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BEN
MODEL'S
2009 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
JANUARY through Jan 12 - MoMA - NYC Laugh and Live: The Films of Douglas Fairbanks MoMA's 4-week Fairbanks retrospective continues. Silent films accompanied by Ben Model either on acoustic piano or on the Miditzer virtual theatre organ in the series in January are:
PopRally: "Silent But Deadly" One of the monthly film/media/art series of events held at MoMA. This program features silent comedy shorts selected by Ron Magliozzi, Steve Massa and Ben Model from their MoMA course "Cruel and Unusual Comedy: Social Commentary in the American Slapstick Film". Also to be screened are "response videos" created by comedians, filmmakers and media artists. Piano and organ accompaniment. Sun, Jan 11 at 2:00 - Walter Reade Theatre - NYC Maurice Tourneur's "The Blue Bird" Tourneur's classic fairy tale screens as part of Dance on Camera 2009. Piano accompaniment. Thurs, Jan 15 at 8:00- Jacob Burns Film Center - Pleasantville, NY (Westchester) silent animation program Program of silent era cartoons, featuring shorts made in NYC studios. Titles TBA. Piano accompaniment Thurs, Jan 21 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Douglas Fairbanks in "Don Q, Son of Zorro" Fairbanks plays Don Q, master of the bullwhip, as well as his own father Zorro, master of the sword, in this swashbuckler. Organ accompaniment. Mon, Jan 26 at 7:00 - Ocean County Library - Toms River, NJ The Genius of Ernie Kovacs Ben Model lectures and screens classic clips of Ernie Kovacs, television's original genius (and NJ native). Jan 28 to 30 matinees - MoMA - NYC Batista Madalena poster series: Weds, Jan 28 at 1:30 - Lon Chaney in "The Unknown" Thurs, Jan 29 at 1:30 - Cecil B. DeMille's "The Volga Boatman" Fri, Jan 30 at 1:30 - Greta Garbo in "The Mysterious Lady" FEBRUARY Feb 4 to 6, matinees - MoMA - NYC Batista Madalena poster series: Weds, Feb 4 at
1:30 - Dolores Del Rio in "The Loves of Carmen". organ
accompaniment.
Thurs, Feb 5 at 1:30 - Emil Jannings in "Variety" (original German release version). organ accompaniment. Fri, Feb 6 at 1:30 - Harold Lloyd in "The Kid Brother", plus surviving fragment of "The Wanderer" with Ernest Torrence. piano accompaniment Thurs, Feb 5 at 8pm - Egyptian Theater - Boise, ID Buster Keaton's "Cops" plus Charlie Chaplin's "The Immigrant" *orchestral scores* Scores will be performed to the film live by the Treasure Valley Youth Symphony, at annual fundraiser for the Boise Philharmonic in Boise's restored, original Egyptian-style movie palace. This is the 6th consecutive year the Boise Philharmonic has performed Ben Model's orchestral scores. Sun, Feb 22 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Buster Keaton's "The General" "The General" ('27) is not only Buster Keaton’s most highly praised and famous film, but was one of his own personal favorites. So accurate that it looks like Matthew Brady Civil War photographs come to life, Buster nevertheless made sure that the film is as funny as it is authentic. Extra-added attraction "Mooching Through Georgia" ('39) has Buster revisiting the Civil War in the sound era. piano accompaniment. Tues, Feb 24 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Charlie Chaplin Mutual Comedies Four selections from Chaplin's "golden dozen" made 1916-17 for the Mutual Film Corp: "The Pawnshop", "The Cure", "The Immigrant", and "The Rink". organ accompaniment. MARCH Sun, Mar 1 at 2:00 - Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library - Woodmere, NY (Long Island) Harold Lloyd in "Safety Last" Lloyd's infamous 12-story climb up the side of the Bolton Building comes to this Five Towns library, with an intro and Q&A by film historian Philip Harwood. piano accompaniment. Mon, Mar 2 at 12:30 - NYU Cinema Studies - NYC Silent flms directed by women; early animation Performance and lecture at NYU Cinema Studies silent film class taught by Antonia Lant. [Not open to the public.] Piano accompaniment. Tues, Mar 3 at 2:30 - New York Public Library for the Performing Arts - NYC Vernon and Irene Castle in "The Whirl of Life" (1915) Film is being presented as part of a series of programs related to the library's exhibit entitled "Curtain Call: Celebrating a Century of Women Designing for Live Performance". Film includes dance numbers by the Castles. Weds, Mar 4 at 7:00 - Ossining Public Library - Ossining, NY John Ford's "The Iron Horse" The library's winter 2009 film series, programmed by Mark Hasskarl, presents this John Ford classic telling of the building of the transcontinental railroad. piano accompaniment. Mar 4 to 6, matinees - MoMA - NYC Batista Madalena poster series: Weds, Mar 4 at
1:30 - John Barrymore in "Beau Brummel". organ accompaniment.
Thurs, Mar 5 at 1:30 - Josef von Sternberg's "Underworld". organ accompaniment. Fri, Mar 6 at 1:30 - Harold Lloyd in "The Freshman". organ accompaniment Sun, Mar 8 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Raymond Griffith in "Hands Up!" The Silent Clowns' second Civil War program stars the neglected Raymond Griffith in "Hands Up" ('26), a clockwork-timed comedy of wartime intrigue, assumed identities, and dual leading ladies, that presents Griffith in all his smarmy elegance. The early Griffith short "His Foot-hill Folly" ('17), from his days at Triangle/Keystone, opens the show. Thurs, Mar 19 at 7:00 - New Rochelle Public Library - New Rochelle, NY Lillian Gish in D.W. Griffith's "Broken Blossoms" Part of the library's March focus on New Rochelle Women of the Arts, one of Griffith's moist beautiful, subtle and poignant character dramas stars Lillian Gish, Donald Crisp and Richard Barthelmess. Piano accompaniment. Fri, Mar 20 to Sun, Mar 22 - Cinefest - Syracuse, NY The 29th Annual Cinefest This annual classic film convention is held in the city's Holiday Inn and at the Palace Theater (for 35mm) and is a gathering place for film buffs, scholars and collectors from around the U.S. Click on the link for the film titles and schedule. Piano accompaniment. Tues, Mar 24 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Carl Th. Dreyer's "The Passion of Joan of Arc" Joan Falconetti's iconic performance as Jeanne D'arc, presented in a 35mm print from the BFI. Theatre organ accompaniment. Sun, Mar 29 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Erich von Stroheim’s "Foolish Wives" (1922) Erich von Stroheim, the “man you love to hate” of the silent era, takes the stage with his Monte Carlo set extravaganza, the making of which almost bankrupted the young Universal studio. This drama about a completely amoral con man became a smash hit, but made von Stroheim a life-long enemy in the person of producer Irving Thalberg. APRIL April 1, 2 and 3 at 1:30 - MoMA - NYC "Wild Bill Hickok" William S. Hart stars as Wild Bill Hickok, presented thrice as part of the ongoing "Still Moving" series. Theatre organ accompaniment. Sun, Apr 5 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC W.C. Fields in "So's Your Old Man" (1926) When anyone thinks of W.C. Fields they immediately hear his nasal drawl and muttered asides, but Fields made his first film in 1915 and we’re happy to