Eight Years Down, rolling into ninth!

Eight years down, rolling into ninth!
Edna's .org site starts rolling into our 9th year on the web
and to kick it off...

A special report about my first visit to
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

Check this link for current events at Niles!
Full December schedule available now!

SPECIAL CHARLIE CHAPLIN EVENT
OCTOBER 2010

October 28, 29, and 30, 2009
International Charlie Chaplin Conference
Charlie Chaplin in the Heartland
SPECIAL PAGE WITH DETAILS!

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT THE SEA GULL

UPDATE: JANUARY 22, 2010 - THE SEA GULL WILL BE RE-LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY. WE HAVE A NEW PRINTER AND A NEW START!

NOTICE ON WHY WE CHANGED PRINTERS:
THE SALE OF THE SEA GULL SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Due to recent problems with our current printer, Leading Ladies has decided to suspend sales of The Sea Gull book, until further notice. Many publishers and authors are having difficulties with this printer.

Though we were satisfied with the old printer for a long time, their business situation changed, and their standards have fallen below our acceptable standards.

I personally inspect every book before it is shipped to a customer. This ensures you receive a properly printed and unflawed book. Customers never receive a bad book, and Leading Ladies deals directly with the printer for any print quality issues.

Though we had good luck in the past, we recently experienced a series of troubling developments with getting properly printed books. The most recent order was so badly done, it has caused us to pull The Sea Gull off the market, until we locate a new printer for our book.

Gearing up with another printer will take some time, and we are following up promising leads. Most time-consuming will be the changes needed to the book's files to match the needs of the new printer's system.

Please revisit often during this transition period. I will be sending out notices and have special posts on the return of The Sea Gull.

It saddens us that The Sea Gull will be unavailable for awhile, but Leading Ladies will only sell the best produced product. Thanks for your patience during this time.

We have plenty of sales, with customers waiting, but can not service any customers, until this issue is solved.

UPDATE DECEMBER 6, 2009 - I am creating a re-launch list for The Sea Gull book. If you like to be on the list, please contact us thought this link. Thanks! We are working on getting a new printer and have some promising leads. It just takes time.

Update January 15, 2010 - We do have a new printer! It took awhile to find someone who could do what we needed for our project and to be approved as a new client. After a real talk with them, on the phone, we now have a special contact person assigned to our project. It will cost us in money and time in doing the changeover, but deeply in the process now. No re-launch date, yet, but watch the site for updates. Thanks for interest and all the new fans signing up for the book.

Chaplin Museum in two years?

November 22 - Associated Press report on the latest news on the Chaplin Museum at his family mansion at Corsier-sur-Vevey. The project has been on-going for about 10 years. more>

The Great Nickelodeon Show in Niles

December 5, 2009
The Great Nickelodeon Show
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum
Niles, California

To be sure your seat, get your ticket today! Click on images!

Slapstick 2010 with Michael Palin!

January 21-24, 2010

Slapstick 2010

Something Almost Completely Different with very special guest
Michael Palin

Bristol, England
Colston Hall
Check it out NOW!

TCM Classic Film Festival Passes

Turner Classic Movies Film passes go on sale today, for the April 2010 event in Hollywood. Prices range from $499 to $1,199. MORE>

• The "Classic" Festival Pass: $499 -- Includes access to all film programs at festival venues; access to all Club TCM events, including festival headquarters, the festival lounge, panel discussions, social events, the festival boutique and poolside screenings at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; an opening-night welcome party; Friday and Saturday evening passholder gatherings; the closing-night event; and a commemorative festival program.

• The "Essential" Festival Pass: $599 -- Includes all privileges available to "Classic" passholders, plus entry to the opening-night red carpet screening of A Star is Born at Grauman's Chinese Theatre and official TCM festival collectibles.

• The "Spotlight" Festival Pass: $1,199 -- Includes all privileges available to "Classic" and "Essential" passholders, plus entry to an exclusive opening-night party following the red carpet screening of A Star is Born, hosted by Vanity Fair magazine; priority entry to all events; a meet-and-greet breakfast with Robert Osborne; and an official TCM Classic Film Festival poster signed by Osborne.

Here is the official link from Turner Classic Movies.

Major Fouad Khalil Aide, longtime Edna and Charlie fan

Major Fouad Khalil Aide
1931-2009
Longtime Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance fan

Today, very saddened to learn of the passing of longtime Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance fan, Major Fouad Khalil Aide. Major Aide has written to Edna's for years and it was always great to hear from him. Major Aide and his wife, both loved Edna, and he will be missed in the circle of Edna fans, worldwide. Our heart felt condolences to his family... Linda Wada, ednapurviance.org/com

About Major Fouad Khalil Aide (from tribute site):
Fouad was commissioned from the University of Texas ROTC Program in 1953. He served as a Military Police Officer for his twenty years in the Army. He served three tours of duty in Viet Nam, with one year as an Infantry Officer. He was recalled to active duty for service in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He was attached to the FBI on their Terrorism Task Force because of his expertise in the various Arabic dialects and cultures. He was fluent in Arabic, Spanish and Vietnamese and had a good working knowledge of Italian, Portuguese and French. He was the Chief, International Military Student Office of USAMPS for 33 years. Some of Major Aide’s awards and decorations include three awards of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with seven campaigns. For his combat service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.


