Happy New Year's to our Friends in the UK & Europe!

Library of Congress 2009 National Registry

25 films were added to the 2009 Library of Congress National Registry, including silent films with Mabel Norman 1914 "Mabel's Blunder," 1927 film directed by Karl Brown "Stark Love," and the 1911 live action animation work of "Little Nemo" by Winsor McCay.

Here is a little tribute to all of them. More about the list at this link.

Charlie Chaplin's 'White Elephant'

My cartoon pick for the day and it might disappear, since I can't find the copyright on it.



UPDATE: Here is a PDF with more from BFI about this and other Chaplin 'Clones.' I will keep this cartoon up, as long as allowed. Note: BFI is currently working on the DVD collection of the Chaplin Keystone films.

Slapstick 2010 Program

The current Slapstick 2010 program in Bristol, England is now available in a PDF download. LINK TO PDF.


Update: BBC Breakfast report on Slapstick 2010

Amazon UK link for the DVD Chaplin Keystone

Amazon UK has the link for the Chaplin Keystone Collection from BFI Video Publishing, up and running. You can currently sign up for an email alert when the collection goes on sale. The BFI PAL edition, are in 2 discs and according to the latest information, does not include outtakes as extras.


UPDATE August 25, 2010 - The USA Flicker Alley release of the 4 DVD set of Chaplin at Keystone will release in Oct. (either on 26th of before). Pre-order special with free shipping on now at Flicker Alley. LINK

The USA version will be released through FLICKER ALLEY, but it currently doesn't show any Amazon links on the USA site. So we are getting closer to having these being available! I can see lots of these under the tree next some year! (Note - Keystone ASIN: B002EAKWDO)

Checkout FLICKER ALLEY site for bonus clips of several currently release silents films, including the Valentino Collection, J'Accuse and Douglas Fairbanks. Also, check out the BFI site for more about the restoring of the Keystone films.

See comments for more information on this long awaited collection.

1916 - Charlie Chaplin's Own Story, online

"Christmas came and went and I did not have an offer of a place on the stage." - from 'Charlie Chaplin's Own Story', 1916 on Internet Archives

Looking for some online reading this Christmas? Internet Archives has the 1916 book 'Charlie Chaplin's Own Story.' It was the first book published about Chaplin, but this controversial book, cause a legal battle when it was published. This rare book is now available online. It is available for download or to read online.

Update on Chaplin The Keystone Films

I learned today from our loyal European fan, that The Keystone Films will be released worldwide under different labels. In the UK, it will be under BFI and in the USA it will be under Flicker Alley. It is currently still on schedule for sometime in 2010.

Honorable Mention for Miss Edna

The Sea Gull author just learned we have received a HONORABLE MENTION for BEST NON-FICTION AUTHOR from the Beverly Hills bi-weekly publication called The Beverly Hills Outlook.

Meanwhile, we are still sorting out details with a possible new printer for the book. Christmas holiday season for the book company and a load of personal business work for us, does slowdown the process.

We do have a growing list of people interested in buying The Sea Gull. Currently, we are sold out of good copies, so hoping to get this all worked out. If you are interested in the book, you can add your name to the list by contacting us.

In case you didn't know, our current printer basically quit doing the job this fall, so we had to look for another printer who can produce quality work. I will email the list on any major developments, but in the meantime, just watch Edna's websites for updates.

Note: The Sea Gull is about Edna Purviance's lost film, produced by Charles Chaplin, and directed by Josef von Sternberg. Book by Linda Wada, published by Leading Ladies.

My silent film era Cartoon Pick of the day!

It is Saturday morning and time for another animated cartoon pick. Getting my fix with Felix the Cat today. From Crazy Toon World. 1920s animated Felix Cartoon. Felix's creator, Otto Messmer, was inspired by cartoon artist Winsor McCay and by the film work of Charlie Chaplin.

Actress, Jennifer Jones, has passed away

Academy Award winning actress, Jennifer Jones, has died at the age of 90. She won the Oscar for "The Song of Bernadette" in 1943. Full story here at the LA Times.

Claire Bloom on UK's The Doctor Who Christmas Special

Claire Bloom will be on Doctor Who Christmas special this holiday season on the UK BBC. From the Times Online, an interesting article covering her time with Charlie Chaplin. (Bloom's first film was Limelight, with Charlie Chaplin.) More

UPDATE: DEC. 25th - I just had a Chaplin/Purviance fan, clear this one up for me, as BBC America will be showing Doctor Who latest program with Claire Bloom on Dec. 26th (the day after it first appeared in the UK). Check it out SATURDAY, Dec. 26th, on BBC America.

Another little book in a Top Book list...

Thanks to Lon Davis, who just let me know about another little book making it into the San Francisco Examiner Best Book List of most recent books... Take a look at the slide show at the bottom of the article...

My tribute to photographer, Larry Salton

In the summer of 1980, I was a student at the Sun Valley Art Center in Sun Valley, Idaho. One of the workshops that summer was with photographers Mike Mandel and Larry Salton. The workshop was two weeks long, with the second week devoted to creating a billboard in Shoshone, Idaho.

They Came to Shoshone was created from varies ideas involving the town of Shoshone. Three students, including myself, were photographed and placed on the billboard. It stayed there for many months, but this picture was taken the day we put it up. All the students helped in creating it.

Larry Salton has passed away Sunday from cancer at his home in Greenbrae, California. He was 63 years old. More at the LA Times.

2009 BEST BOOK LISTS!

Books I have posted on Edna's site this year that have made it on some BEST BOOK LIST for 2009. Check them out! (Updated December 16th.)

Leonard Maltin's BEST BOOKS LIST includes:
King of the Movies: Francis X. Bushman
by Lon and Debra Davis (Also on the S.F. Examiner List)

The Comedy of Charlie Chaplin: Artistry in Motion
by Dan Kamin

UK Independent list BEST CHRISTMAS BOOKS

Best Movies
'Chaplin: A Life' by Stephen Weissman

Best Children's
The Rainbow Orchid by Garen Ewing
Also on the Lovereading 4 Kids Books of the Year 2009

Update December 16, 2009
San Francisco Examiner - Best 2009 and Recent Film Book List

The Sea Gull - by Linda Wada

Aviators in Early Hollywood - By Shawna Kelly

Great additions to your collection! For more books on these list, check these links: Leonard Maltin, UK Independent and The San Francisco Examiner. Note: The Sea Gull is on the Best Most Recent Film Book List (since it was published in 2008). The Sea Gull is currently working on getting a new printer for the book.

Latest Chaplin Library Database Update

I just love this cover!
It is the first cover I have seen
about eight images of Edna on it.

Just one of the latest books added to Dominique's
Chaplin Library Database

Recollecting Charlie

by Kaushik, Manav
Hardback edition with jacket (English)
Shubhi Publication (India) 2009
426 pages - illustrated