present one of his rare silents. SO’S YOUR OLD MAN ('26) w as filmed at Paramount’s Long Island Studio (today’s Kaufman-Astoria Studio) and contains his famous Ziegfeld Follies golf routine. Rounding out the bill is Buster Keaton’s house problems in ONE WEEK ('20). Both films were recently added to the National Film Registry. Piano accompaniment. Weds, April 8 at 1:00pm - Town School - NYC silent film school assembly Talk and screening to 5th and 6th graders on silent film history and storytelling language; and A Girl and Her Trust and One Week. Piano accompaniment. [program not open to the public] Piano accompaniment. Thurs, April 16 at 7:30pm - Wesleyan University - Middletown CT silent film program Bringing the sound of the theatre organ to this well-known film studies program run by Jeanine Basinger (author of Silent Stars et al). Have been performing here annually for the last few years. Program cannot be advertised, so please e-mail for film title (although I can tell you it stars a comedian who wears glasses in a story of sibling rivalry. The show is part of "WesFest", an annual 3-day event when newly-admitted students (current H.S. seniors) and their families are invited to spend time on campus. Theatre organ accompaniment. Sun, Apr 19 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Charlie Chaplin's 120th Birthday Celebration: program of 1914 Essanay shorts This 120th Chaplin birthday celebration focuses on his second year in films at Essanay in 1915. Not content to have his screen character just be a figure of fun, today’s bill of A NIGHT OUT, THE CHAMPION, THE TRAMP and WORK, illustrates Charlie’s development into a comic underdog, hero, and lover. Chaplin’s inspiration and hard work produced films that remain fresh and funny for audiences of all ages. Piano accompaniment. Tues, April 28 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Arbuckle-Keaton comedy shorts A program of four hilarious and inventive 2-reelers from Arbuckle's peak years – and Buster Keaton's formative ones – in short comedies. On tap are The Butcher Boy (BK's first), The Bell Boy, Good Night Nurse, and The Garage (BK's last with Roscoe before going solo). The titles are rarely screened, and this is a great opportunity to see them in 35mm and at the proper speed (21 fps). Theatre organ accompaniment. MAY May 1 to 24 - MoMA - NYC Julien Duvivier retropective This retrospective of the work of French director will include several of his silent films. The retro runs throughout May at MoMA. Listed below are the silents that will be accompanied by Ben Model:
School of Visuals Arts Graduation Ben Model will perform during the diploma ceremonies at the graduation for the School of Visual Arts at this historic NYC theatre on either the RCMH's mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ or a 9' Steinway grand piano (stay tuned to find out which!). May 20 to June 1 - MoMA - NYC Cruel and Unusual Comedy: Social Commentary in the American Slapstick Film The public screening series of the popular MoMA course is finally here! The first five programs (we hope to present more in the future if the response to these is strong enough) are presented here during the last 2 weeks of May. The films screened are all rarities from MoMA's collection, and many are one-of-a-kind and/or gorgeous 35mm prints. The series is co-curated by Ben Model, Steve Massa, Ron Magliozzi and Charles Silver, and will have piano accompaniment by Ben Model at all shows.
Emil Jannings in Josef von Sternberg's "The Last Command" Don't miss this chance to see Paramount's new 35mm print of this late-silent tale of Hollywood, starring Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent and pre-"Thin Man" William Powell. Theater organ accompaniment. Thurs, May 28 at 8:00 - Hoboken, NJ Buster Keaton in "Steamboat Bill, Jr." See this classic Keaton film on an actual historic barge – the Hudson Waterfront Museum Lehigh ValleyBarge #79 – parked in Hoboken NJ from May to June 3, as part of a series of events to celebrate the Henry Hudson Quad as well as the bicentennial of Robert Fulton’s Steamboat Clermont Hudson's voyage. Piano accompaniment. JUNE Fri, June 19 at 7:00 - Jonathan Law High School - Milford, CT **WORLD PREMIERE** Buster Keaton in "Cops" -- new concert band score! The Jonathan Law High School band's final concert of the school year includes their accompaniment of Buster Keaton's classic chase comedy, "Cops" with a score composed and newly arranged for concert band by Ben Model. During the concert, AP History students will give presentations on Keaton and the silent film era. This is the second year that JLHS has done a presentation like this. See Ben's blog entry for last year's premiere of his band score for "The Adventurer". If you miss this performance, you can see "Cops" with the band score this fall when the Hot Springs High School Band performs it in South Dakota. Weds, June 24 at 5:30 - American Girl Place - NYC Charlie Chaplin in "Dough and Dynamite" Rebecca Rubin is American Girl's new historical character. She lives in NY's lower east side in 1914 and her Uncle Max is an actor who gets a job in moving pictures. The doll was introduced on May 31st, along with 6 story books. At the end of book 1, Meet Rebecca, Uncle Max takes the family to their first picture show see an episode of Perils of Pauline and Charlie Chaplin in Dough and Dynamite. There are special events happening at all 7 of American Girl's stores in the U.S. in June and July to promote the doll, many of which include a screening of the Chaplin short in a new video edition with a score by Ben Model. Fri, June 26 at 8:00 - Neversink Valley Area Museum - Cuddebackville, NY Biograph shorts program Visit this historic museum in a town where DW Griffith shot many of his short films. Program will include: The New York Hat, Hessian Renegades, A Gold Necklace, Mountaneers Honor, In Old Kentucky. Piano accompaniment. Sat, June 27 at 1:15 - MoMA - NYC The Birth of a Nation Mark your calendar for this rare showing of D.W. Griffith's epic blockbuster in an archival 35mm print at MoMA. Organ accompaniment. Tues, June 30 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Charlie Chaplin in "The Kid" See Charlie Chaplin's first feature-length comedy in a 35mm print. Plus a surprise short subject. Organ accompaniment. JULY Tues, July 7 - Kino Video - NYC DVD release: John Barrymore in "Sherlock Holmes" Kino releases a 4-disc box set of Barrymore silents on what will be the 112th birthday of "The Great Profile". Along with the Killiam edition of The Beloved Rogue (piano score by William Perry), a Rohauer edition of Tempest (with organ score by Lee Erwin), and the already-released Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (score by Mont Alto), this set includes the highly-anticipated release of the 1922 Sherlock Holmes in a new HD transfer of the GEH restoration done in 2001. Sherlock Holmes features a new (Miditzer) organ score by Ben Model. Fri, July 10 at 12 noon - Port Washington Library - Port Washington, NY (Long Island) Carl Th. Dreyer's "The Passion of Joan of Arc" Part of the library's weekly "Sandwiched In" film series for seniors, screen will include an