New dates added for Grand View

July-October, 2009 - City of Glendale has listed the latest dates for Grand View Cemetery to be open. "Whether the Cemetery will open on a regular basis... is unknown."- City of Glendale

Michael

Michael Jackson
1958-2009
May the music always live on...

Since I am the same age as Michael, I got to watch his career grow from the start. I remember seeing him with his brothers on the Dick Clark show (Bandstand) and on several variety programs of the late 1960s/early 1970s.

In junior high in the early 70s, we had a morning assembly every Tuesday and would always have a sing-along. The early Jackson Five hits, like ABC, were part of that sing-along. (The only African-American created music I remember singing in that school.)

By the time of his solo album Off the Wall, I remember purchasing it during my first year in college. I still remember the shop and pulling it off the rank in my little farm town.

And by the 1980s, I remember watching Thriller on MTV with my husband. It was huge, and I always would stop to watch it whenever it came on. (That is when MTV showed nothing but music videos 24/7. But more important, Jackson broke down the wall, allowing African-Americans to be shown on MTV. Before Michael, only white artist were shown on MTV. It wasn't easy, as it was a fight to get his video shown.)

Our very first music CD was Bad, which we purchased in Oakland, California. It was the same trip we got our first CD player.

And that was the last Michael Jackson album we purchased. But it wasn't the last time I listened to them, as I still have all those albums. The great thing about music, it always lives on, as long as people remember it.

I never saw him in person, only heard him on TV, records and countless times on the radio (like most people). And like so many other musical artists I grew up loving to listen too, I am always going to remember growing up with Michael's music and dancing.

He was so young when he started, he didn't choose his life, he was just having fun singing in the beginning and naturally good. It is just sad Michael never had the chance to 'grow up' to know a life outside his fame.

Three Video breakthrough favorites during peak:
Thriller | Billie Jean | Beat It

Update: Michael Jackson's recording of SMILE
(Apparently the video originally on MJ's site before, but placed up here by someone over a year ago, so don't know if it will stay, but includes Edna, Charlie, Jackie with Michael's version of SMILE.)

Update: Early moonwalk? In this tribute video called I Want You Back it shows early video clips from the Jackson Five television performances. If you watch closely at the end, you will see a very brief piece at what looks likes a very early moonwalk try by Michael at a much younger age.

Charlie Chaplin related fact: On January 28, 1985, "We are the World" which was co-written by Michael Jackson, was recorded on the Charlie Chaplin Studio lot, when the studio was A&M Studios.

Best Picture Oscar goes from 5 to 10

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences have decided to return to ten films to be up for Best Picture Oscar instead of just five. The last time when more than five pictures were allowed to be nominated were between the years 1932-1943. During those years, eight to twelve films were allowed, on certain years. Click on the link to learn more about the change: LINK - Los Angeles Times

The Sea Gull reviewed by Examiner writer Thomas Gladysz

"Had you not known it was self-published, any reader would assume this book the product of a major concern. It’s beautifully printed. The layout is attractive, and the text is informative. And what’s more, it’s the only book on an interesting and worthwhile subject." - Thomas Gladysz, Examiner (San Francisco).

On Friday, just before shutting down and leaving on a weekend get-a-way, we had a wonderful online surprise with a review of The Sea Gull "A Woman of the Sea" by Thomas Gladysz from San Francisco, writing for the Examiner. It's our first online 'newspaper' review, which is seen nationwide.

The article isn't only about The Sea Gull, but also about the state of publishing for silent film books these days, as traditional publishing houses are turning away from printing such subject matter. It is one of the reasons we self-published our book.

"These days, books on silent film are largely being published by mid-size, specialty, and university presses. McFarland continues its steady issuance of largely worthwhile books, and recently they have been joined in the field by BearManor." - Thomas Gladysz, Examiner

It is not everyday you see your project listed under Google News.

You can follow more of Thomas Gladysz's reports and reviews on silent films at the Examiner. We thank Mr. Gladysz, and all our readers, who have enjoyed our book, and of course, all our supporters who helped in creating The Sea Gull. We are getting a nice 'flood' of new orders from all over, which is cutting handsomely into our new second edition stock.

Also, to answer a few questions about our Lita Hill interview on DVD, we still plan to release about the same time as Edna's second book, which I am still researching. Currently, I have been doing more research on Edna's husband Jack. I am finding this most interesting, lately, as new items are starting to appear. And something is brewing in the background that I think would have made Edna and Jack very excited.

