June 9th, 2018 • 7:30 p.m.
Burbank, California Famous Players Orchestra presents “A Summer Evening of Silent Comedies”
Featuring:
Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle in “Love” (1919)
Buster Keaton in “Cops” (1922)
Larry Semon and Stan Laurel in “Frauds and Frenzies” (1918)
Charles Chaplin in “Kid Auto Races” (1914)
Films screened in 35mm with hand-cranked projection by Joe Rinaudo. Featuring a period score performed live by The Famous Players Orchestra under the direction of Scott Lasky. Program introduced by film historian, Stan Taffel.
Famous Players Orchestra is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is dedicated to performing and recording the historic film music used by movie theater orchestras during the silent era. Please visit our website at www.fporchestra.org. Thank you for your support!
March 10th, 2018
Famous Players Orchestra Presents:
The Goose Woman
(1925)
Starring: Louise Dresser
Louise Dresser and Jack Pickford in “The Goose Woman” (1925)
“The Goose Woman” (1925) Silent drama-suspense
Directed by Clarence Brown
Production: Universal Pictures Corporation
Producer: Carl Laemmle
Based on a short story by Rex Beach.
Starring: Louise Dresser (Marie de Nardi/Mary Holmes), Jack Pickford (Gerald Holmes), Constance Bennett (Hazel Woods), Spottiswoode Aitken (Jacob Riggs), Gustav von Seyffertitz (Thomas Vogel), George Nichols (Detective Lopez), Marc McDermott (Amos Ethridge), George Cooper (Reporter).
Louise Dresser gives an outstanding performance as the once world-famous opera soprano, Marie de Nardi, now living on a dirty, extremely rundown goose farm under the name Mary Holmes.
Slovenly, bitter, and drunken, she pours over old scrapbooks and photos of herself during her triumphant years, while listening to an old recording of her voice. Having given up her career for motherhood, she is resentful and full of hatred towards her only son, Gerald (Jack Pickford).
When a murder is committed near her house, she invents a story in order to get herself back in front of the public again. However, the story she comes up with results in her son being arrested for the murder. The Goose Woman became one of Universal’s “Jewels,” a prestige production with a better than average script, an excellent cast and production values, and an up-and-coming director.
The March 10, 2018 showing is accompanied by a period orchestral score performed live by The Famous Players Orchestra. Stan Taffel will be your host.
Showtime is 7:00 p.m. The venue is Christ Lutheran Church, 2400 West Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA 91506.
Thank you to everyone for attending our past shows and for your continued support. It is greatly appreciated!
ABOUT FAMOUS PLAYERS ORCHESTRA
In the final decades of the silent film era (1910 -1929), a new and original art form was burgeoning. During this period, a vast and beautiful repertoire of film music was being created by gifted composers who saw a great future in the new medium.
Movie theaters of the day commonly utilized orchestras to provide film accompaniment for their premium showings. These theaters typically housed massive libraries of this music, (known at the time as “photoplay” music) for use as film accompaniment. However, the advent of “talkies” in 1929, preceded by the Movietone and Vitaphone systems, would eventually bring the demise of live film accompaniment. Thus, as movie theaters converted over to sound, these music libraries became obsolete almost overnight and most of the music was discarded in the process. And since photoplay music was rarely recorded, and the composers mostly unknown, this important chapter in cinema history was swept away into obscurity and has remained practically forgotten.
Famous Players Orchestra is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose charitable mission is dedicated to reviving and preserving this charming and long forgotten music through live performances and new recording projects. For its repertoire, Famous Players Orchestra draws upon the original orchestrations used by silent era movie theater orchestras in its live presentations and recordings. The ensemble is comprised of professional musicians based in the Los Angeles area.
Your support is appreciated! Your generous contributions help us to continue our work in reviving and preserving this musical treasure from cinema’s past. Donations are easily accepted using paypal. Thank you!
WHAT COULD BE SPOOKIER… THAN A DARK THEATER HAUNTED BY SILENT GHOSTS FROM A CENTURY PAST, BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE BY A SINGLE HAND, CRANKING AN ANTIQUE MOVING PICTURE MACHINE
JOIN US THIS OCTOBER FOR THESE
HIGHLY SPIRITED SHOWS:
OCT. 14 ♠ HAL-O’WEEN EVENING OF HAL ROACH COMEDIES WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA
CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Burbank, California
OCT. 22 ♠ PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925) WITH LIVE ORGAN AND RESTORED COLOR SEQUENCES
BAKERSFIELD FOX THEATRE
Bakersfield, California
OCT. 27 & 28 ♠HAPPILY HAUNTING SHORT COMEDIES & DRAMA WITH MIGHTY WURLITZER
NETHERCUTT COLLECTION
Sylmar, California
The Spooky Details:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017 at 7:00 PM CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Burbank, California
$15 Purchase Tickets Here
A HAL-O’WEEN EVENING OF HAL ROACH COMEDIES
Charley Chase and Martha Sleeper in “Crazy Like a Fox” (1926)
Join us Saturday, October 14, 2017 as we present a screening of four classic comedies from the Hal Roach Studios. Included on the program will be:
Do Detectives Think(1927) Crazy Like a Fox (1926) Cat, Dog & Co.(1929)
Also, Buster Keaton in The Haunted House (1921)
The films will be accompanied by a period musical score performed live by The Famous Players Orchestra under the direction of Scott Lasky. Joe Rinaudo will project 35mm film on an original hand-cranked Power’s 1909 Cameragragh Model 6 Motion Picture Machine. Your Master of Ceremonies will be film historian Stan Taffel.
