Author: Ben Model

  • 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…

  • mid-October report

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    Ben Model

    Here’s a new videoblog report about what’s goin’ on right now: News in brief: just been booked as a speaker for a show of City Lights in Feb ’08 for the Greenwich Classic Film Series newly donated Steinway at MoMA now in place, and chrome-legged piano in Titus 2 now out of the picture just…

  • Fall Cinesation in Ohio, Sept 27-30

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    Ben Model

    Much, much to report. Have been meaning to post a videoblog, but there still hasn’t been enough time to deal with that. Still trying to get the dust from Sept to settle (24 performances)… Played for 5 Sessue Hayakawa films at MoMA the week after I returned from Norway. One on piano and the others…

  • Tromsø, Norway – day 4 and final wrap-up

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    Ben Model
    in

    Here’s my final report on Stumfilm Dagere in Tromsø Norway: See you soon!

  • Tromsø, Norway – day 3

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    Ben Model
    in

    Here is a report on day 3 from Tromsø Norway:

  • Tromsø, Norway – day 2

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    Ben Model

    Here’s a report on day 2 (and a little of day 3…): I accompanied a program of comedy shorts for kids (including The Sea Nymphs with Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, a real rarity), a program of polar expedition films, saw Madame de Thebes (1915) dir by Mauritz Stiller and accompanied by Matti Bye, and saw A…

  • Tromsø, Norway – day 1

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    Ben Model

    Here’s a first report from Tromsø and the first installment of what I hope will be a regularly posted (weekly?) video blog that will be on YouTube and will also turn up here: Opening night film was The Passion of Joan of Arc, with score by Matti Bye. Friday found me up bright and early…