Edna's 2009 Birthday Drawing!

October 21, 2009
NEW DRAWING DATE NOVEMBER 4TH!!!

Edna Purviance Birthday Drawing!
Special photo poster created in 2005

Deadline to enter:
12 noon, Pacific Coast Time, *NOVEMBER 4TH
See this link for more details and entry form.

Thanks for the entries so far! Keep them coming!
*I had to move due to personal projects and business.

More early day streets of London

More streets of London from the BFI

Petticoat Lane 1903
It is amazing to think while these people looked into the camera, they couldn't imagine who will be looking back at them one day.




Tower Bridge Road Market 1931
Keep a careful eye out for the man who suddenly starts walking like Charlie Chaplin for a brief moment.

Slapstick Benefit Bristol, England

September 9, 2009

Bristol, England - Colston Hall - 8PM

Laurel + Hardy's
Comedy Mayhem with Sanjeev Bhaskar

Benefit for Slapstick 2010
More about the event | Guardian UK article about the event
Tickets are available now

UPDATE: DECEMBER 27, 2009
PDF OF THE CURRENT 2010 SLAPSTICK PROGRAM

Charlie Chaplin's 1903 London

Charlie Chaplin's London from 1903. An amazing film from the BFI film collection. About 4 minutes of the streets of London. (When there appeared to be no traffic rules.)



Now, take a 1898 train ride through the countryside of Devon to the seaside town of Ilfracombe. (films from BFI Films)

Sign up! Petition to help save the Motion Picture Nursing Home

If you haven't signed already, you can sign the Motion Picture Nursing Home Petition at this link. And for the latest 'spin' on what is happening, here is a link to The Wrap. (Richard Stellar has a personal involvement with the hospital.)

Edna Purviance spent her last year at the home and died there in January 1958.

Because it is important - interview with Wendell Potter

After 15 years with CIGNA health insurance company, Wendell Potter blows the whistle. If you haven't seen this, you should... Part one and Part two. Podcast link below the video.





Podcast (full program)

Update: Universal Health Care Message to Americans from Canadian Doctors & Health Care Experts




We are supporters for a Public Option

Kevin Brownlow, in his own words

Video interview of Kevin Brownlow, created at Killruddery Silent Film Festival, 2009. Link to Part ONE | Link to Part Two | Link to Part Three

Charlie Chaplin 'garden' win Wows and Gold!

BBC NEWS- Charlie Chaplin inspired garden wins Gold Medal and prestigious Brockhouse Trophy at leading England horticultural show. LINK

shhhhh...Paypal increases fees on Personal Account

But Paypal decided not to make a big deal out of it, so never made a big announcement about it to their customers. Very kind of them, don't you think. You just find out the next time you order something.

This note below I am repeating from Matt Mickiewicz, who sent an email out about it. Paypal maybe a bit busy answering emails about why the new fees and why didn't you say something about it! I never like surprises on my bills, but that seems to be the norm in business.

"If you’re a PayPal customer, you may be in for a surprise the next time you look at your account.

Personal accounts are now charged a 2.9% fee + 30 cents to receive payments for “Goods” or “Services”, something that was previously free. No formal announcement about the change was made.

We didn’t want to make a huge formal communication out of this pricing change, because we weren’t really adding any fees, and we were hoping it would be a more useful experience for people.” — Charlotte Hill, PayPal PR Manager

Read that again. They chose not to announce it because it would be a more useful experience. PayPal’s director of product marketing, Heinz Waelchli was also less than forthcoming on the PayPal blog while trying to spin the story.

This double-dipping — charging both sellers and receivers for transactions — will result in a major increase in fee revenue for eBay Inc. which owns PayPal.

Want to get around this blatant money grab? Get a Premium or Business Account with PayPal.

John Schwally on Heritage Radio today

John Schwally, writer and producer of FDR's Secret Air Force, was on Heritage Radio, Sunday, August 16th, 2009. He talked about the latest on FDR Secret Air Force. LINK to the podcast. Best to listen to the full program to catch all the broadcast. (Note: You have to page back some to find the link.)

