Category Archives: Powers Cameragraph

Professor Rinaudo at the Oscars

Oldman and Dern cranking projector.

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.”Press to leave a comment.

 

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March 11 • Live Orchestra • 1928 Buster Keaton

Steamboat Bill Jr

Join us this Saturday, March 11th, 2017 as we present Buster Keaton and Ernest Torrence in the 1928 silent comedy classic Steamboat Bill Jr. with Live Accompaniment by the Famous Players Orchestra.

This is going to bean amazing show and we really need your help to get the word out. Please tell your friends about us. Or if you’re on Facebook, please use this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1723288244668436/ to “share” this rare event. 

The film will be presented with a live period musical score performed by The Famous Players Orchestra under the direction of Scott Lasky.  §  Joe Rinaudo will project a high-definition restored 35mm film print 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 is 7pm. Doors open at 6:15pm. Program will include a 30 minute intermission and raffle with prizes. Concessions will be available downstairs at the snack bar.

Admission is $10. Tickets may be purchased at the door beginning approximately one hour before showtime, or in advance online here:

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)

MORE INFORMATION:
Famous Players Orchestra

UPCOMING 2017 SHOWS

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

Ragtime Era in Los Angeles

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
Steamboat Bill Jr

 

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

 

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


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