Ben Model’s blog

  • [FYI…I have now fixed the setting on this blog that allows you to post comments so that it works now.] Played for DeMille’s The Squaw Man (1914) twice last week, and brought my MD recorder to the second show to make a reference recording. We ran the film at 20fps…

  • Presented a program of comedy shorts at MoMA Sat Feb 3 that featured slapstick teams. We showed Fatty and Mabel Adrift, Big Business and Idle Roomers (Three Stooges, dir. Del Lord). This was #2 of the 3 “Watch This! Films for Tweens” programs I programmed and introduced, working with MoMA’s…

  • I attended a theatre organ concert at Radio City Music Hall last Tuesday. This was the third time that NYTOS (the New York Theatre Organ Society) had held this annual event. I had gone the first year, then missed it in ’06 because I had a show, and was really…

  • Today’s show wraps up a rather busy December; 10 shows plus some scoring for DVDs. Two rather successful school shows of The Crowd at AMMI, a vaudeville show in Manahawkin NJ, and the Silent Clowns “Buster’s Stunning Stunts” shows are among the highlights. Played for Peter Pan (1924) at the…

  • November 17 – Wesleyan University, Middletown CT — Performed my score for Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. at the dedication/naming of the Goldsmith Family Cinema. The cinema is part of the university’s new film building, and I’d played for Safety Last there in January. I’d been invited to perform for the evening…

  • Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. Am on a busy schedule, averaging 4 or 5 shows a week, plus the usual ‘being-my-own-agent’ workload. Here’s what’s been goin’ on since 10/24… Sat Oct 28, NYC – Bruce Lawton and I did a program of “spooky silents” for the Turtle Bay…

  • While taking my daughter to school this morning, a boy who looked like he was around 11 (and who attends her school) came up to us. He asked me, “Are you the guy who showed a Buster Keaton movie at school last year?” I said I was (I had showed…

  • October 14 – RED BANK, NJ – well, my 4th silent film for the annual Red Bank International Film Festival was a presentation of Don Q, Son of Zorro with Douglas Fairbanks. 35mm print came from Douris, and I accompanied on an Allen electronic theatre organ. Print looked great, and…

  • Haven’t had a chance to post, because of all the work and gigs. Here’s a quick update. Am in the midst of composing/recording a score for Haldane of the Secret Service (1923), starring Harry Houdini (also prod/dir). It’s a straight detective melodrama, and not a pair of ‘cuffs in the…

  • Spent the week giving a talk to clowns, playing for MoMA’s Pola Negri series, and “christened” a new venue out in Sag Harbor (L.I.). 9/17 – BROOKLYN, NY – Did my talk on silent film comedian’s adapting their performance work to motion pictures at the NY Clown Theater Festival. Program…