End of the month notes...

Where did March go! I thought it just started and now it is gone! April will bring some fun things for Chaplin and Edna fans, as TCM plans several movies for Chaplin's birthday. Speaking of movies, I am updating the Chaplin Film List to included documentaries.

Other updates on Edna's site include more books in the Chaplin Library, general updates on the whole site (on going) and I have just updated A Brief Glimpse.

Mabel Normand fan, Marilyn Slater, sent this week a posting on her Mabel Normand site of Edna playing tennis. The photos were for a magazine spread, but fun to see Edna in action! Thanks Marilyn for the send!

And very glad to see the firefighters stop the wildfire from burning down the Hollywood sign on Friday (March 30). The fire was started by teenagers burning firecrackers on the dry Hollywood Hills. If you ever been to the Los Angeles area, you would know it is truly a desert, so not a good start on a very early fire season, that even burned properties this winter.

Also, speaking of Hollywood, I just got a chance to listen to Cinematic Retrospective special interview with Gregory Paul Williams, author of The Story of Hollywood. Always great to listen to someone who is passionate about their subject, and Mr. Williams knows his subject, since he grew-up in Hollywood. I haven't seen the book yet, but will be seeking it out. You can take a listen of the interview at Cinematic Retrospective.

Back to work on The Sea Gull now. We hope you have a great weekend!

Update April 2 - More detail news about Il Cinema Ritrovato and the Special 30th Chaplin Anniversary

Latest on Grand View - Records to be reviewed

Glendale News reports attorneys will be able to review 'critical records seized' from Grand View Cemetery earlier this year.

"The documents are key to understanding the cemetery's operations and the problems with the cemetery's operations," said attorney Paul Ayers, who represents many who are filing suit against the cemetery. "I'm looking forward to seeing them." - Glendale News
The next hearing for the case is May 3, 2007. You can read the full story at this link. (Stories on Glendale News are available to read for free 14 days after posting - this GV story posting started March 29th)

Note: I have no news to report about Edna's situation at Grand View at this time. Also, for Chaplin fans, Paul Ayers name may sound familiar. He is a Chaplin fan who was noted in the latest book 'Silent Traces.'

April 29, 2007 - You can use the search feature to find other posts about Grand View Cemetery. I will be working on other options.

Charlie Chaplin ask Courts to Stop His Imitator

Throughout his career, Charles Chaplin brought lawsuits against others imitating him. This suit was in the courts during the time of A Woman of Paris. Chaplin had just premiered Paris in New York City October 3, as he was asking the courts to stop Charlie Amador from imitating his style.

October 5, 1923 - Los Angeles - "A decision was expected Friday in the suit brought in the superior court by Charlie Chaplin motion picture comedian, against Charles Amador and the Western Feature Productions for a permanent order restraining Amador from "imitating" the Chaplin film clothes.

Chaplin already has obtained a temporary injunction preventing the showing of two films made by the defendants and in which it is alleged the styles of shoes, trousers, cane and mustache made famous by Chaplin as well as his pictures were imitated.

The defendants contended that Chaplin's clothes and mannerisms were as old as comedy itself and that he merely an imitator of ancient jesters, so that he had no reason to complain if others used the same "props." - Denver Post October 5, 1923 (pg 24)

The Charlie Chaplin Murder Mystery by Wes Gehring

Dominique sent a new collection of book covers for the Chaplin Library. I will be adding these, but in the meantime, sharing one of the books from the collection about Charles Chaplin by author Wes Gehring. It is called "The Charlie Chaplin Murder Mystery" a comic novel released in 2006.

It is about "a lost Charlie Chaplin film and the shenanigans people go through to obtain it." It is Gehring first novel. The book can be purchased through LULU. (It is a paperback, 152 pages and no illustration.)

As for us we have been working a lot recently on Chaplin's real lost film, The Sea Gull, a film Chaplin produced, but not directed or starred in. More coming in April. Thanks again for the interest.

Interview with Gregory Williams author of The Story of Hollywood

"...a book about the neighborhood where he grew up. Lavishly illustrated with over 800 vintage images from the author’s private collection"

March 29, 2007 - 10pm Central/8pm Pacific - The Definitive Cinematic Retrospective has scheduled for their 10th show an interview with Gregory Paul Williams, the author of The Story of Hollywood.

