Cinecon 45 Labor Day Weekend 2009

September 3-7, 2009Cinecon 45
Hollywood, California
Classic and Silent film filled Labor Day Weekend
Film line up announced
Schedule of events

Sept. 4, 2004 - Short update from the LA Times and more

Pronouncing silent stars names in French with Dominique & Emeline

Last February I had the pleasure of speaking with Dominique and Emeline Dugros. You will know them from our Chaplin Library and Chaplin Database on Edna Purviance .org.

During our call, we started to talk about how different names are pronounced in France. I asked Dominique and Emeline if I could record our chat on names and this is the result of our casual chat about pronouncing silent film stars names in French.

Most of them do relate to Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance. We hope you might enjoy this audio only recording! LINK

The Rainbow Orchid showing up on Amazon USA

Just a heads up, as I noticed Garen Ewing's The Rainbow Orchid books are showing up on the Amazon USA USED section, with new books being offered mailed directly from the UK.

I have used The Book Depositary before, so testing out an *order with them. So, if you live in the USA, and don't want to deal with exchange rates, it is available from this link. (The Rainbow Orchid is not officially released in the USA, yet. All books are coming out of the UK.)

If you want to get a special signed and sketched book from Garen, do go to this link for details. Also, take a look at his special offers, including beautiful archival photos and professionally silk-screened Rainbow Orchid T-Shirts!


*Update: The price has went down since I ordered one book this afternoon. Also, we like to thank again the steady stream of listeners to Garen's talk about The Rainbow Orchid.

Update: It changes hourly, but fun to see Garen's book at this time (Aug. 27th UK time) as #6 (out of 60 children books) on the Amazon UK Hot Future Releases.

Update: I have launched a 12 minute image video with segments of Garen's interview. LINK

Update on T-Shirts: Wonderful T-Shirts from Rainbow Orchid Shop. They are GREAT!

I got my in each colour and they are very nice. Light weight, soft and comfortable. I have the small size and it fits with just the right room to spare. The sand colour is even more pleasing in person, because it has a slightly darker tan shade than pictured.

They are so nice, in fact, seriously preparing to get a second order, just to have a supply around for now and the future. See Garen's shop for full details on these special shirts!

(PS - I did have a full post on the web for about a day, but removed it. It was exciting to get the package, but I felt I made a horrible model, so off the web it went.)

Where Charlie Chaplin is 'God' - The Boot Cake

The Boot Cake is Kathryn Millard's award nominated documentary about her trip to Adipur, India, where people celebrate and treat Charlie Chaplin 'like a god.'


"On Chaplin’s 116th birthday she visited Adipur that was having a parade of Chaplin look-alikes. Her film explores how one community, reeling from the tragedy of the Gujarat earthquake that killed 200,000 people, finds hope and inspiration in the comic genius of Charlie Chaplin." - The Statesman


Here is a Trailer about The Boot Cake:



Link to The Boot Cake home website

Silent Films with Live Guitars January 2010

January 2010 - The New York Guitar Festival - Live Guitar music with the films of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Music by Bon Iver, Steve Kimock, David Bromberg and Marc Ribot. Check this link for times and dates.

Good-Bye to the Hippdrome?

The Tameside Hippdrome where Charlie Chaplin played could be no more, as no buyers are coming forward to help save it. BBC article and auto recording at this link.

PBS producer John Schwally contact us for FDR documentary

In early June, we were contacted by John Schwally, a New York veteran PBS producer and JFS Films documentary researcher and creator. Schwally is finishing work on a documentary called FDR's Secret Air Force. The reason we were contacted was because of this page we had about John 'Jack' Squire. Jack was Edna Purviance's husband from 1938 until his sudden death from a heart attack in 1945.

David Hartman (formerly known as host of ABC's Good Morning America for 11 yrs.) is narrator of the film

For 10 years Jack was a pilot for different divisions of Pan America Airlines and had flown for other airlines since his twenties. Jack was either captain or crew member on flights across the United States, Central America, South America and even to Great Britain.

Edna was with Jack during World War II, and they lived in South America. During the war, Jack and other pilots for Pan Am and other airlines functioned as a secret air force for United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Schwally’s documentary is about history quietly created by these commercial pilots in wartime.

Jack Squire does not appear in the documentary, but his work as an amateur filmmaker will be seen. Jack loved being a pilot, and he avidly filmed his trips to different countries.

Some of those films have survived and were digitally preserved by Leading Ladies in 2006. In FDR's Secret Air Force, parts of a 7 minute segment of his movies from the 1940s are planned to be part of the showing on PBS, Discovery or another network (details still developing).

(Note: This will NOT include the film images of Edna Purviance.)

Schwally has been working on this project since 2001, and has interviewed some of the last living pilots of that era. The documentary will illuminate an intriguing event in history.