Showtime: Saturday, October 14, 2017
7:00 PM
Location: Christ Lutheran Church
2400 West Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2017 at 2:00 PM
FOX THEATER BAKERSFIELD
Bakersfield, California
$10 Purchase Tickets Here
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
The Phantom of the Opera at the Fox Bakersfield will be a very special viewing of the silent classic horror film that you and your family won’t want to miss. You will get to watch this film, complete with restored 2–STRIP TECHNICOLOR sequences, accompanied with the live performance by Dean Mora at the organ, just like you would have, had you been watching a movie the the Fox Bakersfield in 1930. And to add more character and historic appeal, the film will be projected from a fully restored 1909 Powers Cameragraph Hand-Cranked Motion Picture Machine, set up in the center of the auditorium.
The Phantom Of The Opera will be screened at the historic Fox Theater Bakersfield. Opened in 1930, The Fox was one of the last of its kind built in the Gilded Age. The 1500 seat Fox Theater was designed by famed Los Angeles architect S. Charles Lee. Known for his trademark “The Show Begins on the Sidewalk;” his designs would later gain classic status as paragons of style and beauty. In 1953, the original interior was replaced with a contemporary Art Deco motif inspired by Fox West Coast Theaters’ Charles P. Skouras. A lavish concession area was added, along with a remodel of the marquee, box office and main entrance — embellished with glitzy 50’s bright metals, terrazzo and neon. Read more history about the Fox Theater Bakersfield here.
Synopsis
In this silent horror classic, aspiring young opera singer Christine Daaé (Mary Philbin) discovers that she has a mysterious admirer intent on helping her become a lead performer. This enigmatic masked presence is Erik, also known as the Phantom (Lon Chaney), a horribly disfigured recluse who lives underneath the Paris Opera House. When the Phantom takes Christine prisoner and demands her devotion and affection, her suitor, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (Norman Kerry), sets out to rescue her.
Restoration
The film is the only 35mm print in existence that tells the complete story (as originally intended) by combining the 1929 release and the 16mm show at home versions (blown up to 35mm). It also now has all of the original 2–STRIP TECHNICOLORsequences restored as they were seen in 1925. Original narrative and spoken inter-titles (about 68) have been restored as well as the prologue titles that describe the beginnings of the Phantom and his connection to the Paris Opera House. Since this print is drawn from the original 1925 and the 1929 (sound speed) versions, hand cranking will allow you to see, for the first time, the film presented at the proper speeds. Gary Gibson will present a glass lantern slide show during all reel changes.
The Phantom of the Opera
Restoration Credits: see below
Showtime: Sunday, October 22, 2017
Doors open 1:00 PM ◊ Show 2:00 PM
Location: Bakersfield Fox Theater
2001 H Street Bakersfield, CA93301 map Box Office phone: (661) 324 -1369
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 at 8 PM SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2017at2 PM & 8PM NETHERCUTT COLLECTION Sylmar, California Request Tickets available Sept. 27, 2017 at 4pm (Admission is free but you must request tickets in advance.)
HAPPY HAUNTED HALLOWEEN SHORTS
The Nethercutt Collection will host another three silent film hand crank shows. Friday at 8:00 p.m. & Saturday at 2:00 & 8:00 p.m. The program will be the same for each show. Tickets will be available Wednesday, September 27 starting at 4:00 p.m. by calling in for up to 4 tickets per caller. Phone: (818) 364-6464. Please be persistent as the office only has 3 phone lines. How to Request Nethercutt Show Tickets
This happily haunted show will feature several shorts we haven’t presented in a number of years:
Koko’s Earth Control(Cartoon) The Thieving Hand Do Detectives Think (Laurel & Hardy) Suspense Cat, Dog, and Co.(Our Gang) Super-Hooper Dyne Lizzies
Ghost of Mildred Smith
Musical narration and sound effects by Dean Mora at the Mighty Wurlitzer, the third largest theater organ in the world.
Gary Gibson will provide original glass lantern slides during all reel changes.
Your host is Kyle Irwin, curator, who will demonstrate the Nethercutt Collection’s automated musical instruments before the show and during intermission.
You may also tour the collection of over fifty classic cars which are on display in a museum setting that recreates the marble and mirrored showroom of an early automobile dealership.
Business or semi-formal attire is appropriate. Children must be 10 and older.
Don’t forget to call for tickets Wednesday Sept. 27 at 4pm sharp—and enjoy the show!
Showtimes: Friday, October 27, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Location:
Nethercutt Collection
15200 Bledsoe Street
Sylmar, CA 91342 map
35mm source material: Special thanks to Mr. David Shepard
Blackhawk film library
16mm source material: Mr. Stan Taffel
Script and cutting continuity: Mr. George Wagner
Title re-creation, design and typography: Mr. Chaz DeSimone DesimoneDesign.com
Title & film digitizing & output to film: Mr. Michael Brodersen Mr. Rico Hernandez Negative and print color timing: Mr. Doug Ledin
Project manager: Mr. Allan Tudzin
Fotokem Film & Video Services Fotokem.com
Film and title restoration
produced and supervised by: Mr. Joe Rinaudo SilentCinemaSociety.org
“Habeas Corpus” film courtesy of the Blackhawk film library.
Louise Dresser and Jack Pickford in “The Goose Woman” (1925)
The Nethercutt Collection will host another three silent film hand crank shows. Friday at 8:00 p.m. & Saturday at 2:00 & 8:00 p.m. The program will be the same for each show. Tickets will be available Wednesday, September 27 starting at 4:00 p.m. by calling in for up to 4 tickets per caller. Phone: (818) 364-6464. Please be persistent as the office only has 3 phone lines. 
