Thanks for the latest!

Thanks for the latest 'The Sea Gull' book orders! Check your emails for updates on orders. Haven't ordered your copy? Check this LINK.

And thanks for the new entries for Edna's October Surprise! If you have not entered, you can't have a chance to win! Check this LINK for details!

Charlie Chaplin BluRay Collection from Park Circus

The Charlie Chaplin Collection in Blu-Ray
UK/European Collection
from Park Circus Entertainment

Check online or at your favorite shop. All listed at Amazon UK.

Park Circus home site. (Some available in August 2010)
French release in October - Link
Dual release (DVD/BluRay) for pal.
You can check this link for screenings from Park Circus.

Note: In looking for more information about these, it is sounding pretty much the same collection as Warner Brothers released from a few years ago for the DVD. And until I can see a 'side by side' comparison, I can't comment on the Blu-Ray editions of these. Personally, my favorite collection of films is the Image Entertainment release, which were the first DVD releases. Why? Because those releases had Chaplin's original film edit from his film years, and not the re-edits he did years later when living in Europe. In what they lack, you gain in seeing Chaplin original vision from his film years. They are out of print and getting harder to find.

Bethany Hare and the copyrighted 'Smile'

This interesting story developed over a girl wanting to do a fund raiser for a good cause and loving the song 'Smile', but running into the legal matter of copyright ownership.

Wharfeddale & Airedale Observer - July 29, 2010
Bethany Hare - Click image for full story.

Bethany Hare, who loved the song 'Smile', decided to create a video for raising money for the 'Martin House Hospice for Children' in the UK. Dressed as Charlie Chaplin, Hare used the song 'Smile' in a well created video.

They posted the video and it started to raise money for their cause. I don't know all the story behind this, but they apparently didn't know all the copyright issues, and thought they were okay in using it.

In December 2009, Bourne Music in New York contacted the family and asked to removed the song 'Smile' due to copyright infringement. (Bourne legally owns the copyright for the lyrics.) They could replace the song if they paid the fee (about $2000) for using it, plus other cost, if they used 'Smile' for other performances.

'Smile' is owned by two different copyright owners.

The music, which was a theme in the film 'Modern Times', was composed by Charles Chaplin (and his team) in 1936. In 1954, the theme was combined with lyrics and became the song 'Smile', which it is best known for today. The lyrics are by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. The song became famous with Nat King Cole and has been a standard, ever since. As for copyright, Roy Export (Chaplin's company in Paris) owns the music and Bourne Music in New York own the lyrics. (I have read in a couple of reports, the Chaplin Family were in support of Miss Hare.)

Bourne Music learned of this video and demanded 'Smile' to be pulled off the video, due to copyright infringements. The family pulled the soundtrack off video last December. The video has been silent ever since. The donations kept coming, but at a slower pace.

The mainstream press picked up the story this summer. Donations picked up. Now there is even hope of a well-known silent film pianist, who has offered to create music for her silent video. (You can follow this development at Edna's Facebook Fan Page - date last week in July 2010.)

Her fund raiser is now within 20% of reaching her goal, and if you like to help, they are taking donations at this site at JUST GIVING. (It is an UK project, so amounts show in pounds.) You can see Bethany Hare's video (minus the Smile) at this link. And here is another link from MSNBC, who covered the story a few days ago.

This is looking like it may have an happy ending, but just a good reminder to anyone thinking of doing a project, even for non-profit, to check thoroughly with all issues on copyright, if using material you didn't create or own, for any project.

Chautauqua Silent Film Series 2010

Silent Films in the Rockies!
Now through into September
Chautauqua Silent Film Series

Boulder, Colorado
The Colorado Chautauqua National Historic Landmark
Wednesday Nights
Link to Chautaqua for more details

I have tried to see this event in the past, but if you are in the area and love silent films, certainly check it out.

