Author: Ben Model

  • Chaplin’s “Adventurer” for concert band

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    Ben Model

    Well, March is here — and while my sched of performances is a tad lighter, I’m plenty busy with recording and re-arranging. A high school in Connecticut contacted me a couple months ago about doing a silent film program with one of my orchestral scores…but the school has a band and no orchestra (not too…

  • Next week…Langdon, Chaplin, Wings and Ben Hur

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    Ben Model

    Spent the afternoon yesterday recording a piano score for The Gusher (1913) for Kino. Am assuming the set this is for will come out later this year. An interesting and fun short, one of those Keystones where you really have to watch everybody to see what the story is, as much of the plot is…

  • films booked for Huntington; “It” unavailable

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    Ben Model

    BTW, click on the image at the right to pre-order your copy of Kino’s new 3-disc DVD set Houdini: the Movie Star. Checked my copy and was glad to see everything was in synch. The menus are great, and that front cover artwork is real eye-catching. Several of the films I’ll be accompanying in Huntington,…

  • Andrew Simpson (from DC)

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    Ben Model

    Today got to hear and hang out with Andrew Simpson, a film accompanist from Washington DC. I’d met Andrew, who’s been playing for silents for a few years, at Slapsticon last year. Andrew and his “Snark Ensemble” recorded scores for many of the films on the new Harry Langdon DVD set, and has played for…

  • Boise day 3 – evening

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    Ben Model

    Well, the Musical Movies event was a big success. We had a great crowd, the orchestra sounded great, Dr. Saunders kept the group in synch with both films, and the Arbuckle film Love went over big time, as did the sound of the theatre organ. After the audience was greeted by local TV channel 7…

  • Boise day 2

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    Ben Model

    6:45am – here I am just after doing a live TV segment on KIVI channel 6’s “Good Morning Live”with Melissa Paul. Just made it in time, thanks to snowfall and fog etc. Then I was whisked off to… KBOI radio. We did 5-6 mins talking about what I do and what the TVYS will be…

  • Boise day 1

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    Ben Model

    Well, I just flew in from New York and boy are my arms tired. Was picked up at the airport and taken straight to NBC affil KTVB to be on News at Noon, along with Dr. Paul Collins (seen above, with me and host Larry Gebert on set), Tom Trusky and Jim Ogle to promote…

  • article in “Idaho Statesman” – Boise shows

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    Ben Model

    An article appeared in this weekend’s edition of the Idaho Statesman. Click here to read the whole piece. Below is the section about my end of things: IDAHO’S MAID OF SILENT FILM There are two people linking the Musical Movies Project and the Nell Shipman Film Festival: Shipman herself and silent film composer and accompanist…

  • Simon’s Rock, in Massachusetts – et al

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    Ben Model

    Have gone over my itinerary for Boise ID (Feb 5-9), of performances, school/university talks/shows and appearances on local TV and radio…and it’s going to be pretty hectic. Doubt if I’ll get to see much of Boise etc, but am really looking forward to this. I’ll be playing at the city’s original 1927 Egyptian-style movie theatre,…

  • 2008 update

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    Ben Model

    Too much to go into, and am sorry I’ve not posted in a while. Lots of things going on and lots to catch up on…and not enough time to get it all in right now. I will try to update you in drips and drabs in the next couple of weeks as time pops up.…