intro by film historian Philip Harwood. Piano accompaniment. Mon, July 13 at 5:30 - American Girl Place - NYC Charlie Chaplin in "Dough and Dynamite" Rebecca Rubin is American Girl's new historical character. She lives in NY's lower east side in 1914 and her Uncle Max is an actor who gets a job in moving pictures. The doll was introduced on May 31st, along with 6 story books. At the end of book 1, Meet Rebecca, Uncle Max takes the family to their first picture show see an episode of Perils of Pauline and Charlie Chaplin in Dough and Dynamite. There are special events happening at all 7 of American Girl's stores in the U.S. in June and July to promote the doll, many of which include a screening of the Chaplin short in a new video edition with a score by Ben Model, who will accompany and introduce this showing. Sat, July 25 - Mt. Pony Theater - Culpeper, VA silent film program TBA Check back in a couple of weeks...this should be a fun program...! Sun, July 26 at 4:30 - National Gallery of Art - Washington, DC Douglas Fairbanks in "The Gaucho" See MoMA's new restoration of this overlooked masterpiece starring Douglas Fairbanks and Lupe Velez, as part of the NGA's preservation series "From Vault to Screen". Piano accompaniment. Tues, July 28 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Greta Garbo in "Flesh and the Devil" See Greta Garbo and John Gilbert steam up the screen in this classic of the silent screen, helmed by Clarence Brown. Organ accompaniment. Tues, July 28 - AllDay Entertainment DVD release: "Becoming Charley Chase" Four-disc set of Chase shorts tracing his early work as actor Charles Parrott at Keystone, through his years as Charles Parrott the director and reemergence as comic actor Charley Chase (a/k/a "Jimmy Jump") at the Hal Roach Studios. 13 shorts on the set are scored on piano or organ by Ben Model, who is also heard on several commentary tracks. AUGUST Thurs, Aug 6 at 8pm - Eldridge Street Synagogue - NYC Max Davidson comedy shorts See Why Girls Say No, The Call of the Cuckoos, Should Second Husbands Come First?, and Pass the Gravy at this beautiful, historic lower east side synagogue. Piano accompaniment. Sun, Aug 9 at 7pm - Hamilton Theater - Hamilton, NY (near Colgate College, Utica, Rome) Harold Lloyd in "The Kid Brother" My sixth annual silent film program at this historic theater, once the town's opera house (built in the 1890s). Prints are in 35mm and also on the program is the Lloyd short "An Easter Westerner". Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. Sat, Aug 15 at 4pm - Village Picture Shows Cinema - Manchester Center, VT Charlie Chaplin comedy shorts My sixth annual silent film program at this classics and indie friendly strip-mall twin-plex in Southern Vermont near all the outlets. We bring in our own 16mm projectors and prints, and this year we are going for Miditzer instead of plain ol' piano as well. On the program are Chaplin 2-reel masterpieces The Rink, The Pawnshop, The Cure and The Immigrant. Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. Sun, Aug 16 at 7pm - Bard SummerScape - Annandale-on-Hudson, NY (near Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Poughkeepsie) Fritz Lang's "Siegfrieds Tod" Every year the film series at Bard Summerscape includes at least one silent, and this year's Wagner-fest was an opportunity to run Lang's "Die Nibelungen". This screening is part one, and will be introduced by Prof. John Pruitt. Piano accompaniment. Thurs, Aug 20 at 7pm - Bard SummerScape - Annandale-on-Hudson, NY (near Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Poughkeepsie) Fritz Lang's "Kremhilds Reche" Every year the film series at Bard Summerscape includes at least one silent, and this year's Wagner-fest was an opportunity to run Lang's "Die Nibelungen". This screening is part two, "Krimheld's Revenge", and will be introduced by Prof. John Pruitt. Piano accompaniment (although we're gonna try and pull off Miditzer accomp for this one, if the tech test before the first show works out). Sun, Aug 23 at 4pm - Rupert Congregational Church - Rupert, VT (near Dorset) Harold Lloyd in "Grandma's Boy" The oldest church in Vermont hosts this program, which is also being co-co-sponsored by the Vermont AGO. Projection in 16mm of my print of "Grandma's Boy", plus the shorts "Ask Father" and "Number, Please?". Church has a 2-manual Estey (made n VT) with a tremolo on it that almost sounds like a theatre organ. And the show is FREE! Pipe organ accompaniment. Thurs, Aug 27 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) W.C. Fields in "So's Your Old Man" The Library of Congress' 35mm print of this hilarious Fields silent will be shown, as will their fantastic print of the Charley Chase-directed Will Rogers 2-reeler "Jus' Passin' Through" (which is also on the new Chase DVD set). Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. SEPTEMBER Sept 3 - 6 - Stumfilmdager i Tromsø - Tromsø, Norway Silent Film Days in Tromsø Fourth annual festival of silent film, held in Norway's oldest cinema, the Verdensteatret ("world's theater") built in 1915 and opened in 1916. Films accompanied by Ben Model this year are: The Mark of Zorro starring Douglas Fairbanks, Roald Amundsen - Lincoln Ellsworths flying expedition (1925), comedy shorts program for children (The Cook, One Week, Carmen Jr.), plus 4 school group shows at the theater and 3 programs at senior residences. Piano and Miditzer organ accompaniment. Sun, Sept 13 at 2pm - Hudson River Museum - Yonkers, NY "The Headless Horseman" Part of a series of programs related to the museum's exhibit Dutch New York: The Roots of Hudson Valley Culture, this film starring Will Rogers as Ichabod Crane was shot in the Hudson Valley. Piano accompaniment. Weds & Thurs weekly at 1:30 - MoMA - NYC An Auteurist History of Film This 2-year film cycle curated by Charles Silver starts with 6 straight months of silent films, going chronoligically from the Lumieres to the tail end of the silent era. Each program plays Weds and Thurs with piano accompaniment and on Fri unaccompanied (dates below do not include the Friday show for this reason). Series web page is here.
The Fall Cinesation Annual cinephile convention held in Massillon's 1916 Triangle movie theater, with all silents accompanied by Dr. Philip Carli and Ben Model. Visit website for complete film details -- silents include: The Raven (1915), M'liss (1918), The Pony Express (1925), Her Night of Romance (1924), and more. Piano and Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. Tues, Sept 29 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) "Orphans of the Storm" Lillian and Dorothy Gish star in this D.W. Griffith masterpiece set during the French Revolution. Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. OCTOBER Weds & Thurs weekly at 1:30 - MoMA - NYC An Auteurist History of Film This 2-year film cycle curated by Charles Silver starts with 6 straight months of silent films, going chronoligically from the Lumieres to the tail end of the silent era. Each program plays Weds and Thurs with piano accompaniment and on Fri unaccompanied (dates below do not include the Friday show for this reason...except for last week October*).