"Louis" A Silent Film on tour

"Louis" is a new silent film playing "homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, beautiful women and the birth of American music." Starring Jackie Earle Haley, Shanti Lowry and Anthony Coleman, the film is directed by Dan Pritzker.


This silent film will have a Live Musical Performance by Wynton Marsalis and Cecile Licad, for a limited engagement in these cities:

Wednesday
August 25 – Symphony Center, Chicago

Thursday
August 26 – Max M. Fisher Music Center, Detroit

Saturday
August 28 – Strathmore Center, Bethesda, Md.

Monday
August 30 – Apollo Theatre, Harlem, NYC

Tuesday
August 31 – Keswick Theatre, Glenside, Philadelphia, Pa.

"Shot by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond as a modern re-imagining of early silent film, LOUIS is an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, beautiful women and the birth of American music.

"The idea of accompanying a silent film telling a mythical tale of a young Louis Armstrong was appealing to me,” says Marsalis. “Of course, calling it a silent film is a misnomer -- there will be plenty of music, and jazz is like a conversation between the players so there'll be no shortage of dialogue." - Learn more at the official Louis website

Update for Flicker about the Chaplin at Keystone DVDs

From the Flicker Site: The CHAPLIN AT KEYSTONE 4-disc DVD set is currently a pre-release publication scheduled to ship on or before Oct. 26, 2010. LINK

Still watching for the UK release date.

Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin 'The Musical'

September 7 - October 17, 2010
Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin
The Musical
Mandell Weiss Theatre

Music and Lyrics by Christopher Curtis
Book by Christopher Curtis and Thomas Meehan
Directed by Michael Unger
A World Premiere Musical

La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla, California
San Diego

For tickets and more details click on image

"He came to America an unknown. He left amidst scandals and controversy. In between, Charlie Chaplin became one of the best-loved and most famous entertainers in the world. From the gritty streets and smoky music halls of London to movie screens across the world, Limelight goes behind the camera to show how a comic genius found soaring success and later fell from grace. Limelight provides a moving and delightful close-up on the man who changed motion pictures forever." - La Jolla Playhouse

35 Movies in Two Minutes

This creative two minute animation shows 35 movies in symbols. Can you guess them? from Felix Meyer

35mm from Pascal Monaco on Vimeo.

Note: I can't recall the site I first saw this to post a link of thanks. I think it was a comic site, so instead, thanks to all who have shared this. (Update Note: It was TintinMovie where I first saw this! Thanks!)

BBC 1 "The One Show' Charlie Chaplin July 21

UK Charlie Chaplin Fans: BBC ONE "The One Show" (7PM) will have a special segment about Charlie Chaplin on their Wednesday, July 21st program (this week). Online version available only in the UK, after the broadcast. Link to 'The One Show'

UPDATE: The broadcast is online for visitors in the UK to see. Click the The One Show link for the player for July 21, 2010 program. It will feature David Robinson talking about the Zepped (the clip that was making a buzz earlier this year).

Update: BBC 4 Radio (for all visitors) - The Film Programme - Sunday July 16, 2010 - Includes Neil Brand talking about 'The Immigrant' with Matthew Sweet. Link to player (active at time of post).

The Rainbow Orchid being published in the Netherlands!

Congratulations!
to Garen Ewing
and The Rainbow Orchid
for being published in
The Netherlands

with Silvester Strips

Garen will be making a special trip to Houten to attend the September 26th launch of volume one of The Rainbow Orchid in the Netherlands.

Official press release said today:

"British all-ages adventure comic The Rainbow Orchid is to be published in the Netherlands by Silvester Strips. It will be released in three parts, with volume 1 at
the end of September 2010, volume 2 in January 2011, and volume 3 in May 2011.

This follows the lead set by the book's UK publisher, Egmont, who acquired the comic in 2008 and published the first volume in July 2009. The third and final volume of the story should appear at about the same time in both English and Dutch early in 2011.