First email and a few others, over the years...

Hi,
I am a big Charles Chaplin fan. I have many of his films on 8mm film. I have recently purchased the available films on DVD. However there are a number of his films that are not included in these DVDs.

I would appreciate any help you can give me in finding the following Chaplain films on DVD.
1.Mabel at the Wheel,
2. Caught in the Rain,
3. Her Friend the Bandit,
4. Mabel's Busy day,
5.The Property Man,
6. Gentleman of Nerve,
7. His Trysting Place,
8. His Prehistoric Past,
9. The Professor,
10.How to Make Movies,
11. Show People.

If I am able to obtain them, I would have a almost complete collection of his films. He is the best of the best. Your listings are outstanding in providing excellent information on him.

You are to be commended. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.
Happy Easter. Maj. Fouad K. Aide (US Army)

Others over the years...

"I thought that you were a youngster. I was born in 1931. Served 44 years in the US Army, had 3 combat tours in Vietnam and served a year in the first Gulf War. SO I can remember many different decades. Have a great week Linda" - Fouad

Hi Linda, Thank you for the heads up. Will check out the site. Looking forward to seeing the Edna site. PLMK when you get it running.
Regards,
Fouad

Thanks again Linda. I'm looking forward to getting the Keystone films. I know you are also. Regards,
Fouad

Hi Linda,
Will buy the first copy of your second book. PLMK when it will be out.
Regards,
Fouad

Hi Linda,
...I wish we could meet someday. We have the same interests. My wife and I love Edna.
Thanks,
Fouad

Hi Linda,
That is great news. PLMK when you have more info on the dates. Have a great week. I am happy to know that I am one of your special Edna fans.
Regards,
Fouad

Jin Yan

Seattle author, Richard Meyer, talks about his new book, "Jin Yan: The Rudolph Valentino of Shanghai," featuring the history of Chinese silent films. LINK

£3.20 buys Zepped, unknown Chaplin film?

Unknown Chaplin film? Or re-edited film with Chaplin outtakes. That is what Morace Park, a collector in England, who bought a £3.20 film off ebay called 'Zepped' is researching to find out.

'Zepped' contains footage showing Chaplin, but the Chaplin footage could be never released outtakes, which Chaplin had many of during early film career. Still, unseen footage of Chaplin causes excitement. And could be worth up to $40,000.

"The find has caused a storm among experts and features unseen footage of Zeppelins flying over England during World War I, as well as very early stop-motion animation and outtakes from Chaplin films. The main animated sequence starts with Chaplin wishing he could return to England from America and fight with British soldiers. It shows him being taken on a flight through clouds before landing on a spire in England.

Mr Park said: 'It starts with live shots of Chaplin. It then turns into a dreamscape. 'We see a Zeppelin bomb attack. And then we see Chaplin taking the mickey out of the Zeppelin, at the time a powerful instrument of terror,' he told The Guardian.

The movie, shot on 35mm nitrate film, is believed to have been a First World War propaganda piece aimed at lessening the fear of airship bombing raids which Germany had been launching on Britain from the beginning of 1915.

Mr Pogorzelski believes the film is made from outtakes and footage from previous films reedited by Essanay and cut together with shots of Zeppelins and animated material. He described it as 'either piracy or entrepreneurship - depending on which side of the fence you're on'.

Simon Louvish, author of Chaplin: The Tramp's Odyssey, told the Independent: 'There are a number of these compilation films around, and in Senegal there were a number of films that had been cut together by other people using Chaplin footage. 'Keystone Pictures was going bust at the time and footage from these Chaplin films were freely available. This is less so of the Essanay films." - Daily Mail

The footage has been 'classified for exhibition' in Egypt. More about the story at this link.

Update: One of our loyal Edna fans and longtime Chaplin expert said he was asked about this film, and saw some of the footage. The footage he saw was taken from known released films of Chaplin, from the Keystone and Essanay era.

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

Congratulations to our 2009
Edna birthday winner!
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest.
Watch for future drawings at Edna's.

The correct answers were:
1 - What event was this poster created for?
Festival Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Italy

2 - What premiered at this event in 2005?
Restored version of "A Woman of Paris"

3 - Who was a guest of honor at this event?
Lita Hill

Silent Film event for Hearing Loss

November 11-14, 2009
San Diego, California
Silent Film Festival

Raising Awareness for Hearing Loss
Museum of Photographic Arts
Balboa Park

Four days of silent film fun from Buster Keaton to Charlie Chaplin, to raise awareness for hearing loss. Program by San Diego and Carlsbad Chapters of The Hearing Loss Association of America. Admission is free. Donations are accepted. Visit this link for more details on times.

My video visit of Niles Silent Film Museum

On October 24th, 2009, I visited, for the first time, the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum with guide Michael Bonham (volunteer coordinator, news editor and sometimes MC) and author, Shawna Kelly, who made a special trip down to join us in Niles.


This is just a sample of my visit at the museum. I am not in the video, but Shawna and Michael are, showing us the different locations, cameras and projectors at the theatre. This simple video was all done in fun and I hope you will enjoy... LINK TO VIDEO

I will also have a report coming soon about my visit to Niles. Update: Here is my report about my visit to Niles.