What I and Mack Sennett have in common

This is just for fun. I was listening to an interview recently and the guest mentioned sharing the same birthday (month and date - not year) with a famous silent film actor.

So I decided to see whose birthday I might share. I have to research this again, or find my old list, but here are some famous people I share a birthday with:

Mack Sennett (Keystone), Benjamin Franklin, Vidal Sassoon (something to do with hair), Jim Carrey, Eartha Kitt, Anton Chekhov (he wrote the play known as The Sea Gull! No connection to the film), Betty White, Andy Kaufman, Shari Lewis (remember her?), Al Capone (oh, gees...) and Muhammad Ali.

If I was born one day later, I could have shared it with Oliver Hardy and Cary Grant!

But it is fun to share it with Mack Sennett. He got Charlie Chaplin into films. I do share a birthday with one of The Sea Gull players from Josef von Sternberg film.

Charles K. French was born on the same month and day as myself. He played the father to Edna and Eve's character in A Woman of the Sea. Edna didn't have any photos of him from the film, but he was mentioned in the shooting schedule and title list.

Check this site out to see who you might share a birthday with.

Silent Film fans who Fly to Events, more cash...

If you are a Silent Film Fan planning to fly to an event this summer, you know airline travel is getting more expensive by the minute, as fuel prices go up. (Charging for window seats, extra leg room, fuel fee charges, and even food, is the least of it.)

Today, The Wall Street Journal reports, American Airlines will start charging customers $15 for the FIRST check-in bag, starting June 15th. And this is $15 EACH WAY. So, $30 for your round trip flight for one check-in bag.

United Airlines already started charging $25 each way, for any second check-in bag (which other airlines soon followed).

Until a new option is created for powering jets (and as this continued hike in fuel prices increase), this is going to be the new norm.

It's time to 'bag' the 'tourist trips' on trains and ships, and go back using them for mass transit. Even, Edna and Charlie had it better for travel, than we are heading into today, and I don't see it getting better, until we do change the course we are on. (If we kept our mass transit system, like other countries did, we would be in better shape right now.)

Note: Southwest Airlines is about the last, if not only airline, that is not charging for a lot extras, but time is ticking for them, as well.

Update: A joke? Maybe not... I heard on news this evening, that another option being thought of is 'pay by the pound', where passengers have to get weighed and pay a fee for their weight. (Welcome to the new world of flying, by the pound...)

Another note: While the US is looking at $4 per gallon gas averages rather soon, people in Europe are paying an average of $9 per gallon as of May 2008.

DVD Silent Lives: Classic Screen Moments arrived

Monday, I received the DVD
Silent Lives: Classic Screen Moments
with Lon Davis.

You can only get this DVD, if you order
Silent Lives by Lon Davis, from BearManor Media.

I wanted you to know about it, because you are missing out, if you don't get these together. It comes as you see it here. Not in a 'designer box package', but a film filled disc, (loaded with enthusiasm for silent film era).

With 23 film clips, it is the perfect collection to introduce new people to silents films, but I found it an enjoyable addition to my collection, with nearly two hours of rare film footage and old silent favorites.

The DVD has two options: with comments or without.

With comments, Lon Davis gives us a pleasant and informative background on the stars and 23 films shown, covering over 25 years (from the early beginnings with The Great Train Robbery, and finishes with Fairbank's The Iron Man.)

Without comments, the films and music speak for themselves, giving you an enjoyable ride through many silent comedies and dramas.

Together, they are the perfect companions for each other, that I would highly recommend.

I have more on this, along with the book, Silent Lives, at this link. OR watch Lon Davis interview, which features this film, at this link.

The other guys may have 'free shipping' but they don't have this 'perfect pairing' of DVD and book for your knowledge and enjoyment, from this era in film making.