The book's author, Garen Ewing, said "I'm delighted to be working with Silvio Van Der Loo and his team at Silvester Strips, and I understand that I'm lucky enough to have one of their best translators, Mat Schifferstein, working on the books. A huge thanks to Oliver Munson, my agent at Blake Friedmann, for making this deal happen."

Garen will be travelling to the Netherlands to appear on the second day of De Stripdagen in Houten, on 26 September, to launch the book, the day after appearing with comic creators Dave McKean and Robin Etherington at the Bath Festival of Children's Literature." - official release from The Rainbow Orchid

Egmont editions currently available:
The Adventures of Julius Chancer:
The Rainbow Orchid, volume one ISBN 978-1405248532

The Adventures of Julius Chancer:
The Rainbow Orchid, volume two ISBN 978-1405250474

Learn more at The Rainbow Orchid.
Image from Garen Ewing's The Rainbow Orchid site.

Home tour of Charlie Chaplin Studio Lot

Decided to re-share this 'hand held' video tour of Charlie Chaplin's Studio lot. Shana Dennis brought this to my attention on her site, so re-sharing here. The woman who did the video actually works for the current company who own Charlie's old lot, so she decided to give this personal tour. - Thanks, Shana for the video find!

Janus Films' Charlie Chaplin Film site Opens

Janus Films'
Charlie Chaplin Film Site Opens
The Charlie Chaplin copyrighted films

will be re-released
with the Criterion Collection

"We all celebrated in the notion that we would be able to hopefully see new clean prints of his incredible body of work, as well as the idea that these titles would inevitably make their way into the Criterion Collection.

Whether these titles would be available individually, in box sets (either in Criterion proper, or in the Eclipse Series), or some combination of the two, we still have not heard a definitive statement from Criterion. It is highly likely that we’ll get an announcement for either November or December, as many would love a complete Charlie Chaplin box set to find it’s way onto their holiday wish list." - Janus Films

Link to Janus new Chaplin Film site. Chaplin art work by Kate Beaton. (Note: The Warner Brother release of these films is out of print.)

USA Chaplin Keystone Release from Flicker Alley

USA
CHAPLIN KEYSTONE RELEASE

FROM FLICKER ALLEY

Charlie Chaplin at Keystone Films

"Flicker Alley is proud to present Chaplin At Keystone. These films feature all-new musical settings by Eric Beheim, Neil Brand, Antonio Coppola, Frederick Hodges, Stephen Horne, Robert Israel, Rodney Sauer, The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, Ethan Uslan, and Ken Winokur with Tillie’s Nightmare, all outstanding practitioners of silent film accompaniment.

With the support of Association Chaplin (France), 35mm full aperture, early-generation materials (with only a few exceptions) were gathered on almost all the films in this international collaboration and were painstakingly pieced together by the National Film and Television Archive of the British Film Institute, L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy, and the UCLA Film and Television Archive; then digitally refurbished by Lobster Films in Paris." - Flicker Alley

Flicker Alley is running a special pre-order with free shipping in the USA for $59.96 (List Price $79.95). More to come!

UPDATE from FLICKER

The CHAPLIN AT KEYSTONE
4-disc DVD set is currently a pre-release publication
scheduled to ship on or before Oct. 26, 2010.

Update: A re-visit to CNN's report on the restored Chaplin Keystones:

BBC 2 - Paul Merton's "Birth of Hollywood"

UK visitors: Coming to the 2010/2011 Fall/Winter programing season on BBC TWO is Paul Merton "Birth of Hollywood"

"Marking Hollywood's 100th anniversary, Paul Merton travels to America to explore how the language of cinema, and the blueprint for the contemporary film industry, were laid down in the age of silent film.

Through Paul's passion for, and knowledge of, early cinema, the series builds on the success of his previous series Silent Clowns, Paul Merton Looks At Alfred Hitchcock and Paul Merton's Weird And Wonderful World Of Early Cinema.

Driven by narrative sequences shot in today's Hollywood, Paul finds out how much modern film-makers owe to the pioneers.