KidStreet matinee: "One Week" and "Number, Please?" BayStreet Picture Show: "The Mark of Zorro" Have played here twice before at their "Picture Show" series, and this is first year that "KidStreet" will be included. Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. Sun, Oct 4 at 9:30am - MoMA/American Girl Place - NYC Charlie Chaplin in "Dough and Dynamite" Rebecca Rubin is American Girl's new historical character. She lives in NY's lower east side in 1914 and her Uncle Max is an actor who gets a job in moving pictures. The doll was introduced on May 31st, along with 6 story books. At the end of book 1, Meet Rebecca, Uncle Max takes the family to their first picture show see an episode of Perils of Pauline and Charlie Chaplin in Dough and Dynamite. There were special events happening at all 7 of American Girl's stores in the U.S. in June and July to promote the doll, many of which include a screening of the Chaplin short in a new video edition with a score by Ben Model, who will accompany and introduce this showing. Following this screening, girls and their moms/caretakers go to the AGP store nearby for brunch. Follow the link (above) and scroll down to "Rebecca Crafts & Activities" for details. Thurs, Oct 8 at 7:30pm - AMMI/Queens Theatre in the Park - Queens, NY (Flushing Meadow) "Metropolis" Fritz Lang's futurist fantasy is part of a series of classic films in a new collaboration between the Museum of the Moving Image and Queens Theatre in the Park and programmed by David Schwartz. Piano accompaniment. Sat, Oct 10 at 7pm - The Baptist Temple - Brooklyn, NY (Boerum Hill area, near BAM) "The Cat and the Canary" This is the first in a series of four programs sponsored by the Brooklyn chapter of the AGO and held at this historic Brooklyn temple that is home to a magnificent Steere & Sons orchestral organ. If you've never heard an orchestral organ...it's more orchestral and string-ey than a church pipe organ and less "in your face" than a Wurlitzer. Other shows in the series will be on the second Saturday evening in December, February and April. Sun, Oct 11 at 2:00pm - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC "Comedy on the Bum" -- silent comedians and the "tramp" character Keaton, Arbuckle, Lloyd and Langdon join Chaplin in this shorts program centered on use of the "tramp" or down-on-their-luck characters. Piano accompaniment. Sat, Oct 17 at 4pm and 8pm - Piano By Nature - Elizabethtown, NY (in the Adirondacks, near Lake Placid) Buster Keaton's "The General" PBN presents a series of chamber concerts in the historic Hand House on a beautiful 1910 Mason and Hamlin grand piano, and this pair of events will be held at a local high school's auditorium, and is being presented in conjunction with a local film society. The evening show will be a feature-length silent film, and the afternoon will be a lecture/workshop in piano improvisation and silent film accompaniment. Sun, Oct 25 at 2:00pm - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Harold Lloyd in "Dr. Jack" Harold Lloyd's second feature film (following Grandma's Boy) has a long, spooky, haunted house section toward the end of the film, hence its being programmed for Halloween week; also on tap is Keaton's The Haunted House. Piano accompaniment Mon, Oct 26 at 6pm - MoMA - NYC Thanhouser Film Corp. Centennial The Thanhouser Film Corp. was founded in October 1909, and this centennial is being celebrated with a number of events. This program highlights Thanhouser films in MoMA's collection, and Ben is co-curator of this program as well. Program will be introduced by Ned Thanhouser and David Q. Bowers. Piano accompaniment. Tues, Oct 27 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) "Nosferatu" Max Schreck and F.W. Murnau scare you out of your wits in this Halloween perennial, shown in 35mm. Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. Weds, Oct 28 at 7:30pm - Museum of Arts & Culture - New Rochelle, NY (Westchester) Silents Are Golden: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Thanhouser Film Company The Thanhouser Film Corp. centennial is celebrated tonight in the town the company produced its films in: New Rochelle. This program includes selections of Thanhouser films on DVD volumes 10, 11 and 12, all of which were scored by Ben. Program will be introduced by Ned Thanhouser. Piano accompaniment. Thurs, Oct 29 at 8pm - Berkshire Museum - Pittsfield, MA (in the Berkshires) "Nosferatu" Not only is this the same program as the Oct 27...it's the same 35mm print! Only difference is this will be piano accompaniment. NOVEMBER Weds & Thurs weekly at 1:30 - MoMA - NYC An Auteurist History of Film This 2-year film cycle curated by Charles Silver screens silent films from September 2009 until May 2010, going chronologically from the Lumieres to the tail end of the silent era. Each program plays Weds and Thurs with piano accompaniment and on Fri unaccompanied. Series page on MoMA's website is here, and Charles Silver's notes on each program are posted here.
"Christine of the Big Tops" (1926) This newly preserved circus-themed feature, directed by Archie Mayo, is presented as part of MoMA's annual "To Save and Project" film preservation festival. Preservation funded by a grant from "Women in Film and Television"; the film's scenario is by Sonya Levien. Piano accompaniment. Tues, Nov 3 at 5:30 - Pratt Institute - Brooklyn, NY "The Docks of New York" Rossi-Snook's film history class at Pratt will screen this Josef von Sternberg silent at Memorial Hall; show is open to Pratt students. Piano accompaniment. Weds Nov 4 at 4:30 - MoMA - NYC "Christine of the Big Tops" (1926) This newly preserved circus-themed feature, directed by Archie Mayo, is presented as part of MoMA's annual "To Save and Project" film preservation festival. Preservation funded by a grant from "Women in Film and Television"; the film's scenario is by Sonya Levien. Piano accompaniment. Sun, Nov 8 at 9:30am - MoMA/American Girl Place - NYC Charlie Chaplin in "Dough and Dynamite" Rebecca Rubin is American Girl's new historical character. She lives in NY's lower east side in 1914 and her Uncle Max is an actor who gets a job in moving pictures. The doll was introduced on May 31st, along with 6 story books. At the end of book 1, Meet Rebecca, Uncle Max takes the family to their first picture show see an episode of Perils of Pauline and Charlie Chaplin in Dough and Dynamite. There were special events happening at all 7 of American Girl's stores in the U.S. in June and July to promote the doll, many of which include a screening of the Chaplin short in a new video edition with a score by Ben Model, who will accompany and introduce this showing. Following this screening, girls and their moms/caretakers go to the AGP store nearby for brunch. Follow the link (above) and scroll down to "Rebecca Crafts & Activities" for details. Piano accompaniment. Sun, Nov 8 at 2:00pm - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Slapstick Show-Biz Part One: Stagecraft Shenanigans Since most of the silent film comedians came from the stage, it was only natural that they would use their theatre background and experiences for comic material. Tough company managers, over-ripe melodramas and fly-by-night theatre troupes are some of the subjects at hand today in the Thanhouser company’s The Soap Suds Star (215), Charlie Chaplin’s The Property Man ('14), The Play House ('21) with Buster Keaton, Charley Chase’s Bromo and Juliet ('26), and Lupino Lane in Drama Deluxe ('27). Piano accompaniment. Weds Nov 11 at 8:00 - MoMA - NYC "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" This landmark silhouette animation feature by Lotte Reiniger will be shown in a new print from the Deutsches Filmmuseum as part of MoMA's annual "To Save and Project" film preservation festival. Fri Nov 13 at 4:30 - MoMA - NYC "Haxan" ("Witchcraft Through the Ages") Benjamin Christensen directs (and performs, as Lucifer) in this amazing, imaginative and surreal silent, screened as part of MoMA's annual "To Save and Project" film preservation festival. Sun Nov 15 at 5:30 - MoMA - NYC "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" This landmark silhouette animation feature by Lotte Reiniger will be shown in a new print from the Deutsches Filmmuseum as part of MoMA's annual "To Save and Project" film preservation festival. Tues, Nov 17 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) "The Iron Horse" John Ford's classic tale of the building of the transcontinental railroad, presented ina 35mm print from Fox. Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. Fri, Nov 20 at 7:00 - Walter Reade Theatre - NYC "The Hoodlum" Mary Pickford stars in this feature directed by Sidney Franklin. Print is a recent restoration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and this is the first time the film is being shown in NY. Also on the program are the just-restored-by-LoC Pickford shorts They Would Elope (1909) and The Trick That Failed (1909). Program introduced by Joseph Yranski. Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. Sun, Nov 22 at 2:00pm - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Slapstick Show-Biz Part Two: Chaos on the Set The second part of our Show-Biz programs finds our silent clowns poking fun at themselves and their style of filmmaking. Nothing could be simpler or handier (not to mention cheaper) than using their own studios as background for slapstick antics, which today gives us precious behind-the-scenes glimpses of where and how these films were made. On the bill is Everett True Breaks into the Movies ('16), Charlie Chaplin’s Behind the Screen ('16), Hey There ('18) with Harold Lloyd, Our Gang’s Dogs of War ('23), and The Daredevil ('23) starring Ben Turpin. DECEMBER Weds & Thurs weekly at 1:30 - MoMA - NYC An Auteurist History of Film This 2-year film cycle curated by Charles Silver starts with 8 straight months of silent films, going chronoligically from the Lumieres to the tail end of the silent era. Each program plays Weds and Thurs with piano accompaniment and on Fri unaccompanied.
