Technology Corner (Editorial): "Disappearing Photos/Videos" from Twitter's "Photo/Videos" grid

A cameo mention to fellow Svengoolie SvenPal Jamie Lee for encouraging me to spread the word about this.  -C.H.

Recently, several fellow SvenPals and I have discovered something unusual in the "photos/videos" grid, which is usually made up of six recent photographs or video files on the profile page.  When one clicks on one of the six photos (or video files) in the grid on the profile page, an enlarged view of the photographic (or filmed) content timeline can be seen.

Yet for reasons unknown, the regular photo timeline stops at a certain point (a certain number of photographs/visual content) when one wants to go back through the entire photo timeline chain to search for a certain photo that was previously uploaded (depending on the amount of photos that were taken).  It might also depend on one's operating system setup and browser (results may vary).  Other multimedia-based tweet entries (YouTube/Vimeo videos, etc.) might be one of the causes of this.

That does not mean that all of the past photos/videos are are missing, many past Twitter multimemedia (photos and videos) tweets can be found on the "media" tab on one's Twitter profile page.

Twitter's tech support has not been helpful in this area of timeline/slideshow photo problems in the "photos/videos" grid.  For fellow users who are experiencing this sort of problem, there are some methods to retrieve older multimedia/photographic-based tweets.

Photographs/visual content with Hashtags:

1. Go to the "search" icon box and type in the subject of your choice with the use of hashtags (for example: "#Svengoolie").  Then, press enter.

2. Go to the "Search Filters" window on the left-hand side of the screen after typing in your search subject with hashtags.  Click on "show" to open the entire window pane. Make sure the top drop-down menu in the "Search Filters" window is set to "people you follow."  That way, you will be able to see your own posts in addition to your fellow followers' posts within that search category.  You can also go click on "advanced search" filter specific search settings for certain photos (with specific phrases, hashtags and/or desired time frames).

3. Another possible step would be to bookmark the desired (older) photographic/video file-based tweet on your browser.

Downloading your Twitter archive for older photos and videos

1. Click on your Twitter "profile photo" icon.  On the drop-down menu list, click on "Settings and Privacy."

2. On the "Settings and Privacy" page, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Request your Archive" (under the "content" header).  An e-mail message to a link for the file (Twitter archive) will be sent to your primary e-mail address by request.

To any fellow Twitter followers or experts who know any tips/tricks for navigating older photos on the photo timeline (in relation to the "disappearing photos" problem from the photos/video grid), feel free to comment on here or on my film-oriented blog, "Silver Screen Reflections."  -C.H.

For cinema-based blogs, visit "Silver Screen Reflections" on WordPress

For all the latest posts related to classic/cult cinema and Svengoolie, visit my "Silver Screen Reflections" blog on WordPress!

Classic & Cult Cinema Favorites return to Gettysburg’s Majestic Theater

A Re-Post from my other classic cinema blog, "Silver Screen Reflections."

Fans of classic and cult cinema in the area will be excited about another vintage film series that will return to the Gettysburg area.

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater re-introduces their summer classic/cult film series

The historic Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania will be bringing back a series of vintage and cult motion pictures for the summer.  The theater’s “2016 Summer Classic Movies” series will be presented every Wednesday evening* at 7:30 p.m., beginning on June 1 and will end  on Aug. 24.  The ticket price for each movie is $6 per person.

Each film presentation will have a special introduction by Jeffrey Gabel, area movie buff and founding executive director of The Majestic.  In addition to the screening of films, a special raffle prize giveaway will also occur.

List of classic and cult movie greats that will be shown at The Majestic throughout the summer:

June 1: “Brigadoon” (1954), directed by Vincente Minnelli, featuring Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Van Johnson and Elaine Stewart.  MGM screen adaptation of the Lerner and Lowe Broadway musical (presented in its original CinemaScope aspect ratio and in AnscoColor).

June 8: “The Palm Beach Story” (1942), Written and directed by Preston Sturges, featuring Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, William Demarest, Mary Astor and Rudy Vallee.

June 15: “Back to the Future” (1985) directed by Robert Zemeckis, featuring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Caroline Rea, Wendie Jo Sperber, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson.  Winner of an Academy Award for Best Special Effects Sound Editing (Charles L. Campbell and Robert Rutledge).

June 22: “The Prince and the Pauper” (1937), directed by William Keighley, featuring Errol Flynn, Claude Rains, Phyllis Barry, Barton MacLane and Henry Stephenson.

1943 Warner Bros. trade ad for "This Is The Army."

June 29: “This Is the Army” (1943), directed by Michael Curtiz, featuring Irving Berlin, Ronald Reagan, Joan Leslie, George Murphy, Kate Smith, George Tobias, Dolores Costello, Una Merkel, Alan Hale and Charles Butterworth.  Based on Irving Berlin’s musical, Winner of an Academy Award for Best Score (Leo F. Forbstein and Ray Heindorf).

