The Academy’s newly restored Model 41 Fotoplayer, installed in the lobby of Linwood Dunn Theater at Pickford Center. Panoramic photo courtesy of Lissa Price: lissaprice.com, @Lissa_Price (Twitter)

Aug 11, 2016, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences— The Academy’s newly restored 1917 Model 41 Fotoplayer was unveiled for its inaugural public performance by Joe Rinaudo as he narrated (the term for musical accompaniment) two films, also newly restored:

The Perfect Woman, 1920, and Good Night, Paul, 1918, both starring Constance Talmadge. Details for these films are at the Academy’s website Archival Revival Event page. Here’s a clip from the Academy’s Facebook Events page:

The Style 41 Fotoplayer was restored by Dave Hartman and Joe Rinaudo.
The 35mm nitrate prints were restored by the Academy.

As Joe played the impressive Fotoplayer in the lobby, the films were shown in the theater at the Academy’s  Linwood Dunn Theater at Pickford Center, Hollywood. A live feed of his narration was projected on a smaller screen next to the main film. The house was packed and sold out, and everyone experienced a silent cinema treat from nearly a century ago—but not exactly silent with Joe at the Fotoplayer!

Constance Talmadge, Intolerance, 1916

. . .

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
presents the unveiling of its newly restored

1915 Fotoplayer

accompanying  two preserved 35mm nitrates starring

CONSTANCE TALMADGE

TIME:

Thursday, August 11, 2016
7:30 p.m.

LOCATION:

Linwood Dunn Theater
Pickford Center, 1313 Vine Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
map

TICKETS:

$5 Regular, $3 Academy Member/Student

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

For parking information and theater policies, click here.

INAUGURAL PUBLIC PERFORMANCE

adapted from the Academy’s website:

The Academy’s newly restored American Fotoplayer Style 41, built in 1915, is unveiled for its inaugural public performance by Joe Rinaudo, who restored the “automated orchestra” over the course of three years. For more information about the Fotoplayer, click here.

Constance Talmadge, one of the silent era’s most popular stars, and the sister of fellow actress Norma Talmadge, was known for her roles in romantic comedies, usually playing a willful young woman having a misunderstanding with the man in her life.

The Perfect Woman and Good Night, Paul were both preserved from 35mm nitrate prints in the Academy’s Lobster Films and Blackhawk Films/Film Preservation Associates collections. Both prints were originally Continue reading Aug 11: Academy Public Performance →