Lon Chaney in "The Unknown", plus lecture on silent film accompaniment Guest speaker and accompanist for the "Silent Screen" course taught in Fall '09 by Leon Falk. Piano accompaniment. Fri Dec 4 at 7:00pm - Whitney Museum - NYC Alice Guy Blaché: Cinema Pioneer Special Screening: Women's Film Preservation Fund This major retrospective of Guy's work runs from Nov 6 to Jan 24 at the Whitney Museum. Titles to be screened: Mixed Pets, A Fool and His Money and Matrimony's Speed Limit. Piano accompaniment. Sat Dec 5 at 10:30am - Tribeca Cinemas Kids Club - NYC Buster Keaton comedy shorts The Electric House and The Play House are on tap for the morning show at this bi-weekly screening series for kids, held at the Tribeca Cinemas on Varick, near Canal St. Piano accompaniment. Sat Dec 5 at 1:30pm - Tribeca Cinemas Kids Club - NYC Buster Keaton in "The General" Buster Keaton's masterpiece -- "the one with the train" -- screens at the afternoon session for this bi-weekly screening series for kids, held at the Tribeca Cinemas on Varick, near Canal St. Piano accompaniment. Sat Dec 5 at 5:30pm - Brooklyn Museum - NYC Alice Guy Blache's "La Vie du Christ" This Alice Guy film is being screened at the museum's Target First Saturdays event, as its tableaus for each scene were based on paintings by James Tissot which are also on exhibit. Piano accompaniment. Sun Dec 6 at 2:00pm - The Silent Clowns Film Series - Museum of the City of NY - NYC Laurel & Hardy: U-Pick 'em! *Audience Favorites* After years of solo work, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy came together at the Hal Roach Studio in 1927.In their comedies human foibles and the frustrations of everyday life were magnified a hundred times over. Now you have the opportunity to select which of their silent shorts you’d like to see. Click here to vote online for the four shorts that will be screened at this show! Special guests Laurel & Hardy impersonators Jonathan Smith & Bob Greenberg will announce the winners at the show! Piano accompaniment. Tues, Dec 8 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Buster Keaton in "Steamboat Bill, Jr." Keaton's classic with the windstorm, house falling on him and, of course, the inimitable Ernest Torrence. 35mm print shown is from Library of Congress. Theatre organ accompaniment. Dec 12 at 7:30pm - The Baptist Temple - Brooklyn, NY (Boerum Hill area, near BAM) Charlie Chaplin Mutual comedy shorts Chaplin shorts program: The Cure, The Pawnshop, The Immigrant and The Adventurer. This is the second in a series of four programs sponsored by the Brooklyn chapter of the AGO and held at this historic Brooklyn temple that is home to a magnificent Steere & Sons orchestral organ. Sun Dec 13 at 2:00pm - Whitney Museum - NYC Alice Guy Blaché: Cinema Pioneer This major retrospective of Guy's work runs from Nov 6 to Jan 24 at the Whitney Museum. Titles (1906-1913) to be screened are: Alice Guy in Spain, Tango, Le Bolero [The Bolero], Cake-walk negre [Negro Cake-walk], Le Piano irresistible [The Irresistible Piano], La Hierarchie dans I'amour [The Hierarchy in Love], Matrimony's Speed Limit, When Marian Was Little, Canned Harmony, La Fee printemps [The Spring Fairy]. Sun Dec 20 at 2:00pm - Whitney Museum - NYC Alice Guy Blaché: Cinema Pioneer This major retrospective of Guy's work runs from Nov 6 to Jan 24 at the Whitney Museum. Titles (1900-1913) to be screened are: Les Fredaines de Pierrette [Pierrette's Escapades], Au bal de Flore [At the Bal de Flore], The Ocean Waif, La Maratre [The Stepmother], La Femme collante [The Sticky Woman], Les Resultats du feminisme [The Results of Feminism], Cupid and the Comet, Officer Henderson. BEN MODEL'S 2008
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
JANUARY
Tues, Jan
8 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington,
NY (Long Island) Sun, Jan
13
at 1:00pm - Lincoln Center - NYC Sun, Jan 20 at 12pm - Jacob Burns Film Center - Pleasantville, NY (Westchester) "Peter Pan" One of the great silent films, and more faithful to Barrie's original play than any other film version. Starring Betty Bronson, Mary Brian and Ernest Torrence. Piano accompaniment. No, that's not a typo...Ben is actually accompanying two different showings of Peter Pan on the same weekend! Sat, Jan 26 at 8pm - Riverdale YMHA - Bronx NY "Safety Last" starring Harold Lloyd Lloyd's classic building climb comes to the Riverdale Y's newly renovated theater. Piano accompaniment. Thurs, Jan
31 - Simon's Rock College - Great
Barrington NY FEBRUARY
Saturday,
Feb 2 at 6pm - MoMA
- NYC Thursday,
Feb 7 at 8pm - Egyptian
Theater - Boise, ID Friday,
Feb 8 at 8pm - Egyptian
Theater - Boise, ID Sun, Feb
10 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series -
NYC Mon, Feb
11 - Greenwich Classic Film Series
- Greenwich, CT Sun, Feb
24 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series -
NYC Tues, Feb
26 at 7:15pm - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington,
NY (Long Island) Fri, Feb
29
at 7:00 - Church
of St. Paul the Apostle - NYC
Buster Keaton in "Seven Chances" While The General ('27) is probably Buster Keaton’s most famous film, Seven Chances ('25) is also one of his best that features great gags and breathtaking stunts. Having to marry by 7 o'clock to get his inheritance, Buster must brave a stampede of angry brides and rolling boulders to do it. Opening the show is forlorn Harry Langdon who has his own wedding troubles in His Marriage Wow ('24). Piano accompaniment. Tues, Mar 11 - NYU Cinema Studies - NYC Scandinavian and Danish silent films Performance and lecture at NYU Cinema Studies silent film class taught by Antonia Lant. [Not open to the public.] Piano accompaniment. Tues, March 25 at 7:30 - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Buster Keaton's "The General" Keaton's masterpiece, a train chase film set against the backdrop of the Civil War, comes to this monthly series on Long Island. Theatre organ accompaniment. APRIL
silent film program Bringing the sound of the theatre organ to this well-known film studies program run by Jeanine Basinger (author of Silent Stars et al). Have been performing here annually for the last few years. Program cannot be advertised, so please e-mail for film title. Theatre organ accompaniment Sun, April 13 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Hal Roach shorts starring Tyler Brooke Never heard of Tyler Brooke? Along with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, this forgotten clown was a member of the late 1920’s Hal Roach “All Stars” and our selection – Dizzy Daddies ('26), The Merry Widower ('26), ('26) and On the Front Page ('27) – highlight his talents and contribution to film comedy. Hosted by film historian and Brooke biographer Charlie Morrow. Piano accompaniment. Sun, April 20 at 3:00pm - Meyer Theatre - Green Bay, WI Charlie Chaplin in "The Adventurer" The Green Bay Civic Symphony performs the final concert of their 2007-08 season, held in the city's restored movie palace. Program will include organ performance by Frank Rippl, orchestral music by John Williams, Samuel Barber and Leonard Bernstein, and orchestral score by Ben Model in accompaniment to Chaplin's "The Adventurer". Orchestral accompaniment. Sun, April 27 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Roach Teams: Laurel & Hardy / Anita & Marion The Hal Roach Studio was known as “the Lot of Fun,” where human foibles and the frustrations of everyday life were magnified a hundred times over. Film historian and author Ed Watz will introduce our salute which showcases two comedy teams that came together at Roach at the very end of the silent era – Laurel & Hardy in From Soup To Nuts ('28) and Their Purple Moment ('28), plus Anita Garvin & Marion Byron in Feed 'em and Weep ('28) and A Pair of Tights ('29). Piano accompaniment. April 28 and 29 - Museum of the Moving Image - Astoria, NY Charlie Chaplin in "The Immigrant" [School groups/tours at the museum – shows not open to the public.] Tues, April 29 at 7:30pm - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Janet Gaynor in "Seventh Heaven" Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell star in Frank Borzage's classic tale of romance. 35mm print screened is an archival print from Fox. Theatre organ accompaniment. Weds, April 30 at 1:00pm - Town School - NYC silent film school assembly Talk and screening to 5th and 6th graders on silent film history and storytelling language; and A Girl and Her Trust and One Week. Piano accompaniment. [program not open to the public] MAY