July 6: “Jaws” (1975), directed by Steven Spielberg, featuring Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary and Robert Shaw.  Winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Sound (Robert L. Hoyt, John R. Carter, Roger Herman, Jr., Earl Madery), Original Score (John Williams) and Best Film Editing (Verna Fields).  Recognized as one of the first major “summer blockbuster” films.

July 13: “High Noon” (1952), directed by Fred Zinnemann, featuring Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, Lon Chaney, Jr.; Lee Van Cleef, Henry Morgan and Jack Elam.  Winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Cooper), Best Score (Dimitri Tiomkin), Best Song (“Do Not Forsake Me,” written by Tiomkin and Ned Washington, sung by Tex Ritter) and Best Editing (Harry Gerstad and Elmo Williams).

*July 20: No film is scheduled for that evening, music group “St. Paul & The Broken Bones” will appear on the Majestic stage.

July 27: “Harvey” (1950), directed by Henry Koster, featuring James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Peggy Dow and Charles Drake.  Hull won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Aug. 3: “Goldfinger” (1964), directed by Guy Hamilton, featuring Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman, Shirley Eaton and Burt Kwouk.  Winner of an Academy Award for Best Sound Effects (Norman Wantsall).  The third film in the 007 franchise, based off of Ian Fleming’s seventh novel in the James Bond series.

Aug. 10: “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982), directed by Nicolas Meyer, featuring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Ricardo Montalban and Paul Winfield.  Perfect for fellow Trekkies and fans of science fiction.

Aug. 17: “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” (1939), directed by Sam Wood, featuring Robert Donat, Greer Garson, Paul Henreid (then known as Paul Von Hernried) and John Mills.  Donat won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Aug. 23 (Finale): “The Band Wagon” (1953), directed by Vincente Minnelli, featuring Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, Nanette Fabray and Jack Buchannan.  The iconic song “That’s Entertainment” was introduced in this classic cinema musical and was later used as the title for the popular MGM retrospective trilogy series, “That’s Entertainment!” (1974, 1976 and 1994).

A perfect opportunity to see classic/cult films on the big screen

The Majestic’s summer classic/cult movie series has something for everyone, from Hollywood classics to iconic cult feature films.  So kick back, relax and enjoy a classic film in one of the “grandest small-town theaters in America.”  You won’t be disappointed!

Summer Classic Film Series

Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater (Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center)

25 Carlisle St.

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(717)-337-8200

majestictheater@gettysburg.edu

Wednesday Nights at 7:30 p.m. from June 1-Aug. 24 (excluding July 20)*

Price: $6 per person (Tickets can only be purchased in person at the theater)

Previous post on last year’s “Summer Classic Film Series”

1958 RCA “Living Stereo” Promotional Film (A brief post)

A re-post from "Silver Screen Reflections."

In honor of tomorrow’s “Record Store Day” event, here is this 1958 RCA promotional film on “Living Stereo,” produced by The Jam Handy Organization (and is available at the Internet Archive).

Even though this film is not available in stereo (this film has a monaural soundtrack) , this was a demonstration film sent to company dealers and distributors to promote the firm’s then-current line of stereophonic “Victrola” consoles, LP albums and 45 RPM stereo discs.

Television Corner: Bill Patschak to appear on "Jeopardy!"

A fellow alum from Walkersville High School will make his way as a contestant onto another one of the nation’s most popular television game shows.  

Bill Patschak, a familiar face to the trivia circuit in the Frederick area, will be one of three contestants on “Jeopardy!” His appearance on the Alex Trebek-hosted trivia game show was taped earlier in the year.  This will be Patschak’s second national game show television appearance.

Patschak was one of many contestant hopefuls chosen by the producers of the show, by completing the scheduled “Jeopardy!” online contestant test.

Before “Jeopardy!”

Patschak is no stranger to television game shows.  In Jan. 2013, he made his national television game show debut on the syndicated version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” with then-host Meredith Vieira.  His fellow friends in the local trivia circuit have also appeared on the aforementioned game show, Chad Bartholomew in Aug. 2012 and David Gould in Nov. 2012.

Patschak was mentioned in an article on local trivia night tournaments in the Nov. 2015 edition of Frederick Magazine.

Watch “Jeopardy!” with contestant Bill Patschak

Be sure to watch Bill Patschak’s appearance on “Jeopardy!”  It will air this Wed. at 7:30 p.m. on WJLA-TV 7 (in the Washington, D.C. /Frederick, Maryland area).

75 Years of "The Maltese Falcon" (1941)

A re-post from my other classic film blog, "Silver Screen Reflections."

Sam Spade.  Brigid O’Shaughnessy.  Miles Archer.  Joel Cairo.  Kasper Gutman.  Lieutenant Dundy and Detective Pullhouse.  The “MacGuffin.”  “The stuff that dreams are made of.”

The 75th anniversary revival screening of “The Maltese Falcon” (1941)

1941 Warner Bros. trade ad for "The Maltese Falcon,"
featuring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor.

Fans of classic cinema and film noir are in for a real treat, as this year will mark the 75th anniversary of John Huston’s 1941 screen adaptation of “The Maltese Falcon.”

