Record Day on Edna's Site and reminder...

Yesterday, Edna's site had a record day for visits. I am not going to get into numbers, but it was four times higher than the last record day since the site has been online. While I get few emails from Edna's site, I can see in the stats that people are visiting from around the world. I like to thank all the people who visit the site, especially the ones that return again and again. Edna is not like a 'hot' gaming site, or anything like that, but it has been good to see the numbers grow over the years.

While this is not big news for popular sites, I am pleased and watching for the day Edna will reach over million pages read. At the current rate, it will be this year.

Also, I am posting THIS LINK again about Lita Hill, Edna's grand niece. She is the main feature on the upcoming video on Edna. Lita knew Edna for over 20 years and lived with her during most of the 1950's (fulltime between July 1951 thru 1953 - part time 1954 until late 1955.).

(And a bit of news in this: Lita lived with Edna during the time of the filming of Limelight and according to Lita, there were no trips to Chaplin Studio for Edna to play any bit role in that film. When you see the video, you will know why.)

I am planning a short special video peek on Edna's site from our interview recording we did in April 2005. As for the full video being prepared for Hollywood, I have it nearly complete.

Chaplin's dressing room and studio

I posted earlier I was going to show the image of Chaplin's dressing room and studio. It was not like this when it was built, but changed when the street was widen. In the future I plan to place a special image of the studio on Edna's site.


ALSO! 'A Woman of Paris' is on TCM July 12, 2006.
Check your local listing.

Congratulations to Italy!

Congratulations to Italy winning the World Cup!

A non-Edna or Chaplin message...

This could be the 'good old days' for the internet...

Because I do have a website I enjoy running, I am concerned about the push to make the internet private. There are many companies that would love to see the internet go private and are pushing for it right now. The internet is public at this moment, but many corporations want to control the freedom we have on it now. Corporations want to control the internet for the their own proposes, with profit being one of their goals and controlling the freedom of speech on it as well.

With a major US election coming up in less than two years, they would be very interested in silencing voices that can be heard now. If you believe in freedom of speech and enjoy the freedom the internet has given you, I recommend you support people that believe in the internet staying in the public domain and not be privatized.

Video Update

I have been working feverishly on the video for the last month. I finally have the all the new section added.

This new section is about a ten minute silent piece with music and images, with story-line about Edna's life. (No talking.) The rest of the video is Lita's memories of Edna during her 20+ years of knowing her grand aunt. It will have images from the Hill Family Collection. A new title of the video is in the works, as well.

This new section was NOT easy to create and took many different forms before I finally came upon this present creation. I still have more titling and re-editing to do before finishing the video, but all of it should be done soon.

We are still awaiting the time and date of the event in Hollywood. I will post as soon as I know, but we were told in May the event would be held on Labor Day Weekend on (Saturday or Sunday).

I am working on a video short for Edna's site too. So while Edna's site is slow in updates at the moment, new updates are in the works.

Also, Lita has not been feeling as well lately and our thoughts are with her...

A Woman of Paris on TCM

July 12, 2006 - 8PM - Turner Classic Movies will be showing 'A Woman of Paris'. See this special schedule for more Edna Purviance and Charlie Chaplin films coming on TCM.

Work Coming Along

The re-worked video for Cinecon is coming along. It will have about a 11 minute silent section with images and story set to music. The main feature is Lita Hill telling her personal story on Edna Purviance.

The silent section will have new information on Edna with one part having a related feature planned for ednapurviance.org site before the Cinecon event.

Ednapurviance.com site is also under construction.

And the first book is also in the works. More details to be released. The biography is a bit on hold.

We are also awaiting the exact day and time for the event at Cinecon. I will report as soon as we receive the information.

UPDATE: JULY 1th - Congratulations to France for heading on in the World Cup. I was sorry to see England lose today. It was a tough game with the injuries.

Grand View uncertain future...