Fri May 2 at 1:30 - MoMA - NYC Bert Williams films Program of brand new restorations from 35mm nitrate materials by MoMA of A Natural Born Gambler, Fish and an untitled unreleased Bert Williams film will be shown. Theatre organ accompaniment. Tues May 13 at 6:30 - MoMA - NYC Vladimir Mayakovsky poetry reading (and flm screening) Selected poems and commentary will be read, followed by a screening of Mayakovsky's one surviving film, The Lady and the Hooligan (1918). Scheduled readers (subject to change) include Svetlana Boym, Curt Hugo Reisinger Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures and Professor of Comparative Literature, Harvard University; actor, novelist, and filmmaker Ethan Hawke; novelist and biographer Francine du Plessix Gray; and actor, playwright, and filmmaker Sam Shepard. Piano accompaniment. Fri May 16 at 1:00 - Radio City Music Hall - NYC SVA Graduation Ben Model will play the RCMH's mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ during the diploma ceremonies at the graduation for the School of Visual Arts. Tues, May 20 at 7:30pm - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) "The Kid Brother" starring Harold Lloyd See Lloyd's masterpiece, and one of his own personal favorites, in a beautiful 35mm print restored by UCLA from archival materials. Theatre organ accompaniment. May 23 and 27 - Museum of the Moving Image - Astoria, NY Charlie Chaplin in "The Immigrant" [School groups/tours at the museum – shows not open to the public.] JUNE
Charlie Chaplin in "The Adventurer" (premiere!) Program on the silent film era prepared and presented by high school social studies students will include a screening Charlie Chaplin's The Adventurer accompanied live by the school's band in a world premiere of the concert band arrangement of Ben's score for the film. Ben's orchestral score was originally commissioned in 2000 by the New York Ragtime Orchestra and was revised in 2006 for the Boise Philharmonic. Fri June 21 at midnight (!) - MoMA - NYC "That Year, This Day: June 21, 1913" Part of a new, innovative program from MoMA's Education Department, "ignited" by educator Amir Parsa, this course starts at 6pm and ends at 2am, and takes class participants around the museum and through various modern art disciplines. The film program, organized by Steven Higgins, will be introduced and accompanied by Ben Model, and will include these 1913 one-reel short subjects: The Artist's Dream (John Randolph Bray), The Ambassador's Daughter (Charles J. Brabin), Suspense (Lois Weber & Phillips Smalley), Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life (Mack Sennett), and The Lady and the Mouse (DW Griffith). Sun, June 22 at 12:00, 1:30 and 3:00 - Clearview Cinemas Mamaroneck Playhouse - Mamaroneck, NY Comedy Shorts Program This is the fifth year Ben Model will present silent comedies in the ca. 1926 movie theater in Mamaroneck NY during the town's annual Historic Harbor Street Fair. Scheduled to screen: Harold Lloyd in Billy Blazes, Esq. and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle in The Waiters Ball. Free admission! Piano accompaniment. Tues, May 24 at 7:30pm - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Victor Sjöstrom's "The Phantom Carriage" ("Korkärlen") One of Sjöstrom's best Swedish pictures (titles in this 35mm print are in English). Better know as Victor Seastrom in the U.S., he directed Lillian Gish in The Scarlet Letter and The Wind. Theatre organ accompaniment. JULY
Norma Talmadge in "Deluxe Annie" Based upon the play DE LUXE ANNIE (1918) by Edward Clark, the wife of a wealthy man develops amnesia after a blow to her head. Unwittingly, she becomes the partner with the band of crooks, who were attempting to rob her husband. Piano accompaniment. July 6 at 2:00 - Yiddish Book Center - Amherst, MA Max Davidson comedies Back for the fourth time, Ben Model and Bruce Lawton bring silent film to the Yiddish Book Center's annual "Paper Bridge Summer Arts Festival". This year the festival kicks off with a trio of Max Davidson comedies: Feed 'Em and Weep, Long Fliv the King (starring Charley Chase), and Jewish Prudence. Piano accompaniment. July 6 at 7:00 - Bard Summerscape - Annandale-on-Hudson, NY Dmitri Kirsanov films This screening is part of the Bard Summerscape's Prokofiev festival, and the film programming series is entitled Cinéma Transcontinental: America, Russia and France in the 1930s. Screened at this showing will be Kirsanov's Menilmontant ('26) and Brumes d'automne ('29), with piano accompaniment, plus Renoir's 1936 Partie de campagne. July 7 to 16 - MoMA - NYC "Dali Laughs" MoMA's film screenings during July line up with the Salvador Dalí exhibit in the museum's galleries. The following silent comedies are part of this series: July 7 at 6:00 — Buster Keaton’s “The General” July 7 at 8:00 — Keaton’s “One Week” and “Sherlock, Jr.” July 9 at 6:00 — Harold Lloyd in “The Freshman”, with "Ask Father" July 9 at 8:00 — Buster Keaton’s “The General” July 10 at 6:00 — Keaton’s “One Week” and “Sherlock, Jr.” July 10 at 8:00 — Harold Lloyd in “The Freshman”, with "Ask Father" July 14 at 6:00 — Harold Lloyd in “Safety Last” plus "Luke's Shattered Sleep" July 14 at 8:00 — Chaplin in “The Floorwalker” + Langdon in “Shanghaied Lovers” July 16 at 6:00 — Chaplin in “The Floorwalker” + Langdon in “Shanghaied Lovers” July 16 at 8:00 — Harold Lloyd in in “Safety Last” plus "Luke's Shattered Sleep" Fri, July 11 at 7:00 - Church of St. Paul the Apostle - NYC "NYC: Vintage Views" Program of silents from turn-of-the-century and mid-'teens that feature NYC locations, including Larry Semon in Plagues and Puppy Love and Roscoe Arbuckle and Buster Keaton in Coney Island. Pipe organ accompaniment. July 17 to 20 - Arlington Spectrum - Arlington, VA Fifth annual "Slapsticon" A four-day convention and laff-a-palooza of comedy films, silent and sound, screened from morning 'til night. Click above to go to the "Slapsticon" website for complete programming details and title lists. July 22 - new DVD release! - AllDay Entertainment "American Slapstick 2" A four-disc DVD set of 30 silent comedy shorts will be released by AllDay Entertainment, 10 of which have new scores (both piano and theatre organ) by Ben Model. The set is a followup to AllDay's American Slapstick set released in 2006. Click here for film titles and ordering info. Fri, July 25 at 6:00 - MoMA - NYC Sun, July 27 at 6:30 - MoMA - NYC Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" See the original silent version of this classic DeMille epic, set in a contemporary setting with a biblical flashback. Theatre organ accompaniment. Mon, July 28 at 4:00 - Berkshire Jewish Film Festival - Pittsfield, MA Carl Th. Dreyer's "Love One Another" This film was recently restored by the Danish Film Institute and was screened at the New York Jewish Film Festival in NYC. Piano accompaniment. Tues, July 29 at 7:30pm - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Ernst Lubitsch's "Lady Windermere's Fan" One of Lubitsch's great U.S. silents, made for Warner Brothers and starring May McAvoy and Ronald Colman, based on the Oscar Wilde play. Film will be presented in a 35mm print from MoMA. Theatre organ accompaniment. Thurs, July 31 at 7:00 - Church of St. Paul the Apostle - NYC "Charlie Chaplin: Super Clown" Chaplin's "Little Tramp" performs acts of heroism and superhuman strength in these four short comedies, presented amidst the summer's gaggle of superhero blockbusters: The Tramp, and The Fireman, Easy Street, and Shoulder Arms. Pipe organ accompaniment. AUGUST
