Author: Ben Model

  • 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.…

  • Tom Nazziola, Buster Keaton and the BQE Project

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    Ben Model

    Tonight I saw Tom Nazziola’s BQE Project perform his brand new original score to Buster Keaton’s Battling Butler at the Walter Reade Theater. I’ve known Tom for a number of years, and while he’s come to a few of my shows, I’ve always been working when the BQE has performed. Luckily, I was unengaged this…

  • Dec/Jan/Feb show bookings

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    Ben Model

    Have just finished recording theatre organ scores for a release by Unknown Video of William S. Hart in Sand. Also on the disc is an Art Acord 2-reel oater and a surprise comedy short (you’ll just have to buy it to find out!). Recorded the scores earlier in the week on the Miditzer and am…

  • Wings, with special guest Budd Schulberg

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    Ben Model

    Our Silent Clowns show on Nov 11 featured the 1927 “Wings”, and I accompanied on the Miditzer virtual theatre organ. We had a real nice 16mm print, originally owned by Walter Kerr and donated to us a few years ago by the Kerr family (along with a few other titles). The added attraction which happened…

  • recovering from Halloween, workin’ on an orch score…

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    Ben Model

    The week or so before Halloween was busier than usual for me. Five shows, two of which were out of town overnighters, left me a little winded but with a greater appreciation of Lon Chaney’s talents. Three of the shows I played were Phantom of the Opera (Oneonta, NY), The Unknown (Huntington NY) and Hunchback…