THE ITALIAN (1915) was just posted to YouTube the Library of Congress in a new 2K scan of the Library’s best 35mm preservation material and with a brand new (I recorded it last month) piano score by yours truly. The film stars George Beban, and was directed by Reginald Barker and produced by Thomas Ince.
I found myself playing piano for films and I’d hear other instruments in my head during the show. This was the very late 1990s. Had to be, because I started learning the organ a year or so before Lee Erwin… Read More »Conducting the Klopstokian Philharmonic
It’s the slower months when projects that have been mentally circling the airport can actually contact the tower and request permission to land. In 2014 I got a little better at this, by anticipating the space I’d have in my… Read More »Resuscitating My Podcast
This past summer I got to spend a delightful chat over coffee with William Perry. When I started playing for silents back in 1981 while at NYU film school, Bill was the first person I sought out for advice. I’d… Read More »William Perry’s new suite for Ophicleide and Orch.
40 minutes of rarely-seen vintage newsreels documenting Charles Lindbergh’s historic transatlantic flight on May 20, 1927 were recently released on a new DVD from Undcercrank Productions. Available on Amazon, the DVD also features a rare Monty Banks aviation silent comedy… Read More »Film of Charles Lindbergh’s May 20, 1927 transatlantic flight – new DVD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNAVAILABLE TO GENERAL PUBLIC FOR 97 YEARS, THE POPULAR SILENT COMEDY FILM SERIES “THE MISHAPS OF MUSTY SUFFER” COMES TO DVD Renowned Silent Film Accompanist/Historian Ben Model Collaborates with Library of Congress to bring outrageous1916-17 films… Read More »“MUSTY SUFFER” SILENT FILMS UNSEEN SINCE 1916 COME TO DVD
On Sunday, March 23rd at 7:15pm, the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church (NYC) is hosting a FREE evening of silent comedies! Wind down your week – or kick off the one that’s starting – with two solid hours of belly-laugh-inducing classic comedies. … Read More »Hal Roach silent comedy shorts on Sun March 23 **FREE**
Working even harder this year on improving my playing/accompaniment. Last night, as an exercise, I hauled out the DVD of something I’m playing for later this month and ran it on my laptop (mute) and played for it… as wrong… Read More »Doin’ it wrong…on purpose
On Sunday, October 20th at 7:00, the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church (NYC) is hosting a free evening of silent comedies! Wind down your week – or kick off the one that’s starting – with two solid hours of belly-laugh-inducing classic comedies. … Read More »Harold Lloyd in “For Heaven’s Sake” Sun 10/20 *FREE*
Tomorrow is the premiere of my new web-series, a bi-weekly YouTube release of a rare or lost silent film from my 16mm collection, newly transferred and scored. For now, these will only be available on YouTube (no DVDs). My first… Read More »Ready to see a silent film no audience has seen since 1928?