"The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" Robert Wiene's infamous tale of Dr. Caligari and Cesar the Somnambulist (played by a young Conrad Veidt). Theatre organ accompaniment. Sun, Aug 10 at 7:00pm - Hamilton Theater - Hamilton, NY (near Colgate College) Buster Keaton's "The General" The sixth annual summer silent film at this historic movie theater in upstate NY features one of Buster Keaton's greatest, presented in 35mm; also on the bill is the classic short The Scarecrow. Piano accompaniment. Sun, Aug 17 at 5:00pm - Village Picture Shows - Manchester Center, VT Buster Keaton in "Steamboat Bill, Jr." Keaton's classic riverboat film (this is the one where the house falls on him) screened at this southern Vermont cinema. Piano accompaniment. Sat, Aug 23 at 8:00pm - Music & More series - New Marlborough, MA (Berkshires) Lon Chaney in "The Phantom of the Opera" Lon Chaney's iconic performance as Erik the Phantom, presented in New Marlborough's historic meeting house. Piano accompaniment. SEPTEMBER "Stumfilm Dagere" ("Silent Film Days") festival The third annual "Silent Film Days" in northern Norway features silent films recently preserved by the Swedish, Danish, Finnish and Norwegian Film archives and is held in the city's own 1916 movie theater, the Verdensteatret (or "World Theater"). During the daytime, school groups come to the theater for a program presented by Ben Model that includes Arbuckle's A Reckless Romeowhich was lost until its rediscovery a few years ago in Norway. This year's accompanists are Matti Bye (Sweden, ensemble), Neil Brand (UK, piano) and Ben Model (USA, Miditzer theatre organ and piano). Fri Sept 12 at 7:30pm - Brick Theater - Brooklyn, NY lecture: "Undercranking: The Magic Behind the Slapstick" This talk with film clips is part of the New York Clown Theatre Festival, and is Ben's third year participating as a presenter. This year's presentation illustrates how silent flm comedians used the fact that what they would shoot would be projected faster as a key element of creating gags, slapstick and chases that could not be performed in real life. Fritz Lang film series - Jacob Burns Film Center - Pleasantville, NY This week-long Lang festival at the Burns Center's will include the following silent films with piano accompaniment by Ben Model:
This 3-week film series showcases films made in New York from the 'teens through the 'thirties, and is scheduled in conjunction with the publishing of a new book by Richard Koszarski, "Hollywood on the Hudson". Silent films in the series that will be accompanied by Ben Model are:
Harold Lloyd in "Grandma's Boy" Remembered today as the “third genius” of silent comedy, Harold Lloyd was first at the box-office in the 1920s. In GRANDMA’S BOY (’22) Harold found the way to mix real heart with laughs, and cemented his place as one of the leaders and innovators in the field of screen comedy. Extra added attractions are Charley Chase in THE FRAIDY CAT (’24) and the cartoon SICK CYLINDERS (‘28) with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Tues, Sept 23 at 7:30pm - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) Clara Bow in "it" See Clara Bow in her iconic gum-chewing flapper role as the "it girl"; look for a cameo by Eleanor Glyn, author of the books "It" and "Three Weeks". Theatre organ accompaniment. Thurs, Sept 25 - Sun, Sept 28 - Lincoln Theatre - Massillon, OH The Fall Cinesation The This annual classic film convention is held in the city's original 1916 Triangle theatre, saved from the wrecking ball years ago by the local Lions Club, and includes many silent films several of which are new restorations from George Eastman House and the Library of Congress. Silents are accompanied by Philip C. Carli (piano) and Ben Model (Miditzer theatre organ, piano). Tues, Sept 30 at 5:00pm - Pratt College - Brooklyn, NY Cecil B. DeMille's "The Cheat" This 1915 classic by DeMille co-starring Sessue Hayakawa will be shown with piano accompaniment as part of a silent film class taught by Elena Rossi-Snook. NOTE: this screening is not open to the public. OCTOBER
This 3-week film series showcases films made in New York from the 'teens through the 'thirties, and is scheduled in conjunction with the publishing of a new book by Richard Koszarski, "Hollywood on the Hudson". Silent films in the series that will be accompanied by Ben Model are:
shorts: "The Evolution of Charley Chase" Charley Chase was the matinee idol of the silent clowns, whose penchant for embarrassing situations made him the put upon everyman of the Hal Roach studio. Our selections follow the beginnings of his career to its maturity with the shorts A VERSATILE VILLAIN (’15), HE WOULDN’T STAY DOWN (’15), HARD KNOCKS (’24), SITTIN’ PRETTY (’24), MIGHTY LIKE A MOOSE (’26) and the talkie HASTY MARRIAGE (’31). Tues, Oct 14 at 11am - MoMA - NYC press screening for series: Batiste Madalena and the Cinema of the 1920s Press screening for this silent film series which runs from October 2008 through March 2009, which is being held in conjunction with the exhibition Batiste Madalena: Hand-Painted Film Posters for the Eastman Theatre, 1924–1928. Fri, Oct 17 - Museum of the Moving Image - Astoria, NY Charlie Chaplin in "The Immigrant" [School groups/tours at the museum – shows not open to the public.] Thurs, Oct 16 at 8pm + Sat Oct 18 at 2pm - Hot Springs Theatre - Hot Springs, SD Charlie Chaplin in "The Adventurer" – performance of concert band score Ben Model's orchestral score has been rearranged for high school band, and after its premiere in June by the Milford CT Jonathan Law High School ensemble, is being performed again by the Hot Springs High School Band and Hot Springs Community Band. Shows are held at the town's original 1920's movie theater. Sat, Oct 18 at 8pm - Riverdale YMHA - Bronx NY "The General" starring Buster Keaton Keaton's masterpiece comes to the Riverdale Y's newly renovated theater. Piano accompaniment. Mon Oct 20 at 6pm - MoMA - NYC W.C. Fields in "Sally of the Sawdust" Fields and Carole Dempster in the silent film version of "Poppy", directed by D.W. Griffith. Part of the series: Batiste Madalena and the Cinema of the 1920s. Mon, Oct 20 at 8:30pm & Weds Oct 22 at 7:00pm - MoMA - NYC "Hotel Imperial" Mauritz Stiller directs Pola Negri and Max Davidson in this WWI tale. Part of the series: Batiste Madalena and the Cinema of the 1920s. Tues, Oct 21 at 12:30pm - MoMA - NYC NYU film curating course This session of Dan Streible's NYU cinema studeis course on film curating will be at MoMA, and will feature films from MoMA's collection, selected and accompanied by Ben Model: Le Cochon Danseur, Interior New York Subway, The Iron Mule, and A Modern Musketeer. Piano and Miditzer accompaniment. This is not open to the