Category Archives: Joe Rinaudo

HAPPY NATIONAL JOE DAY, JOSEPH A. RINAUDO!

March 27, 2023 Chaz DeSimone Leave a comment

MARCH 27 IS
NATIONAL JOE DAY

You can wish our favorite Joe, founder of Silent Cinema Society, a Happy Joe Day on his Facebook page today — just click the button:

joe’s facebook page

☙ Note: Joe did not post this himself. He’s far too humble for that. ❧

IT IS MOST APROPOS that the founder of Silent Cinema Society is named Joe, for that was ranked as one of the most popular names during the silent cinema years.

According to the Social Security Administration, the name Joseph was ranked No. 6 from 1893 to 1899 behind John, William, James, George, and Charles. In 1910, it moved to No. 5.

How to Observe #NationalJoeDay

National Joe Day is March 27th. Wish every Joe or Jo you know a Happy Joe Day, or even enjoy a cup of joe with them.

Don’t forget Joey, Joseph, Josephine, Joette, Joanne, Jody, Johanna, Jodie or any other variant of the name Joe.

Celebrate the day by telling familiar stories about friends and family named Joe. We all know someone from our past or present who have made our lives just a little bit better just by being the Joe or Jo that they are.

Use #NationalJoeDay to post on social media.

Famous Joes:

American football player and coach – Joe Montana
Politician – Jo Ann Emerson
Comedian, musician, and actor – Joe Pesci
Politician and layer – Joe Biden
Musician, singer, dancer – Josephine Baker
Theatrical producer, entrepreneur, film producer – Joseph Gordon
American football player – Joe Namath
Opera singer – Dame Josephine Barstow
Formula one endurance driver – Jo Gartner
Politician, soldier – Joseph Stalin
Songwriter, musician, singer – Joey Ramone
Journalist – Jo Coburn
Baseball player – Shoeless Joe Jackson
Olympic medalist, swimmer – Josephine McKim
American football player – Joe Green
Actress – Jodie Foster
Musician – Joe Jonas
Businesswoman, politician – Jo Ann Davis
Baseball player, actor – Joe DiMaggio
Author – Josephine Cox
Musician – Joe Cocker
Boxer – Joe Frazier
Athlete, sprinter – Joanne Cuddihy
Baseball player – Joe Mauer
Journalist, author – Josephine Lawrence
Press Secretary – Jody Powell
Musician – Joe Walsh
Actor – “Curly Joe” DeRita
and of course Founder of Silent Cinema Society, the man who cranks the Powers Moving Picture Machine and plays the American Fotoplayer and lectures to audiences of all ages, keeping Silent Cinema Art and Technology alive for generations to come – Joe Rinaudo

—Several facts excerpted verbatim from National Day Calendar®

Happy National Joe Day,
Joseph A. Rinaudo!

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Joe Rinaudo, Oscar, Powers Cameragraph, Silent Cinema

Professor Rinaudo at the Oscars

March 6, 2018 Gary Gibson 3 Comments

Gary Oldman and Laura Dern crank projector inside Professor Rinaudo’s Itinerant Show tent at the 90th Academy Awards. (Click on photo for hi-rez version.)

PROFESSOR RINAUDO
and his Amazing Hand-Cranked
MOVING PICTURE MACHINE

present an Itinerant Tent Show at the
90TH OSCARS
March 4, 2018

Sunday was Hollywood’s biggest night at the 90th annual Academy Awards, and just after the last Oscar was handed out the crowd of Hollywood’s elite made their way to the Academy’s official party, the Governor’s Ball. Being the 90th anniversary of the Oscars, the theme of this year’s ball was the history of filmmaking and on display were many relics such as props from old movies, Oscar statuettes from years past, and even cameras and equipment used by such geniuses of the cinema as Cecil. B. DeMille and Orson Welles.

By special request of the Academy President, one more relic was added to the Governor’s Ball…a living, breathing relic of cinema in the form of the Great Professor Rinaudo and his Amazing Hand-Cranked Moving Picture Machine. A special Silent Movie Tent was constructed as a throw-back to the earliest days of movie making before there were movie theaters when the itinerant projectionist would bring his tent-show to your town and entertain you with the magic of the movies.

Professor Joe Rinaudo was assisted by his able assistant Gary Gibson working the magic lantern along with accompanist Robert Israel playing the piano. Much of Hollywood’s finest made their way through the Professor’s tent including the likes of Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Bradley Whitford (who appeared in two of this year’s films nominated for best picture, Get Out and The Post), Oscar winner for best Cinematography Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049), Supporting Actor nominee Richard Jenkins (The Shape of Water), and director Guillermo Del Toro clutching an Oscar in each hand for The Shape of Water (one for Best Director and the other for Best Picture).

