The Rainbow Orchid by Garen Ewing release August 4th

The Rainbow Orchid by Garen Ewing has appeared on the Amazon UK site today with the release date of August 4, 2009. It has also showed up on Amazon's Japan, France, Canada and Germany sites for the UK edition.

Current cover of Rainbow Orchid Vol. One - Release Aug. 2009

But I highly recommend ordering through The Rainbow Orchid Shop starting August 4th, 2009. Garen will have standard and signed copies available.

Also to see a sneak peek, check out this link. (release date may vary a bit in each country)

APRIL 27, 2009 - Because of the coming publication, Garen's online version of The Rainbow Orchid will be changing, as the online comic will become a preview comic after bank holiday weekend on May 5th. The full comic will be in print form starting August 4th, 2009.

About the story The Rainbow Orchid from Garen's site:
"If you like your comics full of mystery and adventure and you love the worlds of H. Rider Haggard, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, Edgar P. Jacobs and Hergé, then you'll want to read The Rainbow Orchid.

Set in the 1920s, it is a tale of the search for a mythical flower last mentioned by the ancient Greek philosopher and botanist, Theophrastus.

But why does the orchid also feature on a stone slab that may tell of a forgotten Vedic legend? Who was the mysterious stranger who brought one to a remote village in the Hindu Kush, populated by those who are said to be descended from Alexander the Great? And why does Urkaz Grope want the legendary Trembling Sword of Tybalt Stone at all costs?"

The Rainbow Orchid is traditional adventure at its best. Strong and simple storytelling with attractive and cinematic artwork, it enjoys a varied international readership of all ages and both sexes.

We are very excited about the release! The Rainbow Orchid story features fictional silent film star Lily Lawrence (who happens to be a good friend of the real silent film star Edna Purviance). While Edna is not a character in the story, she is mentioned in this beautifully drawn story. We hope Edna fans will take note and will look into adding this wonderful book to their collection.

While not about silent films, it is not often you find a comic set in the 1920s with a leading silent film character. We are truly looking forward to the release of The Rainbow Orchid with Egmont UK.

April 5, 2009 - Garen speaks with The Booksellers about The DFC and The Rainbow Orchid.

The Rainbow Orchid will be published in three volumes. It is beginning of a series of books about Julius Chancer. From Amazon, only available in the countries listed above, but maybe available else where from Amazon UK. At Amazon UK some credit cards may not be excepted, but you only will find out when ordering. Please be aware of changing exchange rates. Orders are not charged until the date of release, so current exchange rates do not apply. Watch for it at UK bookshops starting in August, but as said above, for online ordering, buy through Garen's Rainbow Orchid shop starting August 4th, 2009.

Update April 16th - While The Rainbow Orchid has a silent film star, Garen has featured another graphic novel with a story featuring Hollywood in the silent film era. The Adventures of Blanche by Rick Geary, is a story about a girl who adventures to Hollywood during the early days of silent pictures. It is one of many adventures in this unique graphic novel story.

UPDATE JUNE 1, 2009 - Interview with Garen Ewing (Garen's first podcast interview with Linda Wada - first podcast program.)

The Chaplin Society of Japan

We like to send our special thanks to the Chaplin Society of Japan for all your support of Edna Purviance and The Sea Gull this past year.

Chaplin Society Members. Photo from Shunichi Ohkubo. UPDATE: Shunichi has informed me that the group is in front of Kyoto Golden Pavilion Tempre. Also in the photo are Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Chaplin and author Hooman Mehran.

Edna's fans in Japan, have been visitors of Edna's site(s) for many years, which Edna herself, would have been very pleased with. Edna had many fans from Japan in her film days. There are still fan letters from Japan in the Hill collection. We will be sharing a few of these early day fan letters in future projects.

Thank you, everyone! We feel very honored to have your following!

Highlight about this year Chaplin's event: Shunichi exhibited 420 photos from his own collection as part of the festival. It was very well received by all who attended (and as a fan myself, I would have loved to have seen them). We look forward to hearing more about their future events.