public. Sat, Oct 25 at 6:00pm - MoMA - NYC "Lady Windermere's Fan" Brand new 35mm print by MoMA of this Oscar Wilde play, via Ernst Lubitsch. Part of MoMA's annual preservation festival To Save and Project. Sun, Oct 26 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC John Barrymore in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" Our Halloween feature stars “The Great Profile” John Barrymore in one of the most famous versions of this often filmed tale. Having mostly appeared in light comedy films Barrymore seized this dramatic opportunity, relishing the story’s creepiness and performing the legendary transformation scene in an unbroken take. Opening for Mr. Barrymore are Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy, who have their own scary problems in the two-reeler HABEAS CORPUS (’28). Piano accompaniment. Tues, Oct 28 at 8:30pm - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) "West of Zanzibar" with Lon Chaney See the Halloween-est of all the Lon Chaney/Todd Browning pictures, co-starring Warner Baxter and Lionel Barrymore. Miditzer accompaniment. Weds, Oct 29 at 7:00 - Church of St. Paul the Apostle - NYC "The Phantom of the Opera" with Lon Chaney What would Halloween be without seeing this iconic Chaney flick in a hugh gothic church, accompanied on a massic pipe organ? Don't miss! Thur, Oct 30 at 7:30 - Walter Reade Theatre - NYC "The Man Who Laughs" with Conrad Veidt This macabre and gothic "non-Chaney" horror picture driected by Paul Leni is being screened as one of a series of events for the Film Society of Lincoln Center's "Young Friends of Film". YFF members get in free for the film and a reception afterward. All others pay $25 a pop. Theatre organ/Miditzer accompaniment. NOVEMBER Weds Nov 5, 12, 19 at 6:30 - MoMA - NYCcourse: "Cruel & Unusual Comedy: Social Commentary in the American Slapstick Film" On five Wednesday evenings in November and December, this course will be taught at MoMA by Ben Model, Steve Massa and Ron Magliozzi (the people who brought you Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle retrospective at MoMA in 2006). Featuring screenings of rare short subjects from MoMA's vast collection of silent comedies and guest speakers, the class is a look at how societal issues such as violence, gender roles, ethnicity, children and animals were fodder for comic situations and slapstick. Guest speakers in November are John Epperson (a/k/a"Lypsinka"), Trav S.D. (Vaudeville historian and variety performer), and Eileen Bowser (senior film curator emerita, MoMA). Course registration is required to attend. Class fee is $260, and $220 for MoMA members. For more information on MoMA Courses, e-mail courses@moma.org or call (212) 408-8441. Piano accompaniment at all classes. Sun, Nov 9 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC The Spice of the Program: the Delightful Dunces of Educational Pictures “The Spice of the Program” was the byline for Educational, and for almost 20 years they provided just that for audiences. Distributing all kinds of shorts, they’re best remembered for their comedies. On the bill are some of their most popular stars – Lloyd Hamilton in JONAH JONES ('24), RENO OR BUST ('24) with Bobby Vernon, Johnny Arthur in HOME CURED ('26), Cliff Bowes in SERVED HOT ('29) and THE ONE BEST PET ('20) with Snookee the chimp. Piano accompaniment. Nov 11, 12, 13 late morning - Museum of the Moving Image - Astoria, NY Charlie Chaplin in "The Immigrant" [School groups/tours at the museum – shows not open to the public.] Sun, Nov 23 at 2:00 - The Silent Clowns Film Series - NYC Douglas Fairbanks in "The Three Musketeers" For this program our silent clowns take a break and give the stage over to Douglas Fairbanks, who was the greatest swashbuckler of early cinema. Not only is THE THREE MUSKETEERS (’21) one of Doug’s best films, but D’Artagnan was his favorite role, which he played again in his last silent THE IRON MASK (’29). Also on tap is Felix the cat hobnobbing with movie stars in FELIX IN HOLLYWOOD (’23). Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment. Mon, Nov 24 at 7:30 - East Meadow Public Library - East Meadow, NY (Long Island) Buster Keaton in "The General" Keaton's civil war train chase masterpiece is included in this monthly Independent Film series in November. Piano accompaniment. Tues, Nov 25 at 7:30pm - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) "The Strong Man" with Harry Langdon This Capra-Ripley-Edwards effort finds Mr. Capra at the megaphone directing Harry Langdon in this David-and-Goliath tale that finds WWI vet Harry in love with a blind girl. Miditzer accompaniment. Fri-Sun, Nov 28-30 - MoMA - NYC : Batiste Madalena and the Cinema of the 1920s – part of the series running through March 2009. Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment for these six screenings:
course: "Cruel & Unusual Comedy: Social Commentary in the American Slapstick Film" On five Wednesday evenings in November and December, this course will be taught at MoMA by Ben Model, Steve Massa and Ron Magliozzi (the people who brought you Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle retrospective at MoMA in 2006). Featuring screenings of rare short subjects from MoMA's vast collection of silent comedies and guest speakers, the class is a look at how societal issues such as violence, gender roles, ethnicity, children and animals were fodder for comic situations and slapstick. Guest speakers in December are Sandra DeFeo (NY Humane Society) and Donald Pruden (filmmaker, film historian). Course registration is required to attend. Class fee is $260, and $220 for MoMA members. For more information on MoMA Courses, e-mail courses@moma.org or call (212) 408-8441. Piano accompaniment at all classes. Weds-Fri, Dec 3-5 - MoMA - NYC Batiste Madalena and the Cinema of the 1920s. Miditzer theatre organ accompaniment for these six screenings:
Silent Stocking-Stuffers Shorts tailored to the holidays have long been a cinema tradition. Comedies such as THE COURTSHIP OF MILES SANDWICH (‘23) with Snub Pollard covered Thanksgiving, while Christmas was taken care of by films like Charley Chase’s THERE AIN’T NO SANTA CLAUS (‘26). Our sampler of Yuletide cheer includes: OLD SCROOGE (’13) with Seymour Hicks, Our Gang in GOOD CHEER (’26), the Laurel & Hardy classic BIG BUSINESS (’29), the aforementioned MILES SANDWICH, plus a few surprises. Thurs, Dec 11 at 7:30pm - Cinema Arts Centre - Huntington, NY (Long Island) "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" See Nice, new 35mm print from Milestone of Lotte Reiniger's masterpiece of silhouette animation. A treat for the whole family, and a fun holiday picture that doesn't get shown often enough. Miditzer accompaniment. Dec 11 to Jan 12 - MoMA - NYC Laugh and Live: The Films of Douglas Fairbanks The series takes its title from Fairbanks’ 1917 book of the same name, in which he promoted his optimistic outlook as the key to happiness and success, as well as celebrates the seventieth anniversary of MoMA’s acquisition of the Douglas Fairbanks Collection. Jeffrey Vance, author of Douglas Fairbanks (University of California Press & Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 2008), will introduce the December 17th screening of The Gaucho. Silent films in the series that will be accompanied by Ben Model are:
Charlie Chaplin comedy classics Ben Model and Bruce Lawton's annual silent comedy program at the Burns Center features four Chaplin Mutual comedies: The Pawnshop, The Rink, The Cure, and The Immigrant. Piano accompaniment. back to top
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