Film Vault Fire at Cineteca in Bologna

Very Sad News on this July 4th, 2018:

FILM VAULT FIRE at Cineteca, Bologna, Italy
Totally destroyed one of the historical film vaults 

In reading the translation, sound like one of the seven section off archives was totally destroyed. More news should follow on what section it was and the films lost. 

The top part is a translated version of the story into English. The original Italy story and link below.
________________________

Fire in Sasso Marconi: focus on the historical archive of the Cineteca

At around 2:30 tonight the fire brigade intervened in the locality of Pianazze, in Sasso Marconi, to extinguish a fire that completely destroyed a section of the flammable film archive of the Bologna Film Library.

The intervention lasted a total of four hours. To be affected by the stake a section of seven of the structure where the films affected by extreme flammability are kept. Details at the moment there are none but it is possible that to be lost are films dating back to the early dawn of cinema. The ancient films in fact, were produced with highly flammable materials, then replaced with less dangerous products.

The fire-fighting devices and the passive measures of the structure have however limited the damage: only a section of the seven of which the structure is composed, but an entire archive has been destroyed. There are no injured people.
________________

Original story and Link:
http://www.bolognatoday.it/…/incendio-cineteca-archivio-sto…

Incendio a Sasso Marconi: a fuoco l'archivio storico della Cineteca

Intorno alle 2:30 di questa notte i Vigili del fuoco sono intervenuti in località Pianazze, a Sasso Marconi, per spegnere un incendio che ha completamente distrutto una sezione dell'archivio pellicole infiammabili della Cineteca di Bologna.

L'intervento è durato nel complesso quattro ore. A essere interessata dal rogo una sezione di sette della struttura dove sono custodite le pellicole affette da estrema infiammabilità. Dettagli al momento non ce ne sono ma è possibile che a essere andati perduti siano film risalenti fino ai primi albori del cinema. Le pellicole antiche infatti, erano prodotte con materiali altamente infiammabili, poi sostituite con prodotti meno pericolosi.

I dispositivi antincendio e le misure passive della struttura hanno tuttavia limitato i danni: interessata solo una sezione delle sette di cui si compone la struttura, ma un intero archivio è andato distrutto. Non risultano persone ferite.

JUNE 2018 - RE-Editing First Draft

After over two years, of family issues, the work on Edna Purviance's family bio is back on. The re-edit of the first draft is happening now. That is all for the moment. Check Edna Purviance: Chaplin's Leading Ladies Facebook fan page or .org home page for current updates. - LW

Happy Birthday, Edna Purviance!

Edna Purviance was born in Paradise Valley, Nevada

on October 21, 1895.

Busy with family

Very sorry for the lack of post, but we have been involved with caring for a very ill relative for nearly a year. Until things change on that end, it will be slow here.

Fan's video tour of 'Chaplin's World'

Since the opening of 'Chaplin's World' I have been watching for a video that gave a good feel of actually walking through the museum. I seen several short videos that were nice, but this is the best I have seen yet of a real walking tour. Thanks very much to Giselle Pauline Masson for editing together this recent trip to 'Chaplin's World.'

While tens of thousands have visited in the last six months, an equal number of people may never get a chance to visit, due to person issues and especially travel cost. So I hope this video does stay online for visitors to see and enjoy.

Charlie Chaplin Days 2016

CHARLIE CHAPLIN DAYS Saturday, June 11 & Sunday, June 12
Special Museum Hours This Weekend Open 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Charlie Chaplin Days Art exhibits, special film screenings, contests and other Niles fun will be happening – come join the fun!

Come meet Jason Allin, our Special Guest Charlie from Canada! 
And be on the lookout for some of others, young and old, male and female embodying the Little Tramp both days.

SATURDAY ACTIVITIES WALKING TOUR OF NILES. 11:00 am $5 donation Wear some walking shoes and find out what happened here one hundred years ago. Important landmarks will be discussed and stories will be shared! Meet at the museum and bring your camera. Includes our museum Walking Tour booklet of Niles highlights.

SCREENINGS OF FILMS MADE IN NILES Essanay short films made in Niles shown both days. Suggested donation per film 50¢
12:30 PM A Night Out
1:30 PM The Champion
2:15 PM In The Park
2:45 PM The Movies Go West (1974, Geoffrey Bell, sound) narrated by Hal Angus
3:30 PM A Jitney Elopement
4:30 PM The Tramp
5:00 PM Jason Allin's Uptown Drunk - a new 2-reeler making its world premiere in a nickelodeon theater where Charlie watched his own films a century ago! 

MORE CHAPLIN 7:30 pm Suggested member donation $5, not yet member $7 Bruce Loeb (piano) The Gold Rush (1925, soundtrack) Chaplin stars in his classic film of life in the Klondike. Preceded by shorts and pre-show concert with dinner theater performer from Florida, Nigel Dreiner at 7:00 PM: The Bond (1918) Charlie Chaplin, Police (1916, Essanay) Charlie Chaplin 

SUNDAY, June 12 Special Museum Hours This Weekend Open 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM 

Ride the train through Niles canyon. See: ncry.org for more information. In order to be back in time for our look alike contest, you should take the first train ride of the day at 11:20 am at the Niles Station (the round trip is one hour and fifteen minutes.)

