How Edna listened to music when traveling?

On February 5th, I asked, “How did Edna listen to music when she traveled?”

Edna listened to music on a Grippa Perophone. The Perophone was a portable record player that Edna would enjoy on trains, ships, or in a hotel room. Made in Britain, the player came in different models. Most models, pictured on the Web, show a 'stripped down' model consisting of a wooden box, with a leather handle.

Edna's was a deluxe model, with leather-covered wood, a floral cloth-covered interior, and a special key lock. All the pieces folded down inside. It needed no electricity or batteries. Operation was a simple wind-up process.

Exactly how old Edna's unit was, I don't know. The production dates for these units vary widely, with numerous models made from the 1920s through the 1930s. Edna's player was a higher-end model with a leather case, but I haven't seen any like Edna's pictured on the Web.

Here is link to the basic wood box model from the Powerhouse Musuem: LINK

Also, here is a video from the YouTube site of one of the basic wooden box models of the Grippa Perophone. LINK

In the 1920s and 1930s, people were THRILLED to have such a device, as we are enamored with iPods today. I may have a photo of Edna's Grippa Perophone in the future biography about Edna and her family.

Web Bits...

Just a couple of web articles that either feature or mention Chaplin:

Independent UK - United Artist anniversary

Beach Beacon, Florida - Silent Actress turns 103

And in the news department from Edna's and Charlie's homeland, while Northern Nevada had a strong earthquake recently, the UK had their strongest in years Wednesday morning (Feb. 27th). Both stories from the BBC website. (Note: Wells, NV. should be positioned a good 1/4 inch to the left on the BBC map, but right on the area it hit.)

And yes, Edna did experience an earthquake during her years in Nevada. The great San Francisco Earthquake of April 1906.

British Silent Cinema Festival 2008

April 3-6, 2008
British Silent Cinema Festival
Nottingham, UK

Rats, Ruffians and Radicals
The Globalisation of Crime and the British Silent Film



Some of the films planned included: Chicago (1927), The Rat (1925), The Whip (1917). Check this link for more details.


NOTE: If you clicked looking for Silent Lives by Lon Davis, the book was released February 28, 2008. I have it listed in our Silent Book section on Edna's site. Also see this link to a March 2008 Eugene, Oregon news story about the book and Lon Davis.

With the Oscars tonight, just showing the normal view of the hallway the 'stars' will be walking through this evening.

Only looking for a couple of things this year, since I don't go to films much, anymore. Like to see "Persepolis" win for best animated film (WD has won their share, over the years) and "The Golden Compass" for visual effects or art direction (they did do that well).

Otherwise, will see what silent stars might be shown in a clip or two and see how the host does this year. (I guess I enjoyed the show more back in the days when Johnny Carson hosted it. He could deliver something biting, but with class.)

Follow-up during a show break: Well, very nice to see "The Golden Compass" win for Best Visual Effects. I do wish "Persepolis" would have won. But did see Charlie Chaplin on the show, in a clip from 80 years of Oscar moments.

Favorite moments: Seeing the song "Falling Slowly" from Once win (song by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - also stars of the film). Classy moment of the evening was Jon Stewart allowing songwriter Marketa Irglova back on stage after the commercial break to let her give her acceptance speech, after see was cut off by Conti. One of the few real moments of the whole evening.

As for the show, it had its lowest TV rating ever.

Since I never mailed so many packages to different locations on the same day before, it is interesting to see how long it takes. In general, I can mail a package to Europe, the UK, or a small city area on the east coast faster than to California.

Thanks to everyone who have wrote back and let us know your package arrived. It really helps us, and we do care that you receive you package.

Eclipse

Working in the office when I remembered about the eclipse. Missed getting a picture of the orange coloured moon, but got a so, so photo through the office window as the shadow was leaving the moon.

TCM Charlie Chaplin Birthday!

April 16, 2008, Turner Classic Movies plans a full day of Charlie Chaplin films. more>

Films listed: The Great Dictator, Monsieur Verdoux, A Dog's Life, Limelight, A King in New York, The Chaplin Revue, and Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin.

Bits and Pieces

Well, it is hard to believe but February is really going by fast!

Sunday is the Oscars! So I will be ready to watch, even though I ready don't know the new stars that well, being a classic film fan. (Wonder if Charlie will show up in a clip, somewhere?) The main reason I watch certain parts anymore.

Today, I shipped off another group of packages, so check your email for information on your orders. Also, we decided to pull the poster off of international sells. We will continue to sell posters in the USA until I find a new way to ship the posters outside the USA. Mailing tubes are not the best thing to send through customs, causing long delays in deliveries. So far, except for a couple of long deliveries, all the books have been going out just fine!

On another front, exciting news on the web today as one of our longtime friends and fans, Garen Ewing, is mentioned for a new UK comic he is working on that includes a group of other talented artist and writers. Of the six new comics mentioned for this new weekly UK comic book called DFC, one of the strips is written by writer Philip Pullman.

We all wish Garen the very best with his brand new comic creation.

