Silent film exhibits at San Francisco Public Library

thomas_gladysz · Post by **thomas_gladysz** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:42 pm

The San Francisco Public Library has just opened a series of exhibits devoted to the silent film era

from http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=1006779101

Shhhhh! Silents in the Library

Explore the silent film era through displays of rare books, ephemera and photographs. The Silent Screen in the City looks at the Bay Area’s role in silent film production, while Downtown Movie Palaces of the 1920s evokes a visit to San Francisco's lost theater landmarks. Reading the Stars showcases vintage books about the movies published during the era. Included is a nod to The San Francisco Silent Film Festival, one of the world’s largest silent film festivals, now in its sixteenth year.
June 25 - Aug. 28, Main, Fourth Floor and Sixth Floor History Center Exhibit Space

More about the Individual displays…

Reading the Stars: The Silent Era
Just like today, the movie going public of the Teens and Twenties had an insatiable appetite for reading material about their favorite actors and films. Reading the Stars looks at some of the books published about the movies during the silent film era, including vintage biographies, pictorials, how-to titles and even novels, poetry and self-help works written by some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Main Library, Steve Silver Room – 4th floor (curator –Thomas Gladysz)
Read more at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/tgl ... y_id=91786

The Silent Screen in the City
From the earliest days of movies, San Francisco was a star attraction and attracted stars. From the Golden Gate Park to Pacific Heights and Chinatown, the city served as the backdrop for hundreds of silent films drawing famous stars like Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Lon Chaney and Buster Keaton. The Silent Screen in the City explores these actors and some of the scenes, studios and scandals that occurred in San Francisco and nearby towns such as San Mateo, San Rafael and Niles.
Main Library – 4th floor (curator – Rory J. O’Connor)

Downtown Movie Palaces of the 1920s
Follow the crowds! Follow the stars! Experience the lost landmarks of San Francisco's splendorous theaters built for and devoted to motion pictures, where a program entailed music, vaudeville, news views, and the feature silent photoplay (film) with live organ accompaniment. This mini-exhibit features portraits of silent film stars and ephemera documenting such theaters as the Lowes Warfield, Pantages Theatre and Granada.
Main Library, San Francisco History Center – 6th floor

"Shhhhh! Silents in the Library" coincides with the 16th annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival, which takes place July 14-17 at the Castro Theater. A display of past posters from the Festival are also on display at the SFPL.

thomas_gladysz · Post by **thomas_gladysz** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:05 pm

There are three free programs associated with "Shhhhh! Silents in the Library" at the San Francisco Public Library.

Rudolph Valentino, film screening & author talk
Sunday, July 10 (2011) 1:00p to 3:00p
at SF Public Library Main, San Francisco, CA

"Son of the Sheik" (1926) was the last film to feature Rudolph Valentino - one of the great stars of the silent era. This special screening, part of the San Francisco Public Library celebration of silent film, "Shhhhh! Silents in the Library," will be introduced by Donna Hill, author of the recently released "Rudolph Valentino: The Silent Idol." A book signing will follow.

More info at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133864993357963
and
http://events.sfgate.com/san-francisco- ... uthor-talk

Guided tour of "Reading the Stars"
Sunday, August 7 (2011) 1:00p to 1:30p
at SF Public Library Main, San Francisco, CA

Exhibit organizers Thomas Gladysz, Christy Pascoe and Donna Hill will lead a guided tour of "Reading the Stars." This special exhibit, on display on the 4th floor in the Steve Silver Beach Blanket Babylon room, looks at some of the many books about movies and movies stars published more than 80 years ago during the silent film era; the exhibit is part of "Shhhhh! Silents in the Library."

http://www.zvents.com/z/san-francisco-c ... -196140225

An afternoon with silent film star "Baby Peggy"
Sunday, August 7 (2011) 2:00p to 3:30p
at SF Public Library Main, San Francisco, CA

In the 1920s, Diana Serra Cary was known as "Baby Peggy." Signed to a million dollar contract at age five, this child actress was once one of the biggest little film star celebrities in the world. At this special event, Cary will speak about her remarkable life in Hollywood more than 80 years ago, her recent work as a writer and film historian, and her lifelong love of books and reading. A book signing will follow.

http://events.sfgate.com/san-francisco- ... baby-peggy

thomas_gladysz · Post by **thomas_gladysz** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:11 am

The article "Reading the stars: books from old Hollywood," can be found on the San Francisco Chronicle website at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/tgl ... y_id=91786