Searching through the archives of the big film studios, interviewing actors, producers and directors in Hollywood, he aims to reunite cinema with its creative origins in a tribute to a century of Hollywood film-making."

- from official press release BBC TWO

Peek at Slapsticon 2010

July 15-18, 2010 - Arlington, Viriginia - Slapsticon 2010 Clips! Click here for details of event.

Note: "The Sea Gull" book will be available through the Niles Silent Film Museum Shop during the San Francisco Silent Film Festival July 15-18, 2010.

Australia Facebook Group wanting a Silent Film Night

I always love seeing someone taking the chance in trying to make something happen. Loving silent films, Shana Dennis, started a Facebook group called "We Want a Silent Film Night in Newcastle" in Newcastle, Australia (just up the coast from Sydney.) Shana has contacted her local theater in hopes in making this happen:


"I thought The Civic Theater would be a great place to have a night like this because of its history. I had emailed them about it today and they said that they are talking cinema at the moment and they will put it to the team.

So I figure I will make this group to get support to see if it will sway the team into going with it. The heritage-listed Civic Theatre was designed by prominent architect Henry White and opened in 1929.

Regarded as one of the finest architects of the period, Henry White specialised in cinemas or "picture palaces" as they were then called. In all, he designed 183 theatres in Australia, New Zealand and North America, many in partnership with John Eberson. Sydney's State and Capitol Theatres are among their other designs from the same period.

Although designed as a live-theatre, the Civic was immediately leased as a cinema to Northern Amusements (in association with Newcastle Theatres Pty Ltd and Greater Union)" - Shana Dennis

I think The Civic Theater looks like a stunning place to show silent films. Actually, in the silent film era, many theaters were built for both film and stage performance. It looks like the perfect place for a live orchestra showing of a silent film. Shana has already gathered much interest with her group in her hometown area. Over the years, we had visitors from Australia here at Edna's, so if you are interested in showing your support, visit their Fan Page today and help support this idea to come true. LINK
______________________________

OTHER SILENT FILM EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
September 3-5, 2010 - Opotiki's Silent Film Festival - Opotiki, New Zealand - Schedule of films, which includes some Charlie Chaplin.

September 16, 18, 23, and 25, 2010 - 2010 Australia's Silent Film Festival - Sydney, Australia - The return of the Sydney Silent Film Festival. Link to site and click on image for Facebook group.

Revisit PB Winterbottom (Silent Film inspired XBOX GAME)

Our re-visit to the silent film inspired 'The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom' on XBOX 360. It is available from XBOX and was inspired by the silent film greats like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. This is an older trailer, but my favorite, because of the music. By the way, all the music was originally created for this game. Fun in the video game world!

July Silent Film Events 2010

Here is a round up of USA silent film festivals and screenings happening this July 2010!

Chaplin 35MM Film Tour - New York City - Film Forum
July 16 - August 5 (Three weeks of nearly all of Chaplin's copyright films, all in 35mm. Including Edna Purviance's starring roll in 'A Woman of Paris'



Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum - Edison Theatre (Fremont, California)
July 11, 2010 - Month full of events


Just passed...
San Francisco Silent Film Festival - San Francisco
July 15, 16, 17 and 18, 2010 - Festival Schedule
Includes loads of author signings. (EP note, "The Sea Gull" book will be available through the Niles Silent Film Book Shop during the festival.)


Slapsticon - Arlington, Virginia
July 15, 16, 17 and 18, 2010 - First time showing of Charlie Chaplin in bit (cameo) role in Keystone film

Anna Frank Story now as a Graphic Novel

NPR - The Anna Frank House has published Anne Frank's biography into a graphic novel. NPR reports it will be released in the US later in July and in Great Britain in the fall. Meanwhile, a video peek from the official Anna Frank House:



"Anne Frank, the graphic biography will tomorrow be published in the Netherlands, followed by publications in several other countries later this year. The biography covers the complete life story of Anne Frank in words and images, and makes connections between her life and important historical events. The 160 page graphic biography, which is in book format, is aimed at a wide audience from 14 years old." - from The Anne Frank House

Edna Purviance October Surprise!