Bits and Pieces

A few more Bits and Pieces for March 2009

Edna's book
Work continues on the Purviance book. While I have started writing on the earlier years again, the main research is into Jack's family (Edna's husband). While I got many photos and personal information from the Hills from the later years (they actually knew Jack), background material on Jack's family was not as plentiful. Lita was working on it, but her health was an issue in getting as much as she wanted to get done.

While I know where Jack was born and I found out where he actually grew up (now), the process is very slow in gathering the information (and very costly). This month I have spent nearly 20 hours in the library reading films, and only scratching the surface. Interlibrary loans are not easy to get in my town anymore and the cost has increased a great deal. (It makes me so glad I got the bulk of Edna's research done, when I did.)

I am thinking I may have to take a trip to find more on Jack, but it's not to an area I ever had much interest in traveling too. (I rather go to England and research more on Edna's mother, but Jack didn't grow up in England.) But I have to keep gathering more information before I can even plan a trip. So, just plugging away on it...

Chaplin Library
As noted earlier, I have been slowly updating the regular Chaplin Library. Much more to go, as I update information and start moving more 'books' into the regular library. Very slow, because it requires moving many anchor links on the index and book pages. Move one book, and it changes the anchors on all the rest around it, so slowly working on that. One of the main reasons for the database. Much easier to update and to search for books.

Brief Glimpse
If you haven't notice, I updated recently.

Chaplin Music
I have a special post (and page for Edna's site) coming about Chaplin's music.

Japan fans and The Sea Gull
I received a very nice letter recently from Shunichi Ohkubo in Japan about the recent Chaplin Society Event. He showed 420 photos from his own collection on Charlie Chaplin.

He also shared with me the interest on The Sea Gull and Edna in Japan. (In fact, I am sending more books for our Japanese fans.) Edna would have really enjoyed hearing this, since she had a keen interest in Japan. She also had many fans who wrote to her from Japan during her film career. She was a favorite with the college age students. Some of these letters still exist in the Hill Collection and will be shared in the second book about Edna.

Chaplin Birthday Event
Still time to get your entries in for the Chaplin Birthday Crossword Challenge. All the forms with the right answers will be placed in the drawing. The winner will receive a copy of The Sea Gull with 8x10 cover photo. (Over $55 value.) So get those entries in, to have a chance to win! (Note: The answers are on Edna's .org site and in a couple of Edna's films. Just have to seek them out.)

More The Sea Gull books coming
I placed a new order for books to re-stock my supply. We are very pleased to see the book selling even after having to increase the cover cost. But I wasn't pleased to see the shipping and printing cost has gone up even more after we learned of the last big increase. (Never received any notice on the latest increase.) I will not be adding any increases at this time. Just hope things don't go much higher.

I had a few thoughts of maybe creating a totally black and white version, but it will take a great deal of time. You just don't print your current colour version into black and white. All the pages have to be re-adjusted to do it correctly. Plus, I don't like the type of paper used for the black and white books with our printers (thin weigh and poor in quality), so not something I am excited about creating. (And no, I don't plan on an online version or disc version. Maybe a few preview pages, but not the whole book.)

Another postage increase in May 2009
The post office is planning yet another price increase starting May 11, 2009. This is after increases added in January 2009! First class stamps will be going up to 44 cents each. Other prices going up too. (Makes one wish they bought a basket load of those forever stamps.)

Thoughts on New Item for Edna
I had a thought of creating limited edition buttons (or badges, as they are also called) for Edna. But don't know if the interest would be high enough to do it. I am thinking a 2 inch button, in full color, for sale at probably under $5 plus shipping.) Limited editions are higher in cost to produce, because you only get the price breaks for large orders. Plus, I have only one option locally for creating the buttons and actually have a person I can talk too, instead of just online. If there appears to be interest, I may do it. Write in and let me know.

For those who can watch it, remember Chaplin is on TCM on April 16th. (I do wish they would do an evening event, again, instead of just during the day, but as least Chaplin on TCM.) That's all for now.