Definitive is live on Thursday evenings or can be downloaded after the broadcast.

New Albert Einstein Biography & Chaplin connection

"On the same excursion, Einstein, at his own request, met Charlie Chaplin, who, as they arrived at the première of “City Lights,” said, of the applauding public, “They cheer me because they all understand me, and they cheer you because no one understands you.” - New Yorker

Chaplin and Einstein attended the Los Angeles premiere of 'City Lights' in 1931. The film was Chaplin's second to last silent film, but it wasn't totally silent. It was Chaplin's first film with his own musical score.

While fans of Chaplin know that Georgia Hale was with Charlie the night of the premiere, Edna fans learned at the 2006 Cinecon showing of the Lita Hill interview that members of Edna's family were at the same premiere.

Edna Purviance did not attend, but her sister Bessie Purviance Hill and sister-in-law, Helen Hill (wife to Chaplin's cameraman Morgan Hill and Lita Hill's mother) did attend the 'City Lights' premiere. A ticket and photos from that evening event are still in the collection.

Quote above from the latest biography about Albert Einstein "Einstein: His Life & Universe" by Walter Isaacson (from Simon and Schuster). Available in April 2007.

UPDATE APRIL 12, 2007 - from NPR
July 2006 - (4+ minutes) Interview with author Walter Isaacson about the Einstein letters. "Einstein Letters Reveal Inner Thoughts, Doubts" - LINK TO INTERVIEW

April 9, 2007 - NPR - "The Life Behind Einstein's World-Changing Ideas"- LINK

April 10, 2007 - (30+ minutes) - NPR interview with author Walter Issacson "Einstein: Relatively Speaking, a Complicated Life" - (interesting program) - LINK TO INTERVIEW

Double Rainbow - Nanny Assis's Sorrir

Brazilian artist Nanny Assis has his recording of Charlie Chaplin's Sorrir (Smile) on his latest CD Double Rainbow. Sung in Portuguese, you can hear a sample at this link.

CHAPLINIANA - 30th Anniversary in Italy

Here is more information on the special 30th Anniversary planned for Charlie Chaplin at Cineteca di Bologna in Italy this summer. LINK






Events Planned before and during
Il Cinema Ritrovato
Bologna, Italy 2007
Exhibition: Chaplin in Pictures
Now through October 2007

Films and Concerts
June 15 - July 11, 2007
Includes all the currently restored Keystone comedies, Chaplin's last two British films (King of New York and Countess of Hong Kong), Essanay, Mutual and First National films, and his United Artists collection.

Bobby Broom jazzy version of SMILE

Bobby Broom has released his new CD called SONG & DANCE, which includes a very jazzy version of Charlie Chaplin's SMILE. There is a sample at this LINK.




See more versions of Charlie Chaplin SMILE at our Charlie Chaplin Music section. Also other artist Smile versions released: Rebecca Parris | Tierney Sutton | Anne Akikl Meyers | Madeleine Peyroux | Nanny Assis

Jackie Coogan The World's Boy King

"A constant surprise and a compulsive read. Highly recommended." - Kevin Brownlow

The new paperback edition of Jackie Coogan: The World's Boy King by Diana Serra Cary was released by Scarecrow Press in February. See Amazon for details. (The hardback edition is still available at Amazon.)

Raquel Meller $120,000 contract with Chaplin

It was June 1926. Josef von Sternberg and staff were busy finishing the editing on The Sea Gull. Charlie Chaplin was nearby working on The Circus, when Spanish actress Raquel Meller paid a visit to the Chaplin set.

Chaplin was captured by the beautiful young star. So much so, Variety reported on June 23, 1926 Meller signed a contact on June 21th for $120,000. The deal was for 12-weeks to star in Chaplin's next picture for United Artist that he planned to direct, produce and possibly act.

He thought to use her as Josephine (a role he had in mind for Edna Purviance), but none of this happened. Chaplin's next picture after The Circus was City Lights. He never made his long planned picture Napoleon.