(I will place a link on the side to the DFC. The site opens soon...)

Update: Sad news about The DFC. The comic publication has been put up for sale by Random House. If not sold by March 27, 2009, the comic will stop publication at issue #43.

Chaplin Library Latest Page Updated 2/08

I (along with the help of Dominique Dugros) have been spending a great deal of this Presidents' Day weekend working on the Chaplin Library and Database. While the database could use more work, here and there, is it near enough to go public pretty soon. (I can't tell you how much I really love having the database. Very nice to work with.)

I have entered all the books I have on file from Dominique's current Charlie Chaplin book collection. All the books are now on the Latest Page.

There are over 120 books on this page now and deciding if it will be possible to add to the regular library. It is becoming a problem in updating due to the number of books Dominique has (over 520).

All the books are now in the database. Since the database is so much easier to update, I am leaning toward that option, but keeping the regular library up, as well. More soon... LINK

Sea Gull update

February 14th, 2008 I finally got all my backlog of orders in the post. Except for a few I am waiting to get the email and mailing addresses confirmed, all other books are in the post. Please check your emails if you have ordered a book. There are some on hold, until I do have the confirmed address.

We also had several more orders this week, which has cut into our new stock, but we still have books ready to mail. Next mailing date is February 19th. Monday is Presidents' Day (bank holiday in the USA) and there is no weekend mailing from my area.

Special thanks again to everyone who have wrote back confirming they have gotten their books. It helps us in keeping track. Email and mail is the only contact we have with people, so it really does help. Thanks for everyones support.

May 2008 Postage Rates going up!

May 12, 2008 the post office will increase their postage rates again! This not only includes first-class stamps to 42 cents, but other mail too (Priority, Express, Media Mail, special package services, etc.). Exactly how much on the other items will be announced later.

Here is a LINK to the current information on the postal website.

This does mean I will have to increase my shipping prices to cover all the new charges. But I will not increase until the new rates take effect. You have to remember it is not only the mailing rate to you that increases, but all the items shipped to me for the project increases (printed books, packaging material, office supplies for the project, etc.). So we have to cover all these added cost to keep the project going.

I won't change the base book price, unless the printer changes their cost per book.

April 2008 - Here is a link to the latest about the NEW POSTAGE RATES for 2008

Update from the Post Office: "We will announce new prices for shipping services — Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select, and International Mail — in March."

Roy Scheider dies from Cancer

Roy Scheider has died in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was 75 years old. His many films included Jaws, All that Jazz and 2010. He was working on new films, while being treated for cancer.

The Sea Gull books in stock!

Finally! I received several shipments of books today that will not only clear out my backlog of orders (which I will ship out on Monday), but creates a new stock of books ready to order and ship out soon, instead of waiting for printing!

The plan is to have a stock of books on hand from here on out. So for now, we do have a stock of The Sea Gull books on hand and can ship once your payment clears.

For fans with orders, watch your emails next week on information on your order.

The Sea Gull is only available at ednapurviance.com

Grand View employee allowed on property

February 6, 2008 - Judge allows a former employee to gather his possessions and a plan to be presented on how to reopen the park.

"A judge on Wednesday ordered attorneys to escort a former Grand View Memorial Park employee onto the cemetery grounds today so he can collect personal belongings that have been locked up at the site for more than a year.

Burbank resident Richard Beaudoin had been storing a collection of personal items at the site, including his 1963 Chevrolet Corvair convertible, when former cemetery owner Marsha Lee Howard died in November 2006. An evidence-preservation order related to lawsuits now targeting the cemetery has since barred Beaudoin from retrieving his belongings, which he said also include his general equivalency diploma, tools and pictures of his children.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Anthony Mohr ordered attorneys for Howard’s brother Thomas Trimble, who is the administrator of her estate, to escort Beaudoin onto the premises today to collect his possessions.

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Beaudoin said...

Baum is scheduled to present a plan for how Goldsman could reopen the park for monthly public visitations in court on March 10." - Glendale News

The full article is available for free at the Glendale News site 14 days from February 6, 2008.

Silent -"The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other"

London
The National Theatre
"The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other"

A play without words
Preview starts February 7, 2008
Opens March 31, 2008. More>

"The play features 27 actors portraying 450 characters -- including Charlie Chaplin, Tarzan and the Biblical Abraham and Moses -- wandering through a city square." - US World News

Little research project for you...

Today, many people own iPods or other devices to listen to music while traveling. Well, when Edna Purviance traveled, she also had away of listening to her favorite music.

How do you think Edna listened to her favorite music while traveling?

I will come back to this on February 29, 2008.

More Work Needed at Grand View

February 1, 2008 - Glendale News - "NORTHWEST GLENDALE — City fire and legal officials who toured Grand View Memorial Park on Thursday to inspect fire safety conditions said more maintenance work needs to be done before the city can drop a pending lawsuit against the cemetery.

Cemetery co-owner and operator Moshe Goldsman has been busy implementing a $105,400 makeover of the troubled park since late December, installing an aboveground irrigation system, pruning or removing brittle trees and shaving the site’s broad, overgrown grass lawns.