Edna's October Surprise!
Edna Purviance October 2010
Birthday Event

What is one thing that makes Birthdays Fun? It's wondering what might be in that surprise gift!

With that in mind, I decided to do the same for Edna's birthday this year. I will not show you what you be winning, yet.

Instead, if you follow the rules and your name is drawn, and you reply to your email in time, you could be the winner of a real surprise!

And YOU will not find out what you have WON, until the day it arrives!

Once it does arrive, and you have confirmed seeing it, I will share with the world what you have won! (That is part of the rules for entry.)

Your gift will have your name, date and name of the event, either in or on the surprise gift given.

What it is? I will only say, it is something I never given away before.

Interested? All you have to do is to fill out this entry form with your guesses on the 8 DIFFERENCES IN PHOTO 2 on the official form. All correct answers will be entered into the drawing. (Note: Please study real carefully! Without giving away a hint, looking for 8 differences, so watch for any item that might mislead.)

Deadline to enter is Monday, NOON Pacific Time, October 18, 2010. The first name will be drawn shorty after NOON.

You will have 24 hours to response to your email notification. If you don't answer, a second name will be drawn and this will repeat every 24 hours, until we have a winner.

I hope to have a winner's name by October 21, 2010, Edna's Birthday.

I will publish the winners name and location on that day. Soon after, once the item is received, I will reveal to the world what was won!

So are you game for a real surprise? If you are, enter today! Open to all Edna fans, worldwide!

Part of our celebration, as ednapurviance.org starts heading into 10 years on the Web...

DEADLINE TO ENTER
OCTOBER 18, 2010
NOON PACIFIC TIME
CLICK ON '?' TO ENTER
Special page & entry form!

Update: Special thanks to everyone for all your entries so far!
August 3, 2010 - Update - We have had entries from all around the globe! You can't have a chance to win, unless you enter.

The Sea Gull 'A Woman of the Sea' - New stock in!

July 7, 2010 - A brand new stock of "The Sea Gull" A Woman of the Sea by Linda Wada, has arrived and ready to ship now! Read the reviews here. 'The Sea Gull' is only available online at ednapurviance.com. Ready to order? CLICK HERE Also, if you are in the San Francisco Bay area, you can pick up a copy at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum Gift Shop (Fremont, California).

I believe they may have some at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival too. I do know, their will be loads of authors signing and selling their books there, so a great time to see silent films and 'meet and greet'.

My Video pick for the day from Blu

July 7, 2010 - Thanks to TintinMovie for the tweet about the latest wall-painted animation from Blu. Amazing! (Posting here to keep the Edna Surprise up on top, for a while.)

BIG BANG BIG BOOM - the new wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Congratulations! The Rainbow Orchid Volume Two is launched!

The Rainbow Orchid Volume 2

is now available!

Congratulations, Garen!
Volume Three coming in 2011
For everything Rainbow Orchid visit Garen's official website

Volume 1 & 2 available at:
• The Rainbow Orchid Shop for signed and sketched copies (with Rainbow Orchid posters to t-shirts), UK bookshops

• Special comic and book festival events

• Amazon UK or The Book Depositary (free shipping worldwide)

• Learn more about the creator? My special podcast interview and link archive here


Anyone following my Edna sites over the years, know I am a huge fan of The Rainbow Orchid series. I love this book series! I watched it grow from nearly the start, before I began my ednapurviance.org site in November 2001. I can honestly say, Garen has surprised me with his story, which is exactly what I love (a complex story with twisting plots and intriguing characters). It is also beautifully drawn in the European clear line style that I love.