Turner Classic Movies, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Pictures and NCM Fathom Events will showcase the film in select cinema venues from coast-to-coast for one day only on Sunday, Feb. 21 and Wednesday, Feb. 24.  “The Maltese Falcon” will be shown at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Eastern) on that day.  A special pre-recorded introduction by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz will be shown before the film.

With an all-star cast, featuring Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Ward Bond and Barton MacLane, John Huston’s film adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel is one of the definitive classics of the silver screen.

Earlier adaptations of Hammett’s novel for the silver screen

Before Huston’s landmark film was released, Warners made two film adaptations of Dashiell Hammett’s novel.  The first screen adaptation of “The Maltese Falcon” was released as a pre-code feature in 1931, featuring Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels.

Five years later, the studio produced a lesser-known light comedic adaptation with Bette Davis and Warren William, under the title of “Satan Met a Lady.”

A comedic version of “The Maltese Falcon” 

In addition to the three motion picture adaptations of Hammett’s novel, a comedic spoof of “The Maltese Falcon” was produced by George Segal and Ray Stark in 1975, under the title of “The Black Bird.”  Directed by David Giler, the film featured Segal (who also played the lead role of Sam Spade Jr.), Stéphane Audran, Lionel Stander, Elisha Cook Jr. and Vic Tayback.

Why you should watch “The Maltese Falcon” (1941)

If you’re going to see it on the big screen on Feb. 21 (or the upcoming TCM broadcast on Feb. 19), “The Maltese Falcon” is one of the definitive film noir classics.  You will not be disappointed by 100 minutes of suspense and intrigue.  Highly recommended!

Matinee Alert: “The Maltese Falcon” will not be shown in the Frederick area

SIDEBAR: Yet once again, the Frederick area will miss out on the revival screening of “The Maltese Falcon” (according to the NCM Fathom list of cinema venues from coast-to-coast that will be showing the film).

“The Maltese Falcon” (75th Anniversary Screening), presented by Turner Classic Movies, Warner Bros. and NCM Fathom Events

Sunday, Feb. 21 and Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern in select theaters from coast-to-coast

List of cinema venues that are showing “The Maltese Falcon” from coast-to-coast (via NCM Fathom Events)

“The Maltese Falcon” will be shown two days before the 75th anniversary screening on Turner Classic Movies, beginning on Friday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. Eastern.  

Take the "Matinee Poll:" Do you think the Frederick area will miss out on the revival screening of "The Maltese Falcon" (even though it was shown in the Frederick area 75 years ago)?

Cancellation of the Majestic Theater's special screening of "Casablanca" (1942)

A recent change has been made to an upcoming major classic film screening at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The Feb. 13 revival screening of the 1942 classic, “Casablanca,” with special guest Robert Osborne (of Turner Classic Movies) has been cancelled.  According to a recent press release from the theater, Osborne informed the management of the Majestic that he is in the hospital and is undergoing treatment for pneumonia.

Osborne, a noted film critic and longtime TCM host (since the network’s launch in 1994), was originally slated to make a special guest appearance on stage at the Majestic, before the cinema’s screening of “Casablanca” (alongside Jeffrey W. Gabel, founding executive director of the theater). The cinema is honoring ticket refunds.

The writer of “At the Matinee” and “Silver Screen Reflections” wishes Robert Osborne a speedy recovery and is hopeful that he will reschedule his appearance at the Majestic in the near future.

Weinberg Center to ring in the New Year with classic Marx Brothers films

1935 ad for the Tivoli Cinema, showcasing the
Marx Brothers film "A Night At The Opera."
(The Frederick News-Post/Randall Family LLC/
Newspaper Archive)

PROLOGUE: This was originally written as part of a group multimedia blog project in my Online Journalism class at Hood College (with two fellow “friends of the Matinee”).  Enjoy!  

Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo’s zany antics.  Margaret Dumont’s deadpan reaction to Groucho’s wisecracks.  “Hooray for Captain Spaulding.”  “Hail, Hail Freedonia.”

Fans of slapstick and classic comedy in the Frederick area may start the New Year by treating themselves to an afternoon of iconic comedy classics at the Weinberg Center for the Arts.

The theater will showcase a double dose of films featuring the Marx Brothers on the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 10 at 2 p.m., as part of the Weinberg’s “Cinema Classic Series.”


The first film that will be shown in the Marx Brothers double feature event will be the 1935 film, “A Night at the Opera,” directed by Sam Wood.  This was the brothers’ first film for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, alongside Margaret Dumont and Kitty Carlisle.

Vintage Tivoli memorabilia booth, inside the lobby
of the Weinberg Center for the Arts. Photo: Chris Hamby.

Then, the Weinberg will showcase the 1933 motion picture, “Duck Soup,” directed by Leo McCarey. “Duck Soup” was the brothers’ last film for Paramount Pictures, featuring Dumont and the “fourth” Marx brother, Zeppo Marx.

This would be Zeppo’s last film with his brothers, as he later pursued a successful career as a talent agent.  According to “A&E Biography,” he also worked as a successful inventor, notably helping the Allied effort during World War II on developing special clamping devices for secure transportation of atomic bombs on the “Enola Gay.”