June 27, 2006 - Until a buyer is found, Grand View Cemetery, Edna's final resting place, will remain totally closed. The future is uncertain. And even if a buyer is found today, it takes 90 days for the sale to clear and six additional months for the owners to receive a license to operate.

Lady Chaplin and Her Tramp: The Life and Art

In Evanston, Illinois, at the Piven Theater, a play is being shown called 'Lady Chaplin & Her Tramp: The Life & Art of Charlie Chaplin'. In this review from Backstage, the reviewer says the playwright based his story on Joyce Milton's book on Chaplin. Here is the link to the Backstage review. The play closes on June 25th.

Just to note a new Brief Glimpse is now up.

June 26, 2006 - Sunday's auction brought record price for Chaplin's hat and cane.
June 27, 2006 - Updates to the Chaplin Library to come in July

Update on Grand View

Update: May 24, 2008 - See below or this Grand View link. Note: some of the stories these are linked to are now offline...

The latest on Grand View is not good news. The 'Beleaguered Cemetery closed its Gate', says the June 14th, 2006 Glendale News Press.

On June 17th, 2006, the Glendale News Press reports 'Grave sites untouchable for now'. 'Troubled memorial park will remain closed and locked by order of the state for foreseeable future.'

I visited Grand View on my recent trip to Hollywood. I got there very late, so didn't have a great deal of time. But the thing I remember most, was returning to the door I entered one of the buildings and someone had closed it. When I grabbed the door knob to open the door, it fell off in my hand.

Seeing the gate was locked, I decided I better leave. Because I was so late in getting there, I didn't find Edna's space, but will try again on the return trip this year. Just hope the gates are open by that time...

Search Edna's Place for more stories on Grand View. Also, check Lisa's latest stories on Grand View. See here link to the right.

Update April 22, 2007 - I have many different posts about Grand View. You can find many of them by typing in GRAND VIEW in the Blogger Search feature for Edna's Place on the top left hand side of this site.

Update May 24: Grand View will be open for four hours (noon to 4PM) Sunday, May 25, 2008. More at this link.

Charlie Chaplin - Leading Lady Find...

I was working away on the video today and came across an item I found during my research. It is from the March 1926 Variety called ANOTHER CHAPLIN "FIND":

"Charlie Chaplin figures he has found another star in the embryo. Her name is Linda Nixon, sister of Marion Nixon.

Miss Nixon has a small part in the comedian's latest, 'The Circus''. Should her work prove satisfactory Chaplin contemplates making her his leading woman for a following picture."

Actually, I don't know Linda Nixon but wonder, if she was in 'The Circus', she could have been the lady in the 'disappearing act' scene. I could be totally wrong, but she was the most notable woman I can think of in that picture in a small role. She also reminded me a bit, in looks, to Georgia Hale. Here is a link to the Leading Ladies he did hire.

NOTE: Linda Nixon didn't play in the disappearing act. That scene was played by Betty Morrissey.

City Lights - #33 AFI Most Inspirational Film

Charlie Chaplin's 'City Lights' was picked number 33 by American Film Institute as the most inspirational film. The program on Wednesday evening showed the 100 inspired films with 'It's a Wonderful Life' as number one. 'City Lights' was the oldest entry in the list...

Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance books...

We are currently working on two books concerning Edna Purviance. Of course Charlie Chaplin figures in both, but one of the books will be of interest to anyone one has an interest in films. Stay tune for more information to come...

Sneak Peek of Lita Hill Interview

I am planning a special sneak peek of my interview with Lita Hill. If you are interested in getting on the list to learn more, please email me at Edna's site.

Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival - Bologna, Italy

July 1-8, 2006 - Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, Italy will be held. See this link for more 2008 details... Here is a report from our visit at 2005 festival.

UPDATE: 2008 Il Cinema Ritrovato Festvial
Il Cinema Ritrovato 2008 - Bologna, Italy - June 28-July 5, 2008
Josef von Sternberg will be the featured event in 2008. The festival plans a program filled with Sternberg's films and even a talk about The Sea Gull "A Woman of the Sea". more>