We will keep you informed on the progress of this project. I know Jack (and Edna) would have been proud Jack’s films would be a part of this new documentary.

Jack's 7 minute all colour film segment includes:

Clip One: Jack's film in flight over South America (Exact location still researching)

Clip Two: About two minutes showing Sikorsky S-42 (one of only 10 clipper ships) landing and unloading (photos captured from Jack's film by Linda Wada)


About some of the projects of veteran PBS producer John Schwally:
• Winner of two Emmy awards for PBS Nature, Adam Smith and PBS She Says Women in News

• Production Manager for PBS Mystery of Love and Line Producer for PBS Heart of the Soul

• Producer and writer for Battles B.C. for the History Channel

• Producing the aviation history documentary Across the Sahara

• Production for The Islam Project for ABC News' Nightline and PBS Frontline

• New York Bureau Chief for national PBS magazine series Religion & Ethic NewsWeekly

• Field Producer and Production Manager for the Discovery Health Channel series Beating the Odds

• Executive Producer of The Backpacking Experience for the Outdoor Life Network

John Schwally Facebook Group

LATEST NEWS
Schwally has been invited to present FDR film at Cornell and Rutgers Universities 'Re-Evaluating Africa and WWII' in September 2009.

Update note: The film arrived fine. I will report more, when I know more...

Update Aug. 14th: John will be on Heritage Radio on Sunday August 16th, 1PM (guessing Eastern time at this moment). Check Heritage Radio Website.

Update Aug. 26th: Learned Jack's footage is being edited in now, as the finishing touches are being made on FDR.

Update Sept. 19th: FDR is making the rounds and getting very good feedback! The film also has strong interest in the UK. More details as they develop.

Update Date March 2014 - Last I heard, a new site is being planned for the project.
______________________
John Squire Film Archive
Leading Ladies Collection
Linda Wada, ednapurviance.org Production

Silent Film Organist Bob Mitchell passing

Bob Mitchell, said to be the last surviving organ accompanist from the silent era, died on July 4, 2009. Local Santa Clarita public TV station has this memorial edition interview called The Robert Mitchell Story with host Philip Scorza (about 40 minutes). LINK

"On Christmas Day 1924, Mitchell was practicing carols on the organ at the Strand Theater in Pasadena when the lights went down and a movie about the Yukon went up. The 12-year-old kept playing, improvising a soundtrack. Soon he was accompanying matinee shows five times a week. He played for films such as the romantic wartime drama "What Price Glory," the action-adventure "Beau Geste" and the Fritz Lang futuristic fantasy "Metropolis." With the arrival of talkies and Al Jolson in the 1927 film "The Jazz Singer," Mitchell's first silent-movie career ended when he was 16." - Los Angeles Times

In the video, Mitchell has some interesting comments about Charlie Chaplin and also, what it was like for black boy singers during his day running a boys choir.

When Michael Jackson and Oona Chaplin met

There has been people wondering if Michael Jackson and Charlie Chaplin ever met. They did not. Michael was a famous child and teenage singing star with the Jackson 5, as well as some solo work during Chaplin's later years. Michael was a huge fan of Chaplin's and the song 'Smile' was his favorite song. Jackson did say he always wanted to meet Oona Chaplin, which he did in the 1980s.

According to Jane Scovell book - 'Oona: Living in the Shadows'
"Oona's old friend Sophia Loren, "something of a Jackson groupie," had been attending Jackson's concerts, and when the singer came to Switzerland the Italian actress did arrange for them to meet. He (Michael Jackson) went to the Manoir and was given a tour of the estate by Oona. At one point she told him that he and Charlie "had a lot in common: you were born poor and had to strive to achieve all that you have." - 'Oona: Living in the Shadows' by Jane Scovell

Chaplin's home? Here is a tour of the Manior in Switzerland by Chaplin fan Rainer Mann. LINK

Update: Aug. 24th - Link to a painting Michael did of Chaplin when he was nine years old.

Update: Dec. 9, 2009 - LA Times Magazine, Michael Jackson dressed as Chaplin.

Update: Dec. 9, 2009 - More about Michael Jackson as Charlie Chaplin photo shoot.

Update Mar. 24, 2010 - 'Charlie and Michael' impersonators at the Adamastor Theatre.

Jermaine Jackson's tribute to Michael

Jermaine Jackson sings Michael's favorite song 'Smile' (video taken down by user) at an emotional filled memorial today. Video from AP. (Michael and Janet in the 70's.)


Update: Jermaine Jackson will be posthumously accepting the award for his brother at the Save the World Awards in Zwentendorf, Austria, July 24th. The motto for this year's event will be 'Heal The World' named after Michael's 'Heal the World' foundation, which gave multi-millions of dollars to social and humanitarian projects around the world. It is reported Jermaine will sing Smile at this event.