Out of all the Marxes’ comedies, both “A Night at the Opera” and “Duck Soup” have been considered the best out of the Marxes’ film career, according to the movie guide, “VideoHound’s Golden Movie Retriever.”

The two films were shown at Frederick’s crown jewel theater, when it was known as the Tivoli cinema during their general release years.  Both Marx Brothers films were made by two different studios, and the theater was owned by rival studio Warner Bros. Pictures, which owned the Tivoli from the late 1920s until 1948.

Interior of the Weinberg Center (former Tivoli) stage with
movie screen.  Photo: Chris Hamby

John Healey, executive theater director of the Weinberg Center for the Arts, said that the upcoming Marx Brothers double-feature screening of “A Night at the Opera” and “Duck Soup” is important to the theater’s motion picture heritage.

“Film is a very large part of the history of the Weinberg Center,” Healey said.

Jef Cliber, box office manager of the Weinberg Center, said that he was delighted that the two Marx Brothers films would make their return to the big screen.

“It’s nice to see some of those older films make a return to us,” Cliber said.  “There was enough of a demand for us to create another niche where there are different kinds of films.”

Katherine Orloff, an assistant professor of journalism at Hood College, said that the timeless humor of the Marx Brothers would be a great way to kick off the New Year.

“What better way to start 2016 with laughter and happiness,” Orloff said. “Laughter is the best medicine.”

The cost of admission for the Marx Brothers double feature screening at the Weinberg Center is $7 for adults and $5 for children, students, senior citizens, Frederick city employees and members of the military.

Marx Brothers Double Feature Screening: “A Night at the Opera” (1935)/”Duck Soup” (1933)

Jan. 10 at 2 p.m.

Weinberg Center for the Arts

20 W. Patrick St.

Frederick, MD 21701

(301)-600-2828

Television Corner: "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" to be shown on Antenna TV in January

“Carnac the Magnificent.”  “Stump the Band.”  The “Tea Time Movie” with Art Fern.  Floyd R. Turbo.  “How Hot/Cold was it?”  “And now, ladies and gentlemen… here’s Johnny!”

23 years after Johnny Carson (1925-2005) bid farewell to "The Tonight Show" on NBC, one of the major classic television subchannels will showcase vintage episodes that were hosted by the original "king of late night."

"The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" on Tribune's Antenna TV

Tribune Media's Antenna TV network will showcase full-length episodes of "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" beginning in January.  According to Cynthia Litton’s article in “Variety,” Tribune made an agreement with Carson Entertainment Group to broadcast full-length, classic episodes from 1972 to 1992.  

What happened to the pre-1972 episodes?

According to Litton’s findings in “Variety,” a small fraction of pre-1972 episodes exist of “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” (consisting of both tapes and filmed kinescopes, since NBC was known for re-using videotape at the time, thus destroying many tape masters ). 

An alternative to the current state of Late Night television

Antenna TV’s showcase of “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” will be great for those who have never watched Carson’s incarnation of the “Tonight Show” and for those who want to re-live the “golden age” of late night TV with Johnny, Doc Severinsen (with his NBC Orchestra) and sidekick Ed McMahon.  

Where to watch:

"The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" on Antenna TV

Starting Jan. 1 at 11 p.m. Eastern/8 p.m. Pacific

In the Washington, D.C./Frederick, area: WDCW-TV 50.2/Comcast 201

RiffTrax Live: “Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny” to be shown in theaters on Dec. 3rd

A re-post (from the offshoot blog of "At The Matinee," "Silver Screen Reflections").  

For those who watched the “Mystery Science Theater 3000 Turkey Day ‘15” streaming marathon, there’s another “cheesy movie” serving presented by several familiar voices from the cult series.

It’s time for “RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny” (1972)

Fans of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” and “RiffTrax” will be in for a holiday treat, as Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett will riff the 1972 Z-budget kiddie holiday film, “Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny.”

The cast of RiffTrax, in conjunction with NCM Fathom Events, will present a live broadcast screening of this low-budget Christmas film in select theaters from coast-to-coast, on Dec. 3.  A re-broadcast of that night’s screening will occur in select cinema venues on Dec. 15.

An advertisement for the RiffTrax screening of “Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny” was seen throughout Shout! Factory TV and their streaming broadcast of the “MST3K Turkey Day ‘15” event on YouTube (in-between each episode).

From a long line of cheesy, low-budget “kiddie” holiday films…

“Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny” is one of many cheesy holiday films that have been riffed by the cast of RiffTrax over the years, including “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964) and K. Gordon Murray’s English-dubbed Mexican fantasy film, “Santa Claus“ (1959).  Both aforementioned films have also been shown on MST3K.

Why you should see the RiffTrax version of this holiday “turkey” (for those that may have never watched MST3K or RiffTrax):


If you didn’t watch the “Mystery Science Theater” marathon, or have never experienced a “RiffTrax Live” screening, then this is the perfect opportunity to experience movie riffing at its finest on the big screen, through the courtesy of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett.




