Tag Archives: Stan Taffel

Sat. June 10: “Golden Age of Silent Comedy” with Live Orchestra

Charles Chaplin

Famous Players Orchestra
presents:
“The Golden Age of Silent Comedy”
Saturday, June 10th, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.

Join us Saturday, June 10th, 2017 as we present “The Golden Age of Silent Comedy”, a screening of four classic comedies from the silent era. Included on the program will be:

Why Pick on Me? (1918) starring Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels and Snub Pollard
Pay Day (1922) starring Charles Chaplin
A Pair of Tights (1929) starring Marion Byron, Anita Garvin and Edgar Kennedy
The Show (1922) starring Larry Semon and Oliver Hardy

The films will be accompanied by a period musical score performed live by The Famous Players Orchestra under the direction of Scott Lasky. Joe Rinaudo will project 35mm film 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 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:45pm. Program will include a 30 minute intermission and raffle with prizes. Concessions will be available.

Admission is $15. Tickets may be purchased at the door beginning approximately one hour before showtime, or in advance online here:

Order Tickets Here

The venue is: Christ Lutheran Church, 2400 West Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505. It is located on the southeast corner of Burbank Blvd and Buena Vista St, directly behind the Dunn Edwards paint store, and right in the heart of beautiful downtown Burbank.

Thank you to everyone for attending our past shows and for your continued support! It is so greatly appreciated!

Here is a video highlight from our March 11th, 2017 show,
Steamboat Bill Jr (1928) Final Scene – Live Orchestra:

Here is How You Can Support Our New CD Recording Project:

Our New CD, “Music of the Silent Cinema” is slated for release in November 2017.

We need your support to make this wonderful recording project possible! All orders postmarked before October 31st, 2017 will receive free shipping and the CD autographed by FPO’s Musical Director Scott Lasky. Your pre-order donation of $25 will go a long way toward helping us cover our production costs. Please specify “CD” when donating through the PayPal link below. Thank you!


Famous Players Orchestra performs and records the original historic film music used by movie theater orchestras during the silent film era.
All proceeds to benefit Famous Players Orchestra, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Please visit our website at www.fporchestra.org Thank you for your support!
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED!Please consider making a donation to Famous Players Orchestra. Gifts in any amount are greatly appreciated! Your generous support will help us to continue our work in reviving and preserving this musical treasure from cinema’s past. Every dollar we receive is utilized in the most efficient manner possible toward achieving our mission. Famous Players Orchestra is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and your contributions are tax-deductable.
Donating through PayPal is quick and easy!

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ABOUT FAMOUS PLAYERS ORCHESTRA

In the final decades of the silent film era (1910 -1929), a new and original art form was burgeoning. During this period, a vast and beautiful repertoire of film music was being created by gifted composers who saw a great future in the new medium. Movie theaters of the day commonly utilized orchestras to provide film accompaniment for their premium showings. These theaters typically housed massive libraries of this music, (known at the time as “photoplay” music) for use as film accompaniment. However, the advent of “talkies” in 1929, preceded by the Movietone and Vitaphone systems, would eventually bring the demise of live film accompaniment. Thus, as movie theaters converted over to sound, these music libraries became obsolete almost overnight and most of the music was discarded in the process. And since photoplay music was rarely recorded, and the composers mostly unknown, this important chapter in cinema history was swept away into obscurity and has remained practically forgotten.

Famous Players Orchestra is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose charitable mission is dedicated to reviving and preserving this charming and long forgotten music through live performances and new recording projects. For its repertoire, Famous Players Orchestra draws upon the original orchestrations used by silent era movie theater orchestras in its live presentations and recordings. The ensemble is comprised of professional musicians based in the Los Angeles area.

Your support is appreciated! Your generous contributions help us to continue our work in reviving and preserving this musical treasure from cinema’s past. Donations are easily accepted using paypal. Thank you!

Visit the FAMOUS PLAYERS ORCHESTRA Website

Packed House! Buster Keaton & Live Orchestra

Video courtesy of Stan Taffel, the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.

What happens when you combine a live orchestra with a silent film? A packed house! Over 300 people showed up, and we had to open up the balcony. There was laughter, applause, and excitement throughout the entire show. 

As Bob Duncan says, “An impressive evening in every way—the orchestra’s score was in sync with the film from beginning to end and definitely enhanced the audience’s enjoyment and the film print was crystal clear. A memorable evening that all the participants can be very proud of.”

The show included a couple cartoons and the popular “Steamboat Bill Jr.” starring Buster Keaton; hand-cranked on a Power’s 1909 Cameragragh Model 6 Motion Picture Machine by Joe Rinaudo; and accompanied by the Famous Players Orchestra, scored and conducted by Scott Lasky. Stan Taffel served as Master of Ceremonies and Shane Glander projected the glass lantern slides.

In addition to the silent cinema and live orchestra, there was a raffle of original Disney artwork, hot dogs, refreshments, and of course popcorn. 

Famous Players Orchestra Board of Directors

Famous Players Orchestra Board of Directors

The evening was an overwhelming success. As Mr. Taffel says, “It’s an honor to be involved with Famous Players Orchestra and to serve on the board of directors with Scott Lasky, Joe Rinaudo, Joni Varner, Gary Lacher, Gary Gibson, Paul Butler, and Dean Mora.”

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