April 1926 picture of Meller on the cover of Time magazine.
Another Leading Lady Chaplin signed during this same period was Linda Nixon.

Kevin Brownlow - Interviews and programs

Thanks to one of our loyal Edna fans who send me an interesting interview by Kevin Brownlow, I decided to place together available interviews, articles and programs featuring Kevin Brownlow from the web. Also, I added an interview of David Sheperd by Mark Zimmer from DOC Scenes.

To Read...
BFI (British Film Institute)
September 2004 David Robinson's interviews Kevin Brownlow
Includes about his reprinted book:
"How it Happened Here", Charlie Chaplin, and "Napoleon".

Kevin Brownlow interviewing Michael Powell
of Powell & Pressburger Press
Michael Powell's thoughts on:
"A Woman of Paris" starring Edna Purviance Chaplin's first drama.

Silent Films, Kevin Brownlow says they’re more modern than we think
Silents Please - Times (London)

Kevin Brownlow comments - Culture Clash (BBC News)
"bending the facts to fit the film"

To Listen...
The Film Programme - BBC 4
October 15, 2005
Kevin Brownlow recalls his eight years in making "It Happened Here" into a film.

Back Row - BBC 4
July 2004 British Silent Cinema Special
Includes Kevin Brownlow talking about British Cinema.

Stolen Moments
Podcast September 2006
Donna Hill's podcast interview with Kevin Brownlow

Extras
A Conversation with David Shepard - Extensive interview
by Mark Zimmer - DOC Scenes Interview

Kevin Brownlow and David Gill film works
Hollywood Series
Listing of Film Documentaries

Stars at Grand View Memorial Park

There are a few known stars at Grand View Memorial Park in Glendale, California besides Edna Purviance. They included: Chill Willis, Harry Langdon and Leo White. Leo White played in several of Chaplin's early film works, including The Count and A Jitney Elopement. He played a Count in both those films. Here is the list from Find a Grave for more at Grand View.

Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush - French Play

From the Edna Purviance Research File
The idea of using Charlie Chaplin's films as a base for a play is not new, as this March 3, 1926 article from Variety reveals.

French Comedy Based on "Gold Rush" Film - March 3, 1926
"One of the two new openings is a four-act comedy based on Charlie Chaplin's "Gold Rush" picture. This is "Le Figurante de la Gaite" (Super, of the Gaity), which opened favorably at the fashionable little Theatre Daunou. The author is Albert Savior, who wrote "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife."

The piece is a philosophical fantasy having to do with a melancholy and humble actor, loved for the illusion he inspires rather than himself. In plot, a group of practical jokers send this supernumerary with a forged letter arranging a rendezvous with a princess. Lacking sufficient clothing, the actor wears a stage costume to impersonate a rajah and wins the member of royalty.

Victor Boucher was admirable in the principal male role, while Regina Flory was splendid as the princess. Others in the cast are Andre Dubosc and Jacques Gaudin." - March 1926

The second play they mentioned was called "Les Blues de l"Amour" (Love Debutantes) in case you were wondering. The most recent plays based on one of Chaplin's films is "Charlie Chaplin Goes to War." It played in February in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

Watch for more articles from the Edna Purviance Research file in the coming weeks and months... And don't miss our new Brief Glimpse. A new one can be up at anytime.

Speaking of illusion and winning royalty, you might enjoy The Illusionist now out on DVD.

THE KID - at South Texas College

March 30th, 2007 - McAllen, Texas - South Texas College
Pecan Campus Auditorium - 7PM
For our Texas fans who are near McAllen, Texas, there is a public showing of Charlie Chaplin's THE KID with Edna Purviance and Jackie Coogan planned for March 30th, 2007 at 7PM.

Check this LINK and page down to find date and more information. (Under Writers in Literary Discussion)

Edna Purviance - Edna's Scrapbook at BFI

If you haven't seen it already, British Film Institute has a few items from Edna Purviance's scrapbook online for fans to view. This scrapbook is the same one that once belong to Edna, but was bought with other items by a private London collector.

More about the scrapbook at these links.
London | London Re-visited.




Image of Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance from 'Behind the Scenes'. Mutual Film Company 1916.