RiffTrax Live Presents: “Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny” (1972)


Broadcast live in select theaters nationwide on Thurs., Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Closest cinema venue to the Frederick area (to see the live broadcast of "RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny"):

R/C Gateway Gettysburg Theaters 8
20 Presidential Circle
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 334-5575

Buy Tickets from R/C Gateway Gettysburg Theaters 8 (via MovieTickets.com)

Complete list of theaters from coast-to-coast that will be showing “RiffTrax Live: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny”(on Dec. 3, via NCM Fathom Events)

NOTE: A re-broadcast of the RiffTrax screening of “Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny” is scheduled for select theaters from coast-to-coast on Dec. 15.  

Yet according to the theater listings for the re-broadcast date (via NCM Fathom Events), R/C Gateway Gettysburg Theaters 8 will not be showing the Dec. 15 re-broadcast (the listing of theaters for the re-broadcast may be updated by then).

More information about "RiffTrax"

"Silver Screen Reflections" Is Finally Here!

"Silver Screen  Reflections" is finally here (for my online journalism class at Hood College).

Check out the first two posts, including "Top 10 Ways to enjoy Classic Film," and an article on the recent Turner Classic Movies airing of the once-lost 1929 Colleen Moore Vitaphone (non-talking) film, "Why Be Good?"

The address is silverscreenreflex.wordpress.com.  Enjoy!

An "Update" from Chris Hamby

Well, everyone- I'm creating a new blog.  No, this does not mean the "end" of At The Matinee.  

This new blog will be part of the Online Journalism class that I am currently taking at Hood College.

My upcoming blog site will have some of the same features as the blog that you are currently reading right now, mostly focusing on classic, contemporary and cult motion picture and television programs, along with new interactive features as well.

My goal in this class is to become a better blog writer.  I hope you will join me and fellow like-minded film enthusiasts in this new endeavor, which will be coming shortly.

Oh, and one more thing.  Remember when I stated earlier that classic, contemporary and cult cinema features were being virtually ignored in the Frederick area?

Finally, one Frederick theater will be bringing back "classic" and "cult" feature films soon.  More information will follow in this and my "new" blog, which will be coming shortly.

Coming Soon to a competing blog platform near you!

Mr. Hamby meets Ken Burns at Gettysburg (November 2008)

In commemoration of the upcoming premiere of the new high-definition transfer of Ken Burns' landmark 1990 documentary film, The Civil War on PBS, let's take a walk down "memory lane."

November 19th, 2008: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns addresses the
crowd at the Dedication Day ceremony at Gettysburg National Cemetery
in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

"November 19th... This day is one of my most favorite of days, a day of possibilities."
-Documentary Filmmaker Ken Burns, giving the introductory keynote address at The 145th Gettysburg Address Dedication Day Ceremony, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19th, 2008

November 19th, 2008: It was a chilly day up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  I learned about the Dedication Day commemoration event several days earlier, after reading in The News-Post that documentary filmmaker Ken Burns would make a special appearance at the event.  I was studying at Frederick Community College at the time, and by luck- I didn't have any classes on that day.  So I trekked up to Gettysburg to watch the Dedication Day ceremonial event on the morning of November 19th, which marked the 145th anniversary of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

On that cold day at Gettysburg National Cemetery, the guest speakers for the event (in addition to Ken Burns) were renowned Abraham Lincoln impersonator Jim Getty, Andy Brunhart, then-deputy director of the United States Mint (Brunhart unveiled a commemorative Lincoln coin design at the Dedication Day ceremony), Gettysburg National Military Park superintendent John Latschar, Sons of Union Veterans' Chief Commander of the National Order David Acheson and Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania President Ron Hankey.

Ken Burns with a Civil War re-enactment troupe
at the 2008 Dedication Day ceremony in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Throughout the ceremony, Burns gave the keynote address, after Jim Getty's re-enactment of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.  With my palm-sized Aiptek Digital Camera that I had at the time (I still have it in my camera collection, as I have upgraded to better cameras since then), I filmed the entire event from start to finish in freezing temperatures, along with some still photographs of the ceremony (including a group photograph of Burns with an area Civil War re-enactment troupe).

At the end of the ceremony, Burns was on hand to sign programs from interested patrons.  I was one of the lucky ones to have my program booklet signed by the master documentary filmmaker.  After the event, I had lunch at The Dobbin House Tavern in Gettysburg, sitting near several Civil War re-enactors who attended the event, munching on a delicious hot Reuben sandwich with warm cider.

Ken Burns (center), singing autographs on patrons'
programs at the 2008 Dedication Day ceremony
in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  I was one of the
lucky ones to have my program booklet signed
by Burns.

The day after, I had my one of my evening Video Editing classes at FCC.   I thought that it would be an unique idea to share with the class about getting Ken Burns' autograph on my program guide for the ceremony in Gettysburg.  To my surprise, neither the instructor, nor any of my fellow friends in class knew who Ken Burns was.  I was in shock that no one knew about the acclaimed historical documentary filmmaker.

