Author: Ben Model

  • ad for St Pauls show

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    Ben Model

    Just picked up a copy of “The West Sider”, a free weekly paper that I’d heard that Father Gil had placed an ad in for the St. Paul the Apostle silent film programs. I was looking for somethinga few inches square, but was surprised to find a half-page full height ad in the paper’s what-to-do-this-weekend…

  • 5 shows performed, 2 bass strings replaced, 1 recording for Kino

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    Ben Model

    July 12 – Weds and Thurs I played to Keaton’s The General, Lloyd’s The Freshman, and Keaton’s Sherlock, Jr. in the Titus 1 theater at MoMA. The Miditzer theatre organ sounded great in there (T1 is the bigger of the three theaters at MoMA). Shows were well-attended, and I saw some familiar faces who brought…

  • Max Davidson and Dmitri Kirsanov

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    Ben Model

    Here’s a shot of the Yiddish Book Center, on the campus of Hampshire College. Nearly every summer for the last 5 years or so Bruce Lawton and I do a show there. This year was (yet) another program of Max Davidson comedy shorts. At right you see Bruce, me, and Jane Gronau, Director of the…

  • Recording; Kirsanov prep

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    Ben Model

    July 3 – watched Menilmontant and Brumes d’automne this morning; these films are on one of the discs of Avante Garde, a multi-disc DVD set of experimental and avante garde art films in the Rohauer collection that came out a couple years ago. Watched them films with sound off, to better hear any music or…

  • “De Luxe Annie” – audio clip

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    Ben Model

    July 2 – De Luxe Annie at the Donnell Media Center went well today. We had around 175 people and the film went over really well. Piano sounded great; they have a nice Steinway D, which is moving to the Bruno Walter auditorium after the Donnell closes. My talk may have been shorter than I’d…

  • last minute prep for Donnell show

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    Ben Model

    July 1: Took a little time this afternoon to take a second glance at the screener of De Luxe Annie with Norma Talmadge, which I’m accompanying tomorrow at the Donnell Media Center auditorium. The show is part of the “Meet the Music Makers” series curated by Joe Yransky (the “Y” is silent, FYI) which is…

  • My 2008 summer of silents begins:

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    Ben Model

    I’m going to try to post as often as I can in July with quick or short impressions of the shows, as well as the recording sessions I have (one for Kino, one for ReelclassicDVD, and a few for AllDay Entertainment). * * * * * * * * June 30 – a pretty full…

  • historic Mamaroneck Play House – June 22

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    Ben Model

    Every year the town and village of Mamaroneck NY (where Griffith had studios for a few years) holds its annual “Historic Harbor Festival”. The entire main drag is taken over by a giant street fair with booths, performers, food from local restaurants, etc. Mam’k’s 1920’s movie theater, currently owned by Clearview Cinemas, is smack in…

  • Midnite show at MoMA – June 21

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    Ben Model

    On Saturday June 21 at midnight (!) I presented and accompanied a program of silent one-reelers from 1913 at MoMA. The program was part of an innovative education program done by Amir Parsa called “That Year, This Day” in which class participants spent time at the museum from 6pm to 2am in galleries and education…

  • They Said it Couldn’t Be Done: silent film & High School band

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    Ben Model

    Last night I attended the premiere of my concert band arrangement of my Adventurer score. The score was a big hit, and the evening itself was quite wonderful. My wife and daughter came out to Milford CT early and we were hosted for dinner by Dr. Ralph Barbiero and his lovely wife Marsha before going…