SCREENINGS OF FILMS MADE IN NILES Essanay short films made in Niles. Suggested donation per film 50¢ 

11:30 AM A Night Out
12:30 PM The Champion
1:15 PM In The Park
2:30 PM A Jitney Elopement
3:30 PM The Tramp
4:15 PM When the Movies Came from Niles (1964, KPIX, sound) documentary

LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST 2:00 pm Charlie Look-a-like Contest We have some costumes if you want to “suit up,” or wear your own. You may win a prize! Google Doodle on Chaplin (2011) shown before contest. 

nilesfilmmuseum.org
Niles Essanay SIlent Film Museum
37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont. CA 94536 

Any questions? pr@nilesfilmmuseum.org (510) 494-1411 Please leave a message.
Be sure to come back for our Annual Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival to be held June 24-26 (and comedy shorts night on June 18th which features Charlie, Buster, and The Boys Laurel & Hardy.)

from: Rena Azevedo Kiehn, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Fremont, California

Edna Purviance's Family Biography - First Draft Finished!

The first draft of Edna Purviance's Family Biography is finally finished.  I am currently preparing for the editor. After the editing stage will be working toward production. More later...

Update on Edna's Family Bio: Sorry again for the lack of post. I am working on preparing the book for the editor. Currently, I have 250 pages re-written for the First Draft. Re-writing the later years at the moment. More news when available.

Short Update: After finishing the first draft on New Year's Eve, I started on the first rewrite on January 1, 2016. Currently have 65 pages re-written and starting on the 9th section of the book. More updates soon...

First Draft of Edna Purviance's Family Bio is Complete!

Happy New Year! Sorry again for the lack of updates here, but letting you know the FIRST DRAFT of Edna's family bio is complete. After four years and four months, I began the re-writes today. Getting closer to having a biography on the life of Edna Purviance, and the family beside her.

More a bit later...

Glimpse of Edna Purviance & Charlie Chaplin Event in Nevada

This year I was invited by Lena Covello, from the the Aurora Repertory Theatre, as a guest for an Edna Purviance & Charlie Chaplin event in Nevada. The event was held in Reno on the weekend of October 23, 24, and 25, 2015.

On Edna's birthday, October 21, I was also scheduled to make an appearance in Lovelock, Nevada, for an get together. It was great fun to meet (and re-meet) some wonderful people there, and to see some of the changes in town since my last visit.

In Reno, I had the great pleasure of working with David Shepard and pianist, Frederick Hodges, as we entertained and informed people, for a full two days on Saturday and Sunday. Being emcee, I shared information on each film, with background on Edna, throughout, some not shared anywhere before.

One of the highlights was a 16MM showing of "A Woman of Paris" with Mr. Hodges playing the original 1923 score. Because I do love film, it looks far better than the newest DVDs. And since Chaplin had supervised the music, it's too bad this version, with the 1923 music, can't be available. I will covering this in Edna's book, so was great to hear this version live. I also shared some key information about this film, as it involved Edna (covered in the book I am working on). Being in Nevada, I often went from Edna's perspective.

Unlike other trips, where I often take many photos, I was working on this one, so not many photos or videos taken. And the auditorium was quite dark for photos (even with lights on), but perfect for film watching. This video is from my perspective of the trip, but captures as much as possible of the event.

Thanks to Lena Covello, Carol Franc Buck Foundation, the Marshall's Mint, Darlene Vonsild (Lovelock), and all the people who helped make this Nevada event happen.

Guest: Film preservationist David Shepard, pianist Frederick Hodges, and Edna researcher (and emcee for the event), Linda Wada. Video created by Linda Wada (ednapurviance.org). Includes visit to Edna Purviance's hometown of Lovelock, Nevada. Music played by Frederick Hodges.

Busy offline

Sorry for the lack of posts this year, but have been very busy offline this year. Currently working on Edna's family bio. Right now in the late years of her life, for the first draft. Also, spent time on an Edna and Charlie event in Nevada this year. This included a visit to Lovelock, Nevada, and MC'ing a two day film event in Reno, with film historian David Shepard, and world class pianist, Frederick Hodges. Currently I am working on an item about this event.

Current plans is to spend my time in getting the first draft of Edna's family bio complete. so back to work…

2015 Flicker Alley Essanay's

The Flicker Alley edition of the 'Chaplin's Essanay Comedies' are now ready for pre-order. Release date is November 10th, 2015. The set comes in Blu-Ray and DVD, with bonus material. LINK

April 29, 1915 - Edna and Charlie 'By the Sea'

"By the Sea" was Chaplin's first film back in Los Angeles, after leaving Niles. It was a quick one reeler, as Chaplin and company were waiting for a studio to be ready for them. This was Edna's sixth film with Chaplin.

The Tramp - Release April 11, 1915

"The Tramp" was released by Essanay 100 years ago today, on April 11, 1915.  It was Edna Purviance's fifth film with Charlie Chaplin.