Some six years later, when I entered Hood College as a transfer student (using my FCC credits), I was glad to hear that several of my friends in my classes have heard of Ken Burns and his critically-acclaimed documentary films on Public Television.  I was glad to hear that I wasn't the only one who had heard of Ken Burns.

Aside from all that, I felt that was one of the most exciting moments of my life, not only as an aspiring filmmaker/videographer, but as a person who enjoys watching Ken Burns' iconic historical documentaries, including The Statue of Liberty, The Civil War, Empire of the Air, Baseball, Jazz, The National Parks and The Roosevelts (which premiered last fall on PBS)- just to name several.

Here's your chance to see documentary filmmaking at its finest: The 25th Anniversary edition of Ken Burns' The Civil War (restored in high-definition), will be shown on PBS, starting on September 7th at 9:00 PM EST (in areas close to the home base of At The Matinee, it will be shown on Maryland Public Television and WETA-TV 26).

More on Ken Burns' 1991 documentary on the pioneers of radio and television broadcasting, Empire Of The Air can be found here.

Moment of Zen: Farewell to "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"

Credit: Comedy Partners (Comedy Central)

NOTE: While the author of "At The Matinee" respects viewpoints from all sides of the political spectrum, this post isn't about politics or anything related to the field of politics, this is related to the field of satire and comedy.  Thank you.

May 22nd, 1992: The "king of late night," Johnny Carson (1925-2005) hosted his final episode ofThe Tonight Show on NBC.

August 6th, 1993: Joe Franklin (1926-2015) retired from hosting his local New York (and later, Secaucus) talk show, The Joe Franklin Show.  Throughout Franklin's 40 years in television from his WABC and WOR/WWOR shows, the pioneering talk show host hosted more than 21,425 programs (more on "the king of nostalgia" here). 

November 18th, 2011: Regis Philbin stepped down from "Live," after co-hosting 17,000 hours of live morning television.

December 18th, 2014: Stephen Colbert hosted his last episode of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central.  That same evening, Craig Ferguson hosted his final episode The Late Late Show on CBS (read the previous blog post here).

May 20th, 2015: After 33 years in late night television (on NBC and CBS), David Letterman bid farewell to The Late Show on CBS.

August 6th, 2015: After sixteen years and over 2,500+ shows on Comedy Central, noted personality Jon Stewart bid farewell to The Daily Show.  One could have said that the evening of Thursday, August 6th was a "golden" evening for comedic satire.

Cover from the DVD box set of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart:
Indecision 2004 episodes during the 2004 Presidential campaign.
Stewart is surrounded by his then-Daily Show corespondent
team, consisting of Stephen Colbert, Rob Corddry,
Samantha Bee and Ed Helms.  From the vast At The Matinee media vault. 

"So if you smell something, say something." -Jon Stewart, on his final telecast of Comedy Central's The Daily Show.

On the same night that the first televised  Republican 2016 Presidential candidates' debate took place, Stewart bid farewell to his Daily Show colleagues (past and present), along with pre-recorded messages from celebrities, dignitaries, top guests and foes who wanted to bid farewell to Jon Stewart. The tribute included a farewell greeting from the president of the fast-food chain Arby's, Paul Brown (Stewart made hilarious rants about Arby's during his stint as host of The Daily Show).

Throughout Jon Stewart's tenure as host, the majority of Daily Show corespondents throughout the years have credited the show as a springboard to later successes in their careers.

Past and present Daily Show corespondents were on hand to bid farewell to Stewart, including Steve Carrell, Lewis Black, Wyatt Cenac, John Oliver (who has his own successful weekly satirical news series on HBO), Samantha Bee, Jason Jones, Mo Rocca (who is now a correspondent for CBS' Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood), Vance DeGeneres, Larry Wilmore (who now hosts his own post-Daily Show series, The Nightly Show), original Daily Show host Craig Kilborn (who hosted the show from its inception in 1996 until the end of 1998), Ed Helms, Michael Che, Rob Corddry, Nate Corddry, Aasif Mandvi, Jordan Klepper, Dave Attell, Hasan Minhaj, Kristen Schaal, Rob Riggle, Jessica Williams, John Hodgman, Olivia Munn, Al Madrigal, Matt Walsh, Dan Bakkedahl, successor host Trevor Noah, Bassem Youssef, Josh Gad and last but not least- the great Stephen Colbert, sharing his moments with Stewart (apart from Colbert's faux arch-conservative pundit role on the successful Daily Show spin-off, The Colbert Report from 2005-2014).  Colbert will be taking over David Letterman's old Late Show spot on CBS this September.

Promotional leaflet (circa 2005) for
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,which was included with the
Indecision 2004 DVD box set (from the vast At The Matinee
media vault).