Also, here is a link to the latest update on the trailer. David Hartman (known for his years as co-hosting Good Morning, America), narration is now added to the trailer.

If you haven't read yet, a segment of John Squire's private films are being edited into this documentary. (Jack was silent film star Edna Purviance's husband. He was one of the pilots who worked for the Secret Air Force.)
________________

Note: Any listeners to Edna's video and audios, if you have listening problems, let me know. I know there are issues out there with so many different players, so like to make sure you can hear and see the programs we have. But if you have a problem and don't mention it, I won't know. Thanks...

Follow up on Charlie Chaplin Playground

A few days ago, we reported about The Charlie Chaplin Playground winning an award. Jack (who lives in England) wrote in to tell us about the sign outside of the playground and kindly sent in these photos. The first one shows the gate and the second one a detail shot of one of the signs.



Jack, who is a longtime Chaplin fan, was wondering who is representing Chaplin in the playground sign, since the person doesn't look like the real Chaplin.


I have to agree, it doesn't look like Chaplin. Special thanks to Jack for sending these photos in!

Charlie Chaplin Playground wins Award

The Charlie Chaplin Adventure Playground has won the Adventure Playground of the Year award for 2009. This is great news, as a few years ago, they were having funding problems as the BBC report below shows.

But as this 2009 award shows the Charlie Chaplin playground has bounced back nicely:

"Beverley Salmon, senior playworker at Charlie Chaplin, said: "It's absolutely fantastic news for everyone here at Charlie Chaplin. We work very hard to make it a fun-filled and enjoyable experience for all.

"This is our second year as an independent voluntary run playground managed by Chaplin Trustees, it's been hard work but totally worth it.

"Charlie Chaplin has a large dedicated and highly supportive staff team with a vibrant family atmosphere. The team spirit, drive and passion for play make it a pleasure for me as playground manager.

"Charlie Chaplin is a very special place, a busy energetic environment with the constant roar of children laughing, playing and simply being themselves. We would like to say a big thank you from all the kids, staff, committee and all Chaplin supporters."

Melian Mansfield, chair of London Play, said: "We are delighted that the winner of the 2009 Adventure Playground of the Year Award, chosen by children, is the Charlie Chaplin Adventure Playground in Lambeth." - Community Newswire Press

The BBC report from a few years ago when things were on the edge:

Garen Ewing 'The Rainbow Orchid' Video with his own words

In April 2009, I did an interview with Garen Ewing about The Rainbow Orchid, the Adventures of Julius Chancer. I told Garen at that time I planned to create a video version using his audio recording of the interview and here it is!

This 12 minute video includes Garen talking about the story of The Rainbow Orchid, creation of some of his characters to publishing with Egmont UK. We hope you will enjoy this glimpse into Garen's work with his own words. (The program is saved as a Quicktime high quality video. If you have any playing issues, please let me know. I could try saving in Real Player for PCs.)

Follow the links on the interview pages for more about The Rainbow Orchid and also to our full hour plus long auto interview. Thanks for visiting! (And if you haven't got your copy of Rainbow Orchid, surely take a look and get one!!!)

Update Aug. 14: Here is Garen's own words about his book launch.

When you get your book, check out that special 'spot varnish' on the cover. This is a quick shot (hand held, so a bit of a ghost) but shows the parts with the varnish (Characters and title).

Update Aug. 12: I know from stats, some of you have been trying to translate the podcast page to your language. I wish I knew many different languages, because I would translate it for you. Thanks for visiting! Hope you enjoy and able to get a copy of The Rainbow Orchid.

A Bad teacher can spoil your day, a good one make your life

The thoughts of children's book author, Anthony Horowitz, from his interview today on the BBC World News Service. Enjoying books like Tintin as a child, Horowitz speaks to Owen Bennett-Jones about writing and his childhood. Interview about 28 minutes. LINK

Hayao Miyazaki prefers Charlie Chaplin

Hayao Miyazaki, who rarely comes to the US, was recently at Comic-Con in San Diego. The Los Angeles Times caught up with the fame animator, who today prefers Charlie Chaplin films like Modern Times, to art house films. more >