Grand View one day May 25, 2008 opening

Grand View Cemetery in Glendale will be open for four hours (12 noon to 4PM) on Sunday, May 25, 2008. The opening will be very much like the March 30th opening earlier this year. Attorneys are looking for volunteers to help with the event. Because of the very dry conditions, no smoking is allowed on the grounds. More from Glendale News. more>

"The visitation period between noon and 4 p.m. will be similar to the opening on March 30, which saw hundreds of visitors descend on the long-closed cemetery to clear off headstones and mourn loved ones. The cemetery had been closed for seven months before that opening.

“We’re trying to do whatever we can for the local community,” said David Baum, an attorney representing Grand View operator and co-owner Moshe Goldsman." - Glendale News

Grandview cemetery open on may 27, 2008

May's Bits and Pieces...

May 26, 2008 is Spring Bank Holiday in the UK and Memorial Day in the USA. Since I don't travel like I use to on that day, I plan to have a little 'internet' travel, instead, with a new video short coming next Monday (May 26th). (I don't want to leave Canada out, since they have Victoria Day today, in many regions!)

Other news... I like to thank everyone for the latest Sea Gull book orders! Very good to have your support. While shipping prices have gone up, I decided to NOT increase shipping at this time. I have worked on getting my shipping material cost down and that is helping overall.

On Grand View: I had an email from a fan saying that GV is planning an opening for a few hours on May 25th. I have not seen an official article on this from the press (at the time of this posting), but they said it would be familiar to the March opening.

To our fans who can speak Portuguese: I have been in contact with some of our Edna fans in Brazil for a few years now. If you know Portuguese, I would recommend Carla Marinho blog in Brazil for Chaplin fans.

Film Events: There are some coming silent film events this summer. You can check out this link for events, hopefully, near you. Bologna, Italy will certainly be a great stop for Josef von Sternberg fans at IL Cinema Ritrovato. And if you had not heard it yet, check out Donna Hill's Podcast featuring Slapsticon, coming in July. This weekend, the annual Cinevent will be held (with silent and classic films). Also, Paramount Ranch will hold their annual event of Silents Under the Stars on July 20th, 2008. Check this link for more details.

For the fans who have been following the news of Robert W. Nudelman passing, here is another link with current information.

I have some posts coming, and news bubbling under the surface, so thanks for visiting now, and see you on the next go around of Bits and Pieces... L

P.S. - I will have a new Edna question coming very soon...

UK readers: A No Ad Comic for your Kids, DFC

This is a non-Edna topic, but since I do get a large percentage of UK and European visitors, I am kicking myself a bit for not mentioning this earlier, even though I did have an earlier mention and had some side links about it.

If you live in the UK, you may have heard about this already, but this weekend you maybe reading more about the DFC. Hopefully, your kids may have told you about it, after they heard about it from school. The comic will be starting to arrive at fans doors May 30, 2008.

It is subscription only. You can order at the DFC website. (And it is available to anyone, worldwide.)

It maybe a bit higher in price than you normally pay for a comic, but this comic will have NO ADS! A rarity in this media filled world. Just 36-pages chuck full of continuing stories from talented artist and writers. A weekly adventure for your kids, and adults, who still love comics.

So check it out, if you like your kids to be exposed to original stories and not just the current tv characters.

Chaplin Keystone Films Planned for Spring 2009 release

We have just been informed from one of our fans in Europe, that the restored Charlie Chaplin Keystone Films maybe released in spring 2009. Of course, we know things can change, as BFI is still working hard in finishing up this collection. It is certainly something to watch for this coming year.

Added Link: ABC News, Nightline, has a video about this project for along time available on the web for viewing. They removed that video in recent months, but here is a link to the story that was with that video about restoring the Keystone films. more>

More information: Here is the link to BFI about the Chaplin Keystone Restoration Project and the list of films.

Grand View news

I am still watching for the latest on Grand View, but this week, a court hearing is planned. The last update mentioned late May as a possible one day opening for Grand View again. This is from the Glendale press:

"The tentative plan to open the park on May 25 could be confirmed at a status conference hearing on May 16 in Los Angeles Superior Court."

(One of our Edna fans has written in saying that on May 25th, Grand View will be open for a few hours. I am watching for a news article on this, or check your local news if you live in the LA area.)

Just some thought, as I start work on book two...