There were also pre-recorded appearances by noted celebrities, politicians, pundits and news commentators, including Representative Charles Rangel, New Jersey Governor (and Republican Presidential candidate) Chris Christie, Senator Chuck Schumer, former First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State (and current Democratic Presidential candidate) Hillary Clinton, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, MSNBC morning hosts/commentators Joe Scarborough and co-host Mika Brezinski, CNN anchor/reporter Wolf Blitzer, Senator (and Republican Presidential candidate) Lindsay Graham, Secretary of State (and former Massachusetts Senator) John Kerry, Stewart's arch-nemesis Bill O'Riley, and Senator John McCain- all taking a jab at Stewart.

The show ended with legendary musician Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band (one of the band's members, percussionist Max Weinberg, was Conan O'Brien's original bandleader on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien from 1993 to the program's conclusion in 2009) performing a tribute song in honor of Stewart's Daily Show career.

During Stewart's Daily Show career, the show transformed from a niche cable "fake" news program with celebrity and comedic personalities, to one of the most-watched popular television programs in the nation.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart surpassed traditional news platforms over time, as Stewart interviewed political experts, figureheads, authors, pundits, politicians, humanitarians, national and world leaders.  When it came to certain politicians and people in the field of politics- Stewart would put them on the "hotseat," and ask questions that no other anchor/host from a news (or interview-based) program would have asked.

Stewart's show would spawn two best-selling books (with fellow Daily Show correspondents and writers)- America (The Book) in 2004 (the audiobook version won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word album), and Earth (The Book) in 2010.  Stewart is also praised for charitable causes, it was noted that he helped raise $2.2 million dollars (from his final show) for the organization New York Collaborates for Autism (according to CNBC).

In October 2010, both Stewart and Colbert (in his faux arch-conservative pundit role on The Colbert Report) took their comedic routine to Washington, D.C.- by having the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on the grounds of the National Mall.  It would have been great to have seen both Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert in person that year (a "Frederick to Washington" tour bus group was launched for interested patrons to attend the event, but was unfortunately scrapped due to a lack of interest for the event).  Luckily, I purchased a commemorative T-Shirt from the event (via Comedy Central's website).

With Stewart's departure from The Daily Show, the general public may never see another entertaining (and interesting) program like Stewart's Daily Show.  With the zaniness of the 2016 Presidential election coming in, who will we turn to for a satirical look at the election?  I guess Conan O'Brien's TBS show and Colbert's Late Show on CBS (which will premiere this September) will do for my "late night" fix.

At The Matinee salutes Jon Stewart for sixteen great years of The Daily Show.  

#JonVoyage

"At The Matinee" wants to hear from you!

1939 trade advertisement for the
screwball comedy Midnight, with
comments/suggestions from test
audiences who saw the test screening.

As we transition into August, the author of At The Matinee would like to hear from fellow friends and readers of this blog.

As I've stated before, this blog is dedicated to the field of classic/contemporary motion pictures, television, music and technology.  It has come to my attention that some readers of At The Matinee may not be interested in these subjects at all.  No matter what, that will not deter me from writing about classic/contemporary cinema and television (along with technology and music from time to time).

Plus, I will continue writing about the Frederick area cinema venues* and their ignorance of showcasing classic/contemporary films, the way they were meant to be seen- on the big screen.

ATM Wants To Hear From You!  As I am the author/head writer of this blog, I would enjoy hearing comments/suggestions from fellow readers and newcomers to At The Matinee.

For example: what works on this blog, and what doesn't work on this blog?  What improvements/changes could be made to this blog, and what general suggestions would you have for future posts on At The Matinee?

Plus, I'm also open to the idea of contributing posts (from interested writers) to this blog on classic/contemporary cinema, and other topics related to those aforementioned fields.

Again, I am open to all comments on At The Matinee or anything related to this blog (NOTE: all comments are monitored by the author).  Don't be afraid to ask!

You can add your comments at the bottom of this post, or you can e-mail me anytime (by clicking on the hyperlink).

Be on the lookout for new posts in August!

Thanks to all for your suggestions.  I highly appreciate it.

All the best,
Chris Hamby

*Excluding The Weinberg Center For The Arts from the cinema venues that are refusing to show revival screenings of classic/contemporary films, since the theater is closed for air-conditioning renovations from now until October.  

Shout! Factory to present streaming "Kaiju" movie marathon

There are many interesting aspects to the field of modern Japanese cinema- the groundbreaking films of "auteur" filmmakers, including Akira Kurosawa (1950's Rashomon and 1954's Seven Samurai), Yasujiro Ozu (1953's Tokyo Story and the Early Spring/Late Spring/Early Summer/Late Summer series of films)  and Keisuke Kinoshita (1954's Twenty-Four Eyes).  Besides these and other significant works of modern Japanese film, there's one genre that also fits in with modern cinema from Japan, and that would be known as Kaiju films.

Still from the original version of Godzilla (1954), which will be part of
Shout! Factory's streaming Kaiju marathon.  The original Japanese cut is also
available on DVD and Blu-Ray (paired with Godzilla: King of the Monsters)
from Janus Films' Criterion Collection line (under license from Toho Co., Ltd.).

What is Kaiju?  For those that may not know this, Kaiju is Japanese for "monster." After the success of the Toho studio and the popular 1954 Ishiro Honda film, Godzilla (Gojira, which was released here in the United States as Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 1956 with Raymond Burr), it set a cultural phenomenon not only in Japan, but worldwide as well.