Granville Redmond's 'Silver and Gold' painting

If you know your Charlie Chaplin history, you know Granville Redmond was the deaf painter Charlie Chaplin took in during the late 1910s, after Chaplin created his new studio. Redmond played a role as the bar owner in 'A Dog's Life' who Edna is fired by, and he played an artist in 'The Kid' with Carl Miller.

Redmond was still working for Chaplin when Morgan Hill met him in the late 1920s. They became friends during this time, especially during the making of 'City Lights.' Redmond presented Morgan with a painting as a gift to Morgan.

I saw the painting Morgan got when I first met Lita in 2005. A lovely seascape. But today's article about Redmond's paintings are not about seascapes, but a landscape called 'Silver and Gold.' It was created the same year as 'A Dog's Life', starring Edna Purviance and Charlie Chaplin.

It was one of 18 paintings recently sold by the Orange County Museum.

"The star painting in the transaction is probably Granville Redmond's 1918 "Silver and Gold" (above), a rolling coastal landscape that Laguna Art Museum director Bolton Colburn described to The Times as “an A-plus, a perfect Redmond, one of the five best paintings he ever did.” The artist painted it the same year he appeared in his first Charlie Chaplin movie, "A Dog's Life." - Los Angeles Times

You can read more at this link about this special sale.
Update: More about this controversial private sale.

First Edition The Sea Gull books are now RETIRED

I had a surprise today, as the Second Revised Edition of The Sea Gull books arrived today! (Originally told by Wednesday next week, but we'll take it.) All the new stock checked out just fine!

So, as of today, June 12, 2009, all The Sea Gull books sold and shipped will be Revised Second Edition. I have officially retired the First Edition.

For our library visitors, The Sea Gull is listed on WorldCat.

JUNE 19, 2009 - (SAN FRANCISCO) EXAMINER REVIEW OF THE SEA GULL

Second Editions now on sale! Thanks for the first second edition book sold! More Second Editions in stock and ready to ship!

Charlie Chaplin Keystone DVDs

I received word that the Charlie Chaplin Keystone DVD collection is again on delay until 2010. Just have to wait longer, folks, but it's coming. Just takes time for these things.

UPDATE: The Second Edition of The Sea Gull is now on sale. (The First Edition has been retired.)

Thanks to our 450+ Garen Ewing interview listeners!

I want to send a special thanks to the 450+ listeners to Garen Ewing's interview this last week. Being Garen's first audio recording and my first podcast, I was very pleased to see the response and really appreciated hearing back from some of you, as well. It makes all the effort in presenting this even more special.

According to stats (and it varies each day), we had listeners from around the world, with Europe and the UK with about 55-60% of the listening audience, most of the time. But the United States came in with nearly 40% to 45% or more, during the week (depending on the day). Canada came in next with about 20% tops for the week, and Japan and scattering of other countries worldwide, sharing about 5-15% of our listening audience.

Yes, it is (1:14) not by design but by chance, with the main focus on Garen Ewing creating his book and how he went from being a self-publisher to being picked up by a publishing company, Egmont UK. If you are interested in publishing yourself one day, something you should enjoy listening to and learn from. And from the response so far, the audiences are enjoying listening.

Garen's The Rainbow Orchid being picked up and published by Egmont UK didn't happen overnight, but after years of determination and frankly, just plain hard work.

For you silent film fans, Garen even reveals a project he had thoughts of creating before going heavily into Rainbow Orchid, but you will just have to listen to find out what it is.

So if you are thinking about publishing, or someone who likes to listen to a good chat about creating, grab a cup of tea and have a listen to a fine gentleman, who I have had the pleasant in learning about his work over the years and have the pleasure to present to you now. Link to: Garen Ewing Interview

Thank you, everyone...

UPDATE June 18th: For Window users, I've placed up a new page with the audio file on Real Player.

UPDATE Sept. 26, 2009: The Rainbow Orchid is now in the Springfield Library and others.

Happy Birthday, Garen!

Garen Ewing has asked his friends and Rainbow Orchid followers to help celebrate his 40th birthday today, by 'spreading the word' about his upcoming book The Rainbow Orchid (Volume One) being released in August 2009.

Now while I just posted Garen's audio recording (which you can learn more about his love for silent films and how it is a part of his work), I just want to point out to our silent film fans, The Rainbow Orchid would make a great gift for that person on your list who you would like to introduce to silent films. With two of Garen's leading characters in the silent film field, it would be a fun and unique way to do it.

So help a dear and special friend of ours celebrate his 40th Birthday, by spending sometime at The Rainbow Orchid. Have a Very Happy Birthday, Garen! And thanks everyone!

UPDATE June 18th: For Window users, I've placed up a new page with the audio file on Real Player.