The Silent Movie Tent became an interactive demonstration as those attending the ball were invited to crank the projector themselves. The first to take the helm from Professor Rinaudo was actress Laura Dern who seemed apprehensive at first, but after some friendly badgering from her friends was having the time of her life cranking and laughing as she made the movies come alive on the silver screen. Ms. Dern was followed by a succession of producers, directors, and cinematographers all excited to play their part in a recreation of the dawn of cinema.

The highlight of the evening came when Gary Oldman, fresh from his Best Actor win for his brilliant portrayal of Winston Churchill in the movie Darkest Hour, came into the tent, took a look at the projector and shouted JOE!!! Mr. Oldman is acquainted with the Professor’s exploits as he is in pre-production of a movie he plans to direct about the earliest days of the moving image. Clutching his Oscar in one hand, and the projector crank in the other, Mr. Oldman cranked the projector and laughed in amazement as he took his turn in that magic moment when the image hits the screen and comes to life.

The final guests into the tent were Academy President John Bailey and his lovely wife Carol, and their guests. Mr. Bailey’s visit was the grand finale to a wonderful evening of fun and education in the way movies were presented in the earliest days of filmmaking. As his wife was cranking the projector, Bailey turned to the Professor and said with a smile “I think the Academy should have more hand-cranked presentations, and as president I can make that happen.”

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Buster Keaton, Cameragraph Projectors, Charley Chase, Dean Mora, Edwardian, Famous Players Orchestra, Galen Wilkes, Gary Gibson, Hand-Crank, Heritage Square Museum, Joe Rinaudo, Larry Semon, Mighty Wurlitzer, Nethercutt, Perry Mansion, Powers Cameragraph, Ragtime, Scott Lasky, Silent Cinema, Silent Cinema, Valentines, Wax Cylinder

UPCOMING 2017 SHOWS

January 23, 2017 Joe Rinaudo

Here are several shows throughout Los Angeles in early 2017 featuring the sights, sounds and history of entertainment as experienced a century ago during the Silent Cinema era:

January 26, 2017 ♦ 5:30 pm

Los Angeles In The Ragtime Era

Presented by Galen Wilkes
Calabasas-Las Virgenes Historical Society
Calabasas Library, 200 Civic Center Way, Calabasas

February 10 and 11, 2017 ♦ 2:00 and 8:00 pm

Nethercutt

Mighty Wurlitzer at The Nethercutt Collection

For those of you who have tickets for the February Nethercutt show, here is the program:

♥ The theme will be LOVE for Valentines Day. ♥

The show will feature:

♥ Buster Keaton in “Neighbors”

♥ Larry Semon in “Plagues And Puppy Love”

♥ A very rare Edison Film from 1907 “The Teddy Bears”

♥ A rarely seen Charley Chase comedy “There Ain’t No Santa Claus”

♥ Plus a surprise from the Blackhawk film collection with special thanks to Mr. David Shepard

Joe Rinaudo will be assisted on the hand-cranked Powers Cameragraph Motion Picture Machine by Gary Gibson, projecting glass lantern slides, and Dean Mora on the mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ (third largest theater organ in the world).

LOCATION AND EVENT DETAILS HERE

Sorry, this event is sold out. If you have your tickets, enjoy the show! If not, hope to see you next October for our annual Halloween Spooktacular at the Nethercutt.

March 11, 2017 ♦ 7:00 pm

“Steamboat Bill, Jr.” with
Live Orchestra

Featuring a live musical score performed by The Famous Players Orchestra under the direction of Scott Lasky.

Projected by Joe Rinaudo in 35mm on an original hand-cranked Power’s 1909 Cameragragh Model 6 Motion Picture Machine. Your Master of Ceremonies will be Stan Taffel.

The program will include a 30 minute intermission and there will also be a raffle with prizes. Concessions will be available downstairs at the snack bar.

Showtime:
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Show starts at 7:00 p.m.

Location:
Christ Lutheran Church
2400 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506
(southeast corner of Burbank Bl. & Buena Vista St., directly behind the Dunn-Edwards paint store)

Admission is $10.00 (suggested donation)

Tickets will go on sale at the door approximately one hour before showtime.

You can also purchase tickets online starting February 1 through the Famous Players Orchestra website.

MORE INFORMATION:
Famous Players Orchestra

March 25, ~~June 17, and November 11~~, 2017 ♦ 7:00 pm
JUNE 17 AND NOVEMBER 11 DATES CANCELLED

On three special dates throughout the year,
Galen Wilkes will present

An Edwardian Evening of Entertainment

Enjoy a period vaudeville show, witness a live recording of the audience onto an Edison wax cylinder, and experience other fascinating examples of the Edwardian era.

Perry Mansion, Heritage Square Museum
3800 Homer St., Highland Park

JUNE 17 AND NOVEMBER 11 DATES CANCELLED

to the NEWSREEL, the informative newsletter of the Silent Cinema Society. Never miss an announcement of an upcoming, entertaining event.

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MARCH 27 IS NATIONAL JOE DAY