Paul Merton as 'Charlie Chaplin'

UK comic, Paul Merton, will be dressing with bowler and cane, as he re-creates one of his favorite silent clowns, for his upcoming appearance at the Belfast Film Festival in Northern Ireland.

Program is April 3, 2009, at the Movie House, Yorkgate, Belfast. It is part of his launch of his spring 'Silent Clowns' tour. Check it out...

2009 Tour Dates (Links & dates can change)
APRIL
APRIL 3 - Belfast Film Festival
APRIL 5 - Bath Theatre Royal
APRIL 7 - York Grand Opera House
APRIL 8 - Durham Gala Theatre
APRIL 10 - Birmingham Alexandra Theatre
APRIL 11 - Leicester De Montford Hall
APRIL 12 - Buxton Opera House
APRIL 14 - Reading Hexagon
APRIL 15 - Canterbury King's School
APRIL 17 - Perth Concert Hall
APRIL 18 - Aberdeen Music Hall
APRIL 19 - Inverness Eden Court
APRIL 21 - Dundee Caird Hall
APRIL 22 - Glasgow Film Theatre
APRIL 24 - Cheltenham City Hall
APRIL 25 - Huddersfield Batley Theatre
APRIL 26 - Lincoln Drill Hall
APRIL 27 - Harrogate Theatre
APRIL 28 - Preston Charter Theatre
APRIL 29 - Derby Assembly Rooms

MAY
MAY 1 -Barnstaple Queens Theatre
MAY 2 - Salisbury City Hall
MAY 3 - Exeter Northcott Theatre
MAY 4 -Bournemouth Opera House
MAY 5 - Weston Super Mare Playhouse
MAY 6 - Yeovill Octagon Theatre
MAY 7 & 8 - Worthing Assembly Hall
MAY 10 - London Hackney Empire
MAY 12 - Croydon Fairfield Halls
MAY 13 - St Albans, The Alban Arena
MAY 15 - Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall (not home website)
MAY 16 - Basingstoke The Anvil
MAY 17 - High Wycombe, Wycombe Swan

JULY
July 7 - Newbury Comedy Festival

Harold Lloyd Birthday Bash planned for April 18th

From the DCR
Cohen Phillips & Nikki McKim
Big Harold Lloyd Birthday Bash
April 18th, 2009
Burchard, Nebraska (Harold's hometown)

They are also looking for some more sponsors who may like to help. Here is the press release from Cohen about the event:

Harold Lloyd was one of the greatest silent film comedians of the 1920's. Even though the name might not sound familiar, I'm sure you have seen the famous image of a person with glasses & boater hat hanging from clock hands.

This is from one one Lloyd's most famous movies, Safety Last! We are hoping to bring more name recognition to Harold with this event. Here is our video invite for this event- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tITRcqPDsg4

We are organizing a birthday event at his childhood home, which is still standing, in Burchard, NE on April 18th.

We are expecting many attendants to this event, from a 4th grade class in Henderson, NE to hopefully Suzanne Lloyd, his granddaughter! (if we can find a sponsor to fly her out.) We're also going to be touring his home, have a trivia contest, eating birthday cake and outdoor movies starting at dusk.

We are looking for sponsorship for this event from a company that would like to preserve the past of these medias for the next generation. We feel you would be a great partner to have in this adventure.

Donating some of air time or mentioning us in your events section would be great. Just to help us spread the word! "The Harold Lloyd Foundation of Burchard, NE" is participating in this event. They are a 501(c)(3) non-profit group. Donations can be tax write-offs.

If you sponsor us, you will be noted with on-air radio commercials and on all our print advertising. We'll put links on our website with your logo and a link back to your website so people can find out more about you and your company of items. Thank you for your time and looking forward to a positive response.

Cohen Phillips & Nikki McKim
Harold Lloyd Birthday Bash Directors
http://haroldlloyd.ning.com

May 1, 2010 Harold Lloyd Birthday Event - You can learn more at the new site.

SP 4449 Going to Michigan!!!

You may remember I posted my video of the SP 4449 in 2006.