July 25, 2009 - Update - AP report about the event

August 7, 2009 - iTunes plans to have Jermaine Jackson's version of 'Smile'

Sept. 4, 2009 - Forest Lawn - Los Angeles Times report and photos.

Many authors to sign books at SF Silent Film Fest

San Francisco Silent Film Festival - July 10-12, 2009

Nearly dozen authors scheduled for book signings during this 2009 event. Press Release from the San Francisco Silent Film Festival:

Friday, July 10 - before and after The Gaucho Jeffrey Vance and Tony Maietta will sign copies of “Douglas Fairbanks” (University of California Press) in the Castro lobby. Jeffrey Vance is a film historian, producer, and lecturer as well as the author of an acclaimed trilogy of books on the great triumvirate of silent-film comedy: “Chaplin: Genius of the Cinema,” “Harold Lloyd: Master Comedian,” and “Buster Keaton Remembered.”

Saturday, July 11 - after Amazing Tales from the Archives Christel Schmidt will sign copies of “Silent Movies: The Birth of Film and the Triumph of Movie Culture” (Little, Brown and Company) on the Castro mezzanine.

Christel Schmidt is involved with silent film through her work at the Library of Congress. She contributed to “Silent Movies: The Birth of Film and the Triumph of Movie Culture.”

Shawna Kelly will sign copies of “Aviators in Early Hollywood” (Arcadia) on the Castro mezzanine. Shawna Kelly is the great granddaughter of Daredevil DeLay, innovator of several aerial firsts for motion pictures and one of the aviators who gave his life for the entertainment world.

Saturday, July 11 - after Bardelys the Magnificent David Shepard will sign copies of “Bardelys the Magnificent” (Flicker Alley) and other DVDs on the Castro mezzanine. David Shepard is an archivist, author, consultant and legendary film preservationist whose Film Preservation Associates is responsible for numerous high quality video versions of silent films. His work has been honored by the National Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and the San Francisco International Film Festival. Trina Robbins will sign copies of “The Brinkley Girls” (Fantagraphics) on the Castro mezzanine. Retired cartoonist and current comics historian Trina Robbins has been writing graphic novels, comics, and books for over 30 years. Her earlier works include “Nell Brinkley and the New Woman in the Early 20th Century” (McFarland).

Saturday, July 11 - after Wild Rose Richard Meyer and Qin Yi will sign copies of “Jin Yan: The Rudolph Valentino of Shanghai” on the Castro mezzanine. Richard Meyer is a film historian, scholar and the author of “Ruan Ling-yu: The Goddess of Shanghai” and other works. Qin Yi is the widow of the Chinese film star Jin Yan.

Saturday, July 11 - after Underworld Eddie Muller will sign copies of “Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir” (St. Martin’s) and “Art of Noir” (Overlook) on the Castro mezzanine. Eddie Muller is a recognized authority on film noir. He is a film historian, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and producer – as well as the author of a number of books. Mick LaSalle will sign copies of “Joan Crawford: The Enduring Star” (Rizzoli) and “Complicated Women” (St. Martin’s) on the Castro mezzanine. Mick Lasalle is the author of two indispensible books on pre-code film, “Complicated Women” and “Dangerous Men.” He is also well known to local film buffs as the film critic for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Sunday, July 12 - after Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Leonard Maltin will sign copies of “Of Mice and Magic” (Plume ) and “Leonard Maltin’s Movie Crazy” (Dark Horse Comics) on the Castro mezzanine. Leonard Maltin is one of the country’s leading film critics and historians. He has written a number of books, appeared on television’s “Entertainment Tonight” for more than 20 years, and teaches at the University of Southern California. His annual movie guide is a regular
bestseller.

Leslie Iwerks will sign copies of “Hand Behind the Mouse” (Disney Editions) on the Castro mezzanine. Leslie Iwerks is an Academy Award-nominated producer/director who heads Leslie Iwerks Productions. Her works include “The Pixar Story” and “The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story.” The last of these documents the life of her grandfather.

Sunday, July 12 - after Erotikon Glen David Gold will sign copies of “Sunnyside” (Knopf) on the Castro mezzanine. Glen David Gold is a novelist and the author of the best seller “Carter Beats the Devil.” His new novel centers on the life of Charlie Chaplin. Sunday, July 12 - after So’s Your Old Man

Terry Zwigoff & Dan Clowes will sign copies of “Ghost World: the Special Edition” (Fantagraphics) on the Castro mezzanine. Terry Zwigoff is an American filmmaker well-known for two popular films arising out of the world of alternative comics: the documentary “Crumb” (1994), and the feature “Ghost World” (2001).The later was adapted from a story in Dan Clowes’s comic of the same name. For their work on “Ghost World,” Clowes and Zwigoff received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay. Five years later, they teamed up on Art School Confidential.

Visit SF Silent Film site for more details.