and skirt, but this time the jacket is unbuttoned. It also looks like a few black buttons were removed off the bottom of the jacket, just to change the look, a bit.

Edna with hat and jacket in 'The Bank'


The jacket and hat is only worn briefly, in the early scenes in 'The Bank' as Edna arrives at work. She takes the jacket and hat off, soon after arriving, and does not wear them in the rest of the film.

Pull out your copies of these films and check for yourself (same skirt, hat and slightly changed jacket) in two different films. As for the lady in the photocard? I don't know, but maybe someone else does, but it is not Edna.

Just some fun things I've noticed, while studying these films.

The Rainbow Orchid Volume III Cover!



The Rainbow Orchid
Volume 3

Cover by Garen Ewing
Preview only on Amazon. Watch for final published cover to come in 2011.

Meanwhile, you can
pre-order now
.
Release 2011

I am so excited to see this! Special thanks to Murray Ewing for tweeting this weekend. This is the last in the The Rainbow Orchid story, (Julius Chancer Adventure).

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Modern look, at 'Modern Times'

This has been hitting the web... Nick Tierce's Tron-ified, Modern Times.


Nick Tierce's Tron-ified Modern Times from Nick Tierce on Vimeo.