Charlie Chaplin Books

The Chaplin Library has eleven Charlie Chaplin books added on the Latest page. Included are books from Japan and France, and our first book addition from Poland.

Update: Besides the major update I am currently working on, I have a new addition or two planned for the library.

Also the latest Brief Glimpse

Tarrytown Music Hall Silent Film Series

March and April 2007
Tarrytown Music Hall - Tarrytown, New York - Silent Film Series
The Tarrytown Music Hall will show five silent films including Metropolis and Sunrise. Tickets are available online for this series.

March 29, 2007 - Metropolis, directed by Fritz Lang
April 5, 2007 - Sunrise, starring Janet Gaynor
April 14, 2007 - Peter Pan, starring Betty Bronson (with live music)
April 15, 2007 - Speedy, starring Harold Lloyd (with live music)
April 19, 2007 - Son of the Sheik, starring Rudolph Valentino (with live music)





Note: For Rudolph Valentino fans, Donna Hill has her latest program about Valentino.

CINEFEST
Also, if they are not sold out and you are in the New York area, you might try Cinefest the weekend of March 15th-18th. Link to 2007 program. The yearly festival is in the Syracuse, New York area.

Hearing Accents

Growing up in Nevada, Edna Purviance met many people from different parts of the world. Paradise Valley and Lovelock, Nevada had immigrants from European countries, Britain, China, Mexico, Russia, etc... She got to hear many different accents as immigrants learned English, along with their native language. Even Edna's mother (born and raised in England until age 11) still had some of her English accent late in life. To hear all the different accents Edna may have heard has gotten easier with an interesting project by George Mason University.

The Speech Accent Archive is a collection of recorded native and non-native speakers of English from around the world. By clicking on browse you will find a map where you can click on any country and find sample recordings. The Archive list over 600 samples. An interesting tool to hear and learn the different accents of the world.

Edna Updates...

Update March 11th - I hope you got to listen to the special Charlie Chaplin program on BBC 3 Radio. The program is now off line.

YES! We are working on THE SEA GULL, just in a slow part at the moment. I do plan to place a special page about the book, so lots to come!

I am planning a new section on Edna's site. Something I mentioned briefly last year, but a section covering more about Edna's family and life in Nevada. I will be sharing articles to give you a 'taste' of that world.

I am working a lot on The Chaplin Library. The overall look won't change much, but the library is going through big changes which I plan to mention more later. You may see some changes as you visit now. I have posted the updated Latest page, with 11 new additions to the library.

Charlie Chaplin's birthday will be celebrated on TCM this April with a series of films, including The Kid with Edna Purviance and Richard Schickel Documentary Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin.

Finally I have a new Brief Glimpse up! This time from my research file. And we sent our first newsletter to Edna fans last week from our list of contest entries.

As mentioned before The Sea Gull is our top project. If we didn't have to make a living, it could go a lot faster, but please be patient, it is coming! Thanks for the interest and watch for more updates.

Charlie Chaplin - Sunday Feature - BBC 3

Update March 11th - I hope you got to hear this special program on Chaplin. It is now off line.

March 4, 2007 - Charlie Chaplin - Sunday Feature -"Chaplin, Celebrity and Modernism" If you missed the live broadcast, you can listen to it for the next seven (7) days at BBC 3 Radio.
LISTEN HERE AT THIS LINK

March 5th - Guardian Unlimited Review of the program

Meridian Radio FM - Nov.-Dec 2007

UPDATE NOVEMBER 24, 2007 - For our visitors from England, Meridian FM IS back on the air NOW. Visit their site for the latest. more

April 22, 2007: Meridian FM is back on LIVE until May 19th, 2007. We have many UK visitors, so if in your area, do support your local radio. It is available live on the web. more>

Meridian first came on the air November 2006 for a one month run on air.

The Music of Charlie Chaplin by Francis Shaw - track list

Maybe you can help us. We are looking for the music title list for this Chaplin music CD called: "The Music of Charlie Chaplin" by the Bavarian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Francis Shaw (1998, BMG). If you happen to own it and can share the track listing, it would be a great help. Thank you...