Well, here is the latest about this wonderful locomotive:
it is heading to Michigan to TrainFest 2009!

Here is the press release from The Friends of SP 4449:

Famous Steam Locomotive to
Travel Across Country to Michigan

(March 24, 2009 - Owosso, MI) The "World's Most Famous Steam Locomotive" will travel from it's home in Portland, OR 2500 miles to Owosso, MI for America's Largest Celebration of Railroading in July. Southern Pacific steam locomotive no. 4449 known as the "Daylight" will appear at TrainFestival 2009 in Owosso, MI July 23-26. The massive undertaking to organize this train is being jointly coordinated by The Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, MI, The Friends of the 4449 of Portland, OR and The Friends of the 261 of Minneapolis, MN.

TrainFestival 2009 is America's Largest Celebration of Railroading and will include 8 steam locomotives under steam, vintage and modern diesel/electric locomotives, various train rides, huge model train layouts, miniature train rides, art exhibit, locomotive cab tours, railroad vendors and much more. This family event is being held as a fund raiser to keep operating Pere Marquette steam locomotive no. 1225. This locomotive owned by the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, MI is due for Federal Railroad Administration re-certification in 2010.

This locomotive is best known as the steam locomotive portrayed in the animated movie "The Polar Express". The Southern Pacific Daylight no. 4449 will travel across country on an Amtrak sponsored trip hauling thousands of passengers on this rare excursion.

The locomotive and train will travel through many cities along the way including Spokane, Fargo, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, and Lansing. A special excursion will be operated on July 24 originating from TrainFestival 2009, tickets are available online. The locomotive will be on display during the event for visitors to photograph, visit with the crew as well as explore the locomotive cab. Southern Pacific no. 4449 was built in 1941 as a GS-4 "Northern" type locomotive. A 4-8-4 wheel arrangement, she is 110' long, 10' wide and 16' tall.

The locomotive and tender weighs 433 tons, and it operates with a boiler pressure of 300 psi. Her eight 80" diameter drivers and unique booster truck can apply 5,500 horsepower to the rails and exceed 100 mph.

The only remaining operable "streamlined" steam locomotive of the Art Deco era, Southern Pacific no. 4449 pulled Southern Pacific "Daylight" coaches from Los Angeles to San Francisco over the scenic Coast Route and then on to Portland until 1955.

Retired to static display at Oaks Park, OR in 1958, most thought SP 4449 would never run again. In 1974, she was selected to pull the American Freedom Train throughout the United States, and was subsequently rebuilt.

Southern Pacific no. 4449 ran for three years to the delight of over 30 million people. She is arguably one of the most beautiful locomotives ever built -- and kept that way by the all-volunteer Friends of SP 4449! - The Friends of SP 4449

For more information contact TrainFestival 2009.
If you can make it, or see this train travel cross country, certainly try to see it!!!

Also, here is my Youtube link to my SP 4449 video.

Update June 20, 2009 - Lookup the SP4449 on Twitter. They hope to post photo links from there for the Michigan trip!

Update July 3, 2009 - Watch the journey on Twitter, as it now heads East. Lookup SP4449.

Chuck Jones 'childhood memories'

"The road is better than the end..."

That is what Chuck Jones Uncle Lynn use to tell him, especially after Jones won his Oscars. Because once you have a project finished, you have to 'get back on the road' again...

TCM showed Chuck Jones: Memories of Childhood this evening. A 30-minute program with Chuck Jones sharing his thoughts about his childhood, while growing up on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

He said, as a child, he lived only two blocks from Charlie Chaplin's studio, and he use to walk over and peek through the fence, and watch Chaplin work. (He didn't say it, but he was watching at the time Edna was working with Chaplin.) What a treat! He said watching Chaplin helped his drawing over the years, even though he didn't think about it, at the time.

For those who may not know, Jones worked for Leon Schlesinger Studio, who created animated films for Warner Bros. The studio was bought by Warner Bros.

While with Warner Bros., Chuck created many famous characters, including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.

