Balboa's 83nd Birthday AND Oscar Party
Feb 22nd, 2009

THE PARTIES ARE OVER

But not forgotten soon. If you were at the Balboa's Birthday Bash and/or Oscar Party you know what a great time was had by all. (As you can see in these photos by Christine Torrington -- see below.) The rain could not stop the crowds who came to celebrate the Balboa's 83rd Birthday. And they were not disappointed. We started with several surprises. . . a 1926 newsreel, trailers for films of the season and a rare Buster Keaton and Fatty Arbuckle comedy that had us laughing out loud for 20 minutes. Ken Muir's live accompaniment on piano was a delight. Our vaudeville show started off with Sebastian Boswell III offering an authentic comic mind-reading act taken from a 1920 routine. Next up Linda Kosut and her lovely voice delivered a selection of pop songs of the era and concluded with leading the audience singing "Happy Birthday Balboa." Some filmed vaudeville acts, too big for our stage, played and then James Hamilton amazed us all with a series of truly magical illusions.

The evening's main attraction, MY BEST GIRL was a smash hit with the superb piano accompaniment of Frederick Hodges. A couple hundred people discovered Mary Pickford on Sunday afternoon and fell in love with her. Most of her films are available on DVD so get over to Le Video on 9th Avenue with their extensive collection or check them out at www.milestonefilms.com

After tremendous applause, the audience gathered in the lobby for an amazing Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate Mary Pickford Birthday cake created by Diane Boate. The cake was washed down with beer, wine and liqueur courtesy of Robert Meyer.

Everybody who attended took home prizes.

Birthday Photos

Gary joins pianist Frederick Hodges at the keyboard

Baking wizard assembles her Mary Pickford cake

Singer Linda Kosut

The top tower of Diane Boate's Mary Pickford Balboa Birthday Cake- note tower on top

Party fun

Then, Oscar Time

The Oscar party that followed was our best yet. Near perfect coordination between emcee Reed Kirk Rahlman and our projectionist Jim Cassedy meant the entire Oscar show was projected on the big screen but during the breaks lots of fun was had live with impersonations, trivia questions and audience opinions. Tons of great prizes were given out (again, everyone went home with goodies) and Linda Kosut returned to sing Oscar nominated songs.

I watched the show and one of the things I appreciated about the Balboa audience was your spirit. Laughter and applause was plentiful but you were respectful of the show as if actually being at the Kodak Theatre.

A great time was had by all.

MY BEST GIRL - Starring Mary Pickford

Mary Pickford stars in one of her best films, MY BEST GIRL as the "Miss Fix-it" for her eccentric family. Pickford's job at a dime-store keeps her postman dad, addlepated mom and loose-living sister from going under. She falls in love with handsome Charles "Buddy" Rogers, never dreaming that the boy is the son of store-owner Hobart Bosworth. Based on a story by Kathleen Norris and directed by Sam Taylor. (more here: www.mybestgirl27.com)

"A timeless Cinderella tale set in the roaring twenties, "My Best Girl" is one of Hollywood's greatest romantic comedies."- Village Voice

Mary Pickford (1892-1979) was the first actress to achieve international super stardom; She was celebrated around the world for her remarkable acting ability, her string of hit films, and her pioneering behind-the-scenes achievements as one of the founders of United Artists (with Douglas Fairbanks, Charles Chaplin and D.W. Griffith. She was also the first actress to produce her own films. Mary's fairy-tale marriage to action star Douglas Fairbanks made the pair Hollywood's first royal couple. And, as such, they presided as hosts to movie industry stars and moguls, presidents and real royalty at their legendary home, Pickfair.

The peak of her popularity lasted more than 20 years, during which she was voted the "Number One Actress of the Year" by Photoplay 15 times. Thousands of fans turned out whenever Mary made a public appearance. Even in the Soviet Union - despite a total news blackout ordered by the Hollywood-hating Stalin - word of Mary's arrival in Moscow spread like wildfire and brought the city to a total standstill. (Don't miss the Russian A KISS FOR MARY PICKFORD showing Saturday, Feb. 14 at the SF Silent Film Festival's special day at the Castro.)

Mary Pickford was not only one of the biggest stars in the history of Hollywood, but one of the most powerful people in the film business. When Adolf Zukor tried to low ball her on a contract renewal she challenged him and also became one of the highest paid stars with the right to chose her projects, produce them and even direct if she wanted.

For decades most of Mary's films were out of circulation and her charm and feisty humor

had been appreciated by reputation only. (excerpted from the Milestone Films press kit. Download and Read the entire kit: Mary Pickford Press Kit - PDF)

Learn more at the Mary Pickford Institute's terrific website: www.MaryPickford.com

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