Competing studio Daiei responded to Toho's success with the Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan series of films, by creating their own Kaiju film franchise- Gamera, beginning in 1965 (the original Gamera films were later picked up for television syndication by Sandy Frank, and have been famously riffed on Mystery Science Theater 3000)

When Godzilla, Gamera, and other Japanese Kaiju films were released in the United States, they were known for one interesting factor: poorly-dubbed English dialogue to replace the original Japanese dialogue track.

From the 1970's throughout the mid-1980's (before the author of this blog was born), many Japanese Kaiju films were staples of Saturday morning/Saturday afternoon movie programs on independent television stations from coast-to-coast.  The art of Japanese Kaiju motion pictures has a definitive place in motion picture and pop culture history.

SHOUT! FACTORY PRESENTS STREAMING KAIJU MOVIE MARATHON: If you're a Kaiju film enthusiast, a person who wants to learn more about cult Japanese monster films, or if you've never seen the original Godzilla film, Shout! Factory TV is offering an all-day marathon of classic Japanese Kaiju films.  The marathon will consist of nine Japanese monster films produced by Toho Studios, including the original uncut version of Godzilla.

In addition to the Toho-produced Kaiju feature films, there will be select episodes of the cult Japanese action television series, Ultra Seven and Ultra Q.  The marathon will be hosted by the world's foremost expert on Japanese Kaiju monster films, August Ragone.  The marathon will stream on the live website for Shout! Factory TV (not sure if it will be available on Shout's Roku channel) this Saturday at Midnight, and will last until Sunday at Midnight (EST).  The event will also be shown through Shout! Factory's online "live feed" on Pluto.TV (Channel 427).

Sit back, relax and watch some Kaiju films (whenever possible).

Double Indemnity (1944): Another classic that the Frederick area will miss out on

1944 Paramount promotional advertisement for
Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity, featuring Fred MacMurray,
Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson.

Billy Wilder's 1944 suspense film, Double Indemnity is one of the definitive films of the 1940's, and is considered by many as one of the true motion pictures in the "film noir" genre category.

It was adapted from James M. Cain's 1943 crime novel of the same name, which was originally featured as an eight-part story in Liberty Magazine.  Double Indemnity features Fred MacMurray as insurance salesman Walter Neff, Barbara Stanwyck as femme fatale Phyllis Dietrichson, and Edward G. Robinson as investigator Barton Keyes.  This was not the first pairing of MacMurray and Stanwyck, the two were in a previous Paramount film four years earlier, the Preston Sturges Christmas comedy Remember The Night (1940).

I'm not going to give away the complete synopsis of Double Indemnity, due to a upcoming re-release of the film.  With its dark, suspenseful gritty overtones and intriguing moments throughout the film, Wilder's adaptation of Double Indemnity became a smash success when it was released in 1944.  The film received numerous Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Barbara Stanwyck), Best Director (Billy Wilder), Best Screenplay (Billy Wilder & Raymond Chandler) and Best Dramatic Score (Miklos Rozsa).

1944 Newspaper ad for the Paramount-owned cinema in Newark, New Jersey-
showcasing Double Indemnity (from a 1944 issue of Motion Picture Herald).

Fourteen years later after its theatrical release, Double Indemnity was one of many pre-48 Paramount sound feature films that were sold to Lew Wasserman's MCA for television distribution, along with  re-release/re-make rights.  Television audiences in the Frederick area (circa 1958) may have experienced viewing Double Indemnity along with many other vintage Paramount features in the MCA package, when Washington's WTOP-TV 9 (W*USA after 1986) and Baltimore's WBAL-TV 11 acquired the broadcast rights (according to an advertisement in the Lantern Media History Archive).  

It was remade in 1973 as a made-for-TV-movie by Universal Studios, with Richard Crenna (as Walter Neff), Samantha Eggar (as Phyllis Dietrichson), and Lee J. Cobb (as Barton Keyes).

Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity will never fail to disappoint.  It is one of the many interesting (and iconic) classic motion pictures of all-time.  If you've never seen it before, see it when you have the chance to.

SPECIAL REVIVAL SCREENING OF DOUBLE INDEMNITY NATIONWIDE:  Universal Studios, Turner Classic Movies and NCM Fathom Events will present a special revival screening of Double Indemnity (1944) in theaters nationwide on July 19th and July 20th at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM (all times eastern).

Yet unfortunately, the Frederick area will miss out on this gem.  Frederick's cinema venues, MDL Holiday Cinemas, and the "eyesore" that is known to many as Regal Cinemas' 16-plex "Westview" complex are not planning to screen this definitive classic,  Frederick's cinemas (excluding the Weinberg Center For The Performing Arts, which is closed due to air-conditioning system renovations) are missing out on this golden opportunity, to showcase classic films the way they were meant to be seen- on the big screen.  

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This may sound far-fetched to some, but I think it's past time that Frederick had another movie theater/cinema venue.