The full story is being presented in three books from Egmont UK, with Volume three coming out in 2011. If you love complex stories and intriguing characters, you certainly should check out The Rainbow Orchid Volume One and Two. I know for sure, I am not alone in loving this series, as fans young and old are finding out. The Rainbow Orchid is published by Egmont UK, with story and artwork by Garen Ewing. Check out Garen's fabulous web site today! LINK

Update June 8, 2010 - I have gotten my copy of The Rainbow Orchid Volume 2! While I have been reading the comic online for years, seeing the printed book and all the new material was extra exciting! Volume two never ended online, so a real treat to read and see for the first time. And, not to give anything away, the cliffhanger ending was a real heart stopper for me. I never expected it in a second! I still going through the tissues. Absolutely beautifully illustrated, in a style I love, with a story and characters that keep me totally captured. It is available many places, but I especially love the sketch editions from Garen's site, for that extra special touch! Looking forward to the final part of the three part series.

FanArt: Drawing by Linda Wada of a very young, 8-year-old, Josette Tayaut (Garen Ewing's Rainbow Orchid character from Volume 1 & 2) visiting Chaplin's studio in Hollywood. Tayaut twins were modeled after Jackie Coogan from The Kid, but are older in his story. Lily Lawrence, the leading woman character in the story, is a silent film actress, and a friend of Edna Purviance. They are pictured in a lovely drawing by Garen in the back of Volume One of The Rainbow Orchid.

Happy 100th Birthday to Gloria Stuart!

July 4, 2010 - Gloria Stuart is 100 today! Interesting Edna fact connected to Gloria is Jack Squire (Edna Purviance's future husband) once flew Gloria on a tour back in the early 1930s. Gloria personally thanked Jack for the flight. To honor her birthday today, here is an interview from the 1990s on the Charlie Rose Show. Gloria is the second guest in this hour long interview.

Genealogy find at the annual 4th of July book sale

Every year, our library holds a popular 4th of July book sale that benefits the city library. In the past I found many silent film books, from private collections donated to the library for the sale. This time, while I found no silent film books, I did find a whole section on genealogy (the first time they had these books in the sale). Looking closer, the books appear to be from one college library collection. In other words, a college library removing their Genealogy Library section.



I talked to a librarian in California a few years ago about his collection of rare microfilms from the 1910s. His great collections came from a dumpster outside a high school library, that was removing their research section of their high school library to make room for computers. He grabbed boxes of rare microfilms and placed into his college library, instead. I am afraid to say, this sort of thing is common.

This group? Cost me $9, which included the full 1790 census reports for seven states. The England and Wales reference book is great for tips on reading UK census reports, including English handwriting from its era.

Charlie Chaplin mentioned in Nixon Memos

The Nixon Presidential Library and Museum just released over 100,000 papers from the Nixon White House years as President. One document discuss President Richard Nixon meeting Charlie Chaplin at the Lincoln Center in New York for a salute, followed by meeting the president at the White House:

One memo discusses an invitation President Nixon received to attend a salute to Charlie Chaplin at Lincoln Center in New York. It notes the successful film career Chaplin had had.

"Despite the generosity of the nation toward him," it reads, "there was considerable discussion during the 1930s and 1940s about Chaplin's loyalty to even our form of government, much less the government itself."

White House press spokesman Ken. W. Clawson concluded: "I consider it inappropriate and inadvisable for us to even consider the possibility of having Charlie Chaplin come and meet with the president."- The Orange County Register

Updated Note: Long story but the short of it, Charlie Chaplin was refused re-entry into the United States by the US government in 1952. It would be 1972, before Chaplin would return to America for a short visit. He asked by the Academy of Art and Sciences to receive a special Academy Award at the 1972 Oscars presentation. It was Chaplin's last visit to America. He was driven by his old studio, but it is said, he never got out of the car to walk on its grounds again.

My video pick of the week 'The Muse'

Created by David Sladek, pencil animation, with music - "The Muse is a story about a small boy who struggles to find his creativity.This traditionally animated short film was created for my thesis project at the Cleveland Institute of Art."