Ben Model’s blog

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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.…

  • 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…

  • 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 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

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