I know I spent many a Saturday watching Looney Toons on television. A great favorite! Those cartoons are still amazing, and will always be a favorite of my. I do love the fact they were created by hand, and not with computers, like so many animated pieces are done today.

If you get a chance to see the documentary, do take a look.

Follow-up: One of several stories Jones shared was one about his father's failed businesses. They were not a rich family. His father was not a good person either to say the least, but each time his father failed, Chuck would get his father's company notepads and pencils. His father wanted the kids to use them, so it became Chuck's supply of paper and pencils to practice drawing with.

Victoria and Aurélia Thierrée at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Aurélia’s Oratorio

Berkeley Repertory Theatre - Fall 2009

Victoria and Aurélia Thierrée will perform at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre this fall, as part of the 09/10 theatre season.

The exact dates are not available, but the news release said they will be there over the holiday season:


Next, spend the holidays with Aurélia Thierrée, who literally grew up in the circus. Behind her velvet curtain lies a surreal world of surprises, a topsy-turvy time of tricks and transformations.

Welcome to Aurélia’s Oratorio, where the impossible happens before your eyes. The granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, the literal heir to the Little Tramp, has charmed audiences around the world with this dazzling display of stage illusion. “She does wonder wonderfully,” gushes the London Guardian.

With dancing, puppetry, acrobatics, and more, Aurélia’s Oratorio is an inventive adventure set to a quirky score of chamber music and gypsy jazz. “She balances whimsy and wit, childlike wonder and adult élan, throughout her quietly magical show,” asserts the Boston Globe. “Her grace, her inventive and fluid movement, and above all her humor simply invite our delight.”

The Oratorio is written and directed by Aurélia’s mother, Victoria Thierrée Chaplin, who – along with her husband, Jean Baptiste Thierrée – created Cirque Bonjour, Cirque Imaginaire, and Cirque Invisible, innovative troupes that inspired Cirque du Soleil.

Berkeley Rep unveils this 90-minute spectacle, a concoction of mystery and fantasy for the whole family, in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre. It’s “an absolute spellbinder,” declares the UK’s Daily Telegraph. “Like most vivid reveries, it momentarily colors the way you see the waking world.” - Berkeley Repertory Theatre


So if you live in the San Francisco Bay area and would like to see Chaplin's daughter at work in Aurélia’s Oratorio, mark your calendar and check their schedule for coming dates. (Season tickets are available for the Repertory.)

The players
Aurélia Thierrée grew up in show business, performing with her parents in intimate troupes that introduced the idea of cirque nouveau. She works as an actor, acrobat and illusionist in film, theatre and cabaret—most recently collaborating with the Tiger Lillies—and has given sold-out shows from London to Hong Kong.

Victoria Thierrée Chaplin is the daughter of Charlie Chaplin and the granddaughter of Eugene O’Neill. With her husband Jean Baptiste Thierrée, she created Cirque Bonjour, Cirque Imaginaire and Cirque Invisible, innovative troupes that inspired Cirque du Soleil. They toured the world, and trained their children in the exquisite art of the intimate circus. - Berkeley Repertory

The buzz
“She balances whimsy and wit, childlike wonder and adult elan, throughout her quietly magical show…Her grace, her inventive and fluid movement, and above all her humor simply invite our delight.”—Boston Globe

“An absolute spellbinder…an enchanting dream, and like most vivid reveries, it momentarily colors the way you see the waking world.”—London Daily Telegraph

“Touching and funny…As she pushes the boundaries of ‘normal’ theatre, Aurélia’s Oratorio provides a refreshing reminder that the best circus tricks are timeless.”—London Independent

“Awesome…It’s been a long time since I sat through a show with my mouth literally agape.”—Boston Herald


UPDATE: Live on the east coast? Missed the show because tickets were sold out? Here is your chance again. Aurélia’s Oratorio will be playing July 22- August 2, 2009 at the Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Get your tickets now to not miss out!