It has been four months since we launched The Sea Gull. So time is turning toward re-starting the biography I was working on, before the Sea Gull book.

The Sea Gull was actually my second book planned for Edna, but with Lita's health, I decided to do it first. The reason being, quicker to produce. And I just made it under the wire, by a week, as Lita (Edna Purviance's grand niece) died eight days after the launch.

I have to say, her death did put me out of the mood for the second book (as well as all the business things I had to do for SG). I can't say I feel like I launched a book yet, because there was nothing traditional about it. Just me in the office, like now, looking at a computer screen, emailing people and signing books on a little night table by my computer. And I didn't even have to 'dress' for it. I could wear anything at my 'launching and signings' and no one would know better.

It was great, but nothing traditional, except for some very nice flowers and very nice comments emailed back. I did have about four phone calls about the book, which was greatly appreciated, since I rarely see people or talk to them in person.

We like to thank, again, everyone who has, and currently, ordered The Sea Gull. It certainly turned out better than I thought.

But with Lita gone, I have been trying to get use to that.

What Lita's death sort of did, was place me back to where I was before I met her, because I had a book in the making already, and that was the biography. It wasn't a complete biography, but it was a start, with the early years pretty well covered.

I have been getting all my drafts together of the biography the last couple of weeks. Tonight, I started to open them for the first time in two years.

The early years and most of the career years of Edna, I had written, before I met Lita. The later years Lita was going to help with, which she did, until her health made it impossible to do more. I have articles to work with and loads of new material from the Hill collection and added research since, but also more research to do on material Lita didn't have.

Since the biography is going to be centered about Edna and her family (mainly her mother and two sisters) I have thoughts on how to do that, and keep the project going. That I will cover as I go along...

It is not easy to just pick up and start rolling on something again after two years, after working on it for over 10 years. But I am very glad I did get all the research I did, because starting from scratch now, with the increase cost and turn down in the economy, would have made it nearly impossible to do. And being 10 years older and with my eyesight, not the best, anymore, I am so grateful to have so much done.

So it is just getting the mood back into doing a second book. I have the material here sitting to work with. Writing here does help me start thinking about it.

Releasing the first book does take much of the excitement away. You only get one shot at launching your first book. But, since I really don't feel like I launched a book yet, it does leave some excitement left.

Now it time to start 'hitting the keyboard and research material' for the second book... Hopefully soon.

I have a very good friend launching a book in 2009. Sounds like a good year to do it, but might be closer to 2010, seeing how long The Sea Gull took. But the sooner I start, the sooner I will get it done. And I have fans 'who ate up the first book' and now waiting for the second course...

The working title for this book is 'Purviance' and that is what I will use throughout the writing and production work.

(The nice thing about my new computer? It talks to me! So I can hear how this article sounds. A voice in my little attic world.)

Maybe the duck has the right idea

Well, we surely went right by spring and heading quickly into summer, as the forecast calls for 90F+ degrees (32C+ range) this week. Everything still looks winter like, since we had little to no rain this spring and cold weather in general.

With it getting so hot suddenly, I wonder if ducks have the right idea. I don't know how many of you have seen a duck at work under water, but here is a link to a silent video of just that. The video does has an ad for the client, but watch this duck! LINK>

May 2008 - Chaplin Library Latest Books

Dominique Dugros has sent us his Latest book additions for the Chaplin Library. It includes books from Japan, Germany, Mexico and Sweden. I also have the Library Database 'in the wings' to come.

TCM's Premiere - Anna May Wong

June 5, 2008

TCM Television Premiere
Anna May Wong


Frosted Yellow Willows:
Her Life, Times and Legend

Produced by Elaine Mae Woo
Narrated by Nancy Kwan

Part of TCM's month long look at Asian films.
Every Tuesday and Thursday night in June.

"Anna May Wong made over sixty films in her career. She is best known for her role in Joseph Von Sternberg's Shanghai Express (1932) in which she starred alongside Marlene Dietrich." - NPG
Link to a past article on Wong from the National Portrait Gallery in London.