Category Archives: Resources

Resources

Here’s a list of resources and entertainment relating to Silent Cinema Art and Technology:

Dean Mora

Silent Cinema Organist and Swing Band Leader

morasmodern.com

Dean Mora evokes suspense, laughter, even horror, at the Mighty Wurlitzer when he accompanies Joe Rinaudo’s hand crank Silent Cinema itinerant show at the Nethercutt.

Mr. Mora and His Orchestra are also regularly featured at Maxwell DeMille’s Cicada Club, a vintage night club and Los Angeles swing dancing venue in downtown Los Angeles as well as many other venues, events and private parties throughout Southern California.

Mr. Mora’s music is regularly played throughout Disneyland’s Main Street and Disney’s California Adventure where it is heard by thousands of visitors each day.

Famous Players Orchestra

Reviving Remarkable Music

fporchestra.org

 

Famous Players Orchestra performs and records historic cinematic music used by movie theater orchestras during the silent film era.

Nethercutt Collection

Featuring the World’s Third Largest Theatre Pipe Organ

nethercuttcollection.org

Opulent venue for Joe Rinaudo’s hand-crank itinerary shows, featuring the 5,000-piped Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ
Nethercutt calender of events

How to order tickets for the Nethercutt shows.

American Theatre Organ Society

atos.org

Los Angeles Theatre Organ Society

latos.org

Who’s Who of Victorian Cinema

victorian-cinema.net

Who’s Who of Victorian Cinema is edited by Stephen Herbert and Luke McKernan. The website states: “This is a guide to over 300 leading figures in Victorian cinema, defined as filmmaking in its broadest sense from the first glimmerings in the 1870s to the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901.”

The Bioscope

thebioscope.net

As stated on the website: “The Bioscope is dedicated to the subject of early and silent cinema. It covers news, publications, events, discoveries, documents, critical theory, filmmakers, performers, audiences and the technology of the silent era, embracing film production, distribution and exhibition, as well as ‘pre-cinema’, chronophotography, optical toys, and related media, across the world. There is an emphasis on research and scholarly discovery, but there should be as much here for the general enthusiast as for the specialist.” The Bioscope is no longer active as a blog but is being kept online as an archive. It was administered and written by Luke McKernan.

Title Design

Title, Intertitle and Lantern Slide Restoration and Recreation

desimonedesign.com

Chaz DeSimone, Joe Rinaudo’s friend of 50 years, retouches and recreates titles and intertitles for Joe’s silent film restorations, as well as for other collectors and restorers.

Before:
Before Restoration

After:

Restored Title

 

Here’s a sampling of restored silent film titles and glass lantern slides.

In this century, Chaz designs logos, books, brochures and websites (including this one). His personal design project is amperart.com, featuring “the ampersand as fun & fabulous art.”

Early to Bed Tent – Oasis #239

For Laurel & Hardy FansEarly to Bed Tent

earlytobedtent.com

The Early To Bed Tent – Oasis #239 is where people of all ages join us six times a year to honor the lives and enjoy the classic humor of the greatest comedy team in the world—Laurel & Hardy.

Joe Rinaudo plays Laurel & Hardy’s theme song:

First you will recognize an original soundtrack of the Laurel & Hardy theme song. Next, Joe Rinaudo tells us a heartwarming story about its composer, Marvin Hatley. Finally, listen to the “Cuk-Cuk Walzer” which inspired the famous theme song, played on the American Fotoplayer.

The main focus of our tent is on the films of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.  We screen all of their movies that are available to us in the 16mm film format.  In addition to the films that Laurel & Hardy made as a team, we view some of their early solo work as well.

Joe Rinaudo, Gary Gibson and Dean Mora are mentioned on this page.

Suggestions?

Please suggest more links to build the Silent Cinema Society Resources List in the comments section, below. And of course (not so silently) tell your fellow silent cinema fans to visit SilentCinemaSociety.org. Thank you.