Warner Bros. made to order film service

Rueters reports that Warner Bros. has become the first studio to offer 'made to order' films. To begin this service, one hundred and fifty films from the Warner archives have been made available. more>

To see what is currently available, check out this link to the Warner Shop Archive.

Updating the Chaplin Library

I have updated the Chaplin Library, the Latest Page and Database with the newest books in Dominique's collection.

And I have started updating the regular library, starting with the Russian Library page and the Japanese library page in the regular Chaplin Library. The Japanese page will include at this time, countries under the Pacific Rim. This includes our first Chaplin book from Cambodia.

I have also added these links in the Chaplin Library Index as well, for the Russian and Japanese books.

This takes a lot of time, but I will slowly updated the regular library a section at a time. The last to be updated will be the PDF files.

Note: On the Index page, I decided to go ahead and start listing the books from the LATEST PAGE to the main library INDEX. These will be unlinked for now and noted.

Electric Silents Film Festival in Harwich England

May 7-10, 2009
Electric Silents Film Festival
Harwich Electric Palace
Harwich in Essex England

Special showings of Sunrise, Piccadilly, Steamboat Bill Jr., A Cottage on Dartmoor, The Ring, The Adventures of Prince Achmed and more...

Special guest include Kevin Brownlow giving the keynote presentation 'Surprising Silents', and Bryony Dixon, curator of Silent Films at BFI showing a selections of films from the BFI archive (and much more at the Electric Palace!)

For a full brochure of the festival events, follow this link to a PDF file on our Silent Film Festival page. (Ticket information included.) Also, here is a link to more from the Electric Palace Cinema. Great three day event!

Slapsticon 2009

Slapsticon 2009 will not be held this year, due to the fact the theater it is held in is being remodeled. Watch for information for Slapsticon 2010 coming later this year.

'Beyond the Sea' lyricist, Jack Lawrence, has died

Bobby Darin sang it, but Jack Lawrence wrote it. 'Beyond the Sea' was actually a French song, Lawrence created English words for, and it became a huge hit for Bobby Darin.

I remember this song connected with a popular cult TV show or maybe movie (too long ago to remember), but it is still a standard to this day. Here is a link to Bobby having some fun singing it on a television special many years ago.

Jack Lawrence was 96 years old. more>

Anne Akiko Meyers 'Smile'

I mentioned Anne Akiko Meyers 'Smile' in this post in 2007. Here is the latest about this recording, with an interview with Anne Akiko Meyers and her collection called SMILE.

"Smile" is an eclectic array of pieces from Schubert to "Somewhere over the Rainbow." These beautiful melodies represent her life, her passions and her diverse musical interests.

Anne Akiko Meyers opens this recording with the title track, "Smile," by Charlie Chaplin.

"When I first heard that I was just blown away," Meyers recalled. "It's music that you can really play from your heart when you're actually feeling some sadness. Like bittersweet nostalgia. I responded to that music almost immediately." - MPR, Minnesota Public Radio

Coy Watson Jr. has died

Silent film actor, Coy Watson Jr. has died at the age of 96.

Born November 16, 1912, Coy home was Edendale, California, where Mack Sennett Studios was located.

When Sennett studio needed a baby, Coy was hired at $5 per day. It was the beginning of his child acting career, which earned him the name 'The Keystone Kid'.

He made nearly 60 films, from bit parts to films with Marion Davies in "Show People" and with Jackie Coogan "Buttons".

In late years, Coy worked for ABC and CBS in California, as a cameraman.

He died Saturday in Alpine, California, after a long bout with cancer. more from the LA Times>

Other notes:
• The Watson Family have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• He authored his book, The Keystone Kid: Tales of Early Hollywood, 2001.

Reviews:
"A charming memoir..." - Kevin Brownlow, Director & Film Historian

"The stories have the ring of truth..." - Bob Mondello, National Public Radio

"What a wonderful slice of Hollywood history!" - Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight


Update Mar. 17th: I ordered Mr. Watson's book last night and it is in the mail now. I will share more, once I get it.

Update Mar. 24: The book arrived today! Full of rare images from Watson's collection, including many showing early day Sennett Studios.