Most of the work is completed, but after the inspection Thursday, the cemetery has a few more items on its maintenance to-do list, Goldsman’s attorney David Baum said.

“At this point, we’re satisfied with the project’s improvement, but we’re not there yet,” said Vasken Demirjian, the Glendale Fire Department environmental management coordinator. “There’s a lot of pending issues and problems. Most of the dead trees and branches have been cut, but there’s still a few trees that need to be pruned or cut.”

At least four abandoned vehicles, including an old, weathered hearse that’s parked outside a dilapidated chapel, are considered fire or safety hazards and need to be removed from the site, Demirjian said. "You know, it's a work on progress," he said.

Recent heavy rains delayed the cleanup work, which was previously expected to be completed this week, Baum said.

“We also have to secure the buildings on the premises so that they can’t be accessed without authorization, and then we’re going to probably go back and mow one more time and do final cleanup and be done,” Baum said. “In three or four weeks, all of this stuff should be handled.”

Baum is expected to give a status report Wednesday on the cleanup work at a court hearing." - Glendale News

See full article at Glendale News. Page available to see for free 14 days from the date Feb. 1st - more>

Kansas Silent Film Festival - 2008

February 22 & 23, 2008

12th Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival
White Concert Hall
Washburn University
Topeka, Kansas

The World of Shipping...

While one of Edna's fans got their book today, their other package mailed earlier might not had fared so well. We are tracking it, but interesting what a package might have to go through. It was their home post office that was hit... Foreign packages were favored by the robbers. (Let's just say, I am learning a lot in this process...)

"Large parts of Sweden's second-biggest city were thrown into chaos Tuesday when armed robbers who raided its main post office set fire to cars, scattered spikes on roads and left suspected bombs to cover their escape.

"We have never before experienced anything as spectacular, where they have tried to hinder the police and create public confusion," Goteborg's police commissioner, Krister Jacobsson, was quoted as saying by the TT news agency.

"Right now we have five or six burned-out cars, five suspicious objects in bags and one armed robbery," Fuxborg said. "It's all being connected. This has been very well planned." - The Associated Press, International Herald Tribune

___________________

Other shipping news, I found out United States Postal Services (USPS) uses United Parcel Services (UPS) for their shipping. So if you have a Media Mail package it is actually shipped through UPS, not the USPS. They do the shipping together, with UPS doing the bulk of it. Something the post office doesn't mention. You hand it off to the post office, they use UPS, and post office does the final delivery. Here is a link to check such USPS and UPS packages.

___________________

Feb. 22, 2008 - Well, the package I was tracking (a poster to be exact) finally showed up!!! Just in the wrong country! At my mail box! After a series of phone calls, I found out the local post office sold me the wrong size poster tube for international shipping. This was after a longtime chatting with the post office staff, and they assuring me this was the proper tube for mailing overseas. I called that same post office to tell them what happened, and they admitted their staff people were wrong and they wanted to help make it right. I still have the international sells of posters pulled off the market, but since the local post office admitted to their mistake on this one, they are going to help a bit in correcting it. So it wasn't caught up in a robbery, just the US postal system...

At least, no books have had any problems in delivery, and going exactly as it should. Again, thanks to everyone who have written back.

Remembering Grand View

Glendale News: January 31, 2008 - by Katherine Yamada
Verdugo Views - Remembering Grand View

"When Grand View Cemetery was established in the mid-1880s, it was one of the few burial grounds in the area. (Forest Lawn opened in 1906.) However, there aren’t too many tombstones dating back to those early years. Its heyday began in the 1920s, when Len C. Davis purchased it and set the tiny country graveyard on an expansion course.

Davis renamed it Grand View Memorial Park and added a 40-foot entrance arch, complete with electric lights, which spanned the entrance on what is now Glenwood Road. Made of stucco, the arch was painted in the same rose colors that decorated the interior of the new office building. Davis also took out plans for a residence and a chapel.

But his most impressive accomplishment was the landscaping. Most of the evergreen cypress trees that had originally been planted were taken out, and the bare land was formed into an amphitheater where 1,000-plus plots were laid out. More than 800 camphor and 200 bottle trees were planted to shade the graves.

Shortly before Memorial Day 1921, a Glendale Evening News article predicted that the holiday would bring many visitors to the cemetery. The expected visitors included relatives and friends of victims of World War I and those who still remembered the many Grand Army men buried there. (The Grand Army of the Republic, founded in 1866, was an organization of veterans of the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps who served in the Civil War.)

In 1922, A. Budwig, former pilot for L.C. Brand and by then with the Rogers Airport at the La Brea oil fields, took several photos of the maturing plantings from the company airplane. One was published in the Glendale Daily Press in September 1922.

Davis took out permits in 1924 to build a huge mausoleum, said to be the largest in the world at the time, and estimated to cost $400,000." - Glendale News

Full article available for 14 days from January 31, 2008 - more>