The Academy’s newly restored Model 41 Fotoplayer, installed in the lobby of Linwood Dunn Theater at Pickford Center. Panoramic photo courtesy of Lissa Price: lissaprice.com, @Lissa_Price (Twitter)
Aug 11, 2016, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences— The Academy’s newly restored 1917 Model 41 Fotoplayer was unveiled for its inaugural public performance by Joe Rinaudo as he narrated (the term for musical accompaniment) two films, also newly restored:
The Perfect Woman, 1920, and Good Night, Paul, 1918, both starring Constance Talmadge. Details for these films are at the Academy’s website Archival Revival Event page. Here’s a clip from the Academy’s Facebook Events page:
The Style 41 Fotoplayer was restored by Dave Hartman and Joe Rinaudo.
The 35mm nitrate prints were restored by the Academy.
As Joe played the impressive Fotoplayer in the lobby, the films were shown in the theater at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater at Pickford Center, Hollywood. A live feed of his narration was projected on a smaller screen next to the main film. The house was packed and sold out, and everyone experienced a silent cinema treat from nearly a century ago—but not exactly silent with Joe at the Fotoplayer!
“PROFESSOR RINAUDO” as silent cinema aficionados call him, has been my friend for fifty years, since junior high school. Back then Joe Rinaudo was collecting 16mm silent films and would put on shows for his friends.