Balboa's 82nd Birthday - Feb 27th, 2008
This past week was a special one for the Balboa. Our Oscar Party was a smash success with the audience as master of ceremonies Reed Kirk Rahlmann kept the festivities fast and fun. The most popular movies based on those who came dressed inspired by nominated movies, were JUNO and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. But nobody combined the two. There is something really special about watching the Oscar show on the big screen with an audience of movie fans looking for a good time. Thanks again to Robert Meyer (no relation) for arranging the special libations to make the evening merrier.
The Balboa's 82nd Birthday Bash was as perfect as we could have asked for. As showtime approached vintage autos rolled up and their passengers emerged as if it was a moment in 1926. Many audience members who packed the Balboa were dressed to the nines, flapper style or in the pirate spirit.
The evening started with Suzanne Ramsey playing the piano and signing songs as audience members entered the theater watching classic theater lantern slides. First up was a hand-colored newsreel of Paris clothing fashions in 1926. A welcome by yours truly and then 20 minutes on non-stop laughs with Laurel and Hardy in THEIR PURPLE MOMENT with pianist Frederick Hodges burning up the keyboard to set the mood. Previews for a lost serial, THE HAUNTED ISLAND promised 15 chapters of action with giant gorillas, clutching hands, explosions, cowboys, pirates and alligators! Suzanne started off our vaudeville show when she returned to sing funny and slightly racy songs of the era and concluded leading the audience signing "Happy Birthday Balboa." After each refrain, the audience roared "AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH" in their best pirate voices. The bill continued on the big screened with imported acts including a most unusual "Danse Serpentine," a 6-foot dancing pig, Japanese acrobats and the master magician and filmmaker George Melies.
Balboa General Manager Roger Paul gave away a DVD of the Black Pirate with a trivia question that could only be answered by an audience member under 15 (and we are thrilled there were many there). Roger then eloquently paid homage to our audiences; you who loyally support the Balboa, attending, telling your friends and rewarding this newsletter. We couldn't do it without you.
Next up with James Hamilton performing magical miracles involving a bottle of rum, a an empty treasure chest suddenly full if doubloons and Douglas Fairbanks' sword, used to spear a deck of cards, finding three chosen at random from the audience.
Many prizes were given out during intermission including silent film DVDs courtesy of Kino, Criterion Collection and Flicker Alley plus books about classic movie posters from www.emovieposter.com.
Then to the big events. As the audience returned to the auditorium a surprise appeared on the screen. There was Jim Cassedy, our head projectionist, speaking to us fro is projection booth but projected onto the big screen. He showed s the results of crawling around back stage and in the rafters. . . a 1928 Balboa playbill and vintage beer bottles. And then he explained how "2 strip Technicolor" was filmed and processed.
And then into THE BLACK PIRATE. The stunning color adds to the fun as Douglas Fairbanks takes us on an exciting adventure filled with laughter and thrills, accompanied by the breathless music of Frederick Hodges. It makes no difference how many times I see this one, it is always great fun.
Following the show, the audience enjoyed this year's delicious cake made by Diane Boate with tasty Black Box Wines.
You had to be there and we are glad so many of you were. Mark your calendars for next year... February 27, 2009.
Sincerely,
Gary
Photos above by Robert Liner
Balboa's 82nd Birthday - Program
BALBOA BIRTHDAY BASH
February 27th
7:00pm. (Doors open at 6:30)
Download the The Birthday Bash Playbill (The program with illustrations)
FEATURING DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS IN "THE BLACK PIRATE"
The Balboa Theatre will celebrate its 81st Birthday with a special screening of Douglas Fairbanks' swashbuckling classic THE BLACK PIRATE.
We urge you to dress in clothing from the 1920s or in pirate attire. To help supplement your needs in this area, consider a visit to our friends at San Francisco's unique Pirate Shop at 826 Valencia.
Frederick Hodges (www.frederickhodges.com) will provide a live original musical score to accompany the beautiful Technicolor 35mm Archival print.
A live vaudeville show featuring Suzanne "Kitten on the Keys" Ramsey (www.suzanneramsey.net)
and Magician Extraordinare James Hamilton (www.amazingmagicshow.com/Hamilton.htm) plus classic short subjects will entertain the audience in a recreation of a night at the movies in 1926, the year the Balboa Theatre opened.
Audience members are encouraged to come dressed in clothing of the Roaring 20s.... or as Pirates.
There will be surprises and prizes:
Plus fantastic books and other goodies.
After the show an extravagant Birthday Cake created by Dianne Boate aka "The Cake Lady" and librations provided through the generosity of Robert Meyer from Black Box Wines.
The Balboa Birthday Bash will start at 7:00pm. Doors open at 6:30.
General Admission is $12.00.
Children under 12 and seniors: $9.00
Balboa Theatre
3630 Balboa Street (@ 37th Avenue)
San Francisco, CA
(415) 221-3117
THE BLACK PIRATE
The Black Pirate (1926) was lightning in a bottle, set on the high seas with relentless action, energetic humor and the absence of a pointlessly convoluted plot, held to a sensible 88 minutes. Fairbanks developed fantastic stunts while dazzling his audience with two-strip Technicolor throughout the film. The notable absence of women (much to the delight of Fairbanks' target audience there were only two) was largely due to a storyline occupied by bloodthirsty cutthroats, noble mariners and "Doug", somewhere in the middle. Billie Dove was cast as the love interest and obligatory damsel in distress, Princess Isobel, based on Fairbanks' belief that she photograph well in color. Donald Crisp was memorable as MacTavish, a one-armed Scottish buccaneer and first mate of sorts, while Fairbanks' mascot Charles Stevens played the powder man, who gleefully encircled captive sailors with a trail of black powder before blowing them up with their ship.
The essence of fairytale Hollywood, The Black Pirate was filmed at Fairbanks/Pickford Studios while Mary was making Sparrows (1926). The story is told that Pickford forbade her husband from kissing another woman, including any actress in any of his films. The final scene of The Black Pirate called for Fairbanks to kiss the Princess. Mary was suitably costumed and facing away from the camera, performed the clincher herself. Another well known story, fact or fable, tells of Fairbanks dashing across the lot to unleash a verbal attack on director William Beaudine after hearing he had placed Mary mere feet from the snapping jaws and razor sharp teeth of ferocious alligators. Other sources claim photographer Charles Rosher employed a "masked' shot to achieve the effect, with the actors and animals separated by a considerable distance. The animals were also tied down, but "Doug's tirade is a far better story."
David Jeffers - www.siffblog.com
Get ideas for your costume:
Books and More
Many books have been written about Douglas Fairbanks including memoirs by his son Douglas Fairbanks Jr. But our favorites are by film critic and filmmaker Richard Schickel: HIS PICTURE IN THE PAPERS and DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS: THE FIRST CELEBRITY and THE FAIRBANKS ALBUM - DRAWN FROM THE FAMILY ARCHIVES with a narrative by Schickel and selections by Fairbanks Jr.
Want to know more about silent films?
Silent Era has lots of news and is a great place to find out where to buy new releases of silent films on DVD.
To find great photos:
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