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Book Signing



Now Playing: Hand-Painted Poster Art from the 1910s through the 1950s, co-published and sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has received considerable publicity. An exhibit on the subject is on display through Thanksgiving at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater at 1313 Vine Street in Hollywood, and open whenever the theatre has a public screening. I will be signing copies of the book at A Different Light Bookstore on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood on Thursday, August 30, at 7:30 PM.

On Sunday, September 23, at 3:00 PM, I will be appearing at the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Theatre in Bowling Green, Ohio, presenting a program on “The Other Griffith Actresses.” Admission is free.

On Thursday, November 15, at 7:30 PM, I will be presenting the program, “Vaudeville on Film,” at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, and signing copies of both New York City Vaudeville and Incorrect Entertainment. All profits go to the Museum, which is well worth supporting.

In response to what appears to be a favorite question these days. Yes, I have recorded another DVD commentary. It is for The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936), which is part of the major John Ford boxed set of DVDs, to be released by 20th Century Fox later this year. I have also been videotaped for a documentary on Ireland and the Cinema, the title of which is yet to be finalized, but which will be shown on commercial television in the Republic of Ireland, and for which the producers also hope to make a U.S. sale.



Will Rogers Commentary



In July, 20th Century-Fox will be releasing on DVD four Will Rogers films, for three of which — DOUBTING THOMAS, IN OLD KENTUCKY and LIFE BEGINS AT FORTY — I provided commentary. (I have further recorded the DVD commentary for UNDER MY SKIN, released in 1950 and adapted from an Ernest Hemingway short story.) Also in July, Arcadia Publishing is bringing out NEW YORK CITY VAUDEVILLE, a collection of photographs and artifacts from my extensive vaudeville archives. The photographs in this book, together with other photographs and films which I control, can be licensed from Producers Library Service at www.producerslibrary.com


William Haines' essay



I am privileged to have provided a short essay on William Haines' screen career to an outstanding coffee table book, published in October 2005, CLASS ACT -- WILLIAM HAINES: LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD DECORATOR by Peter Schifando and Jean H. Mathison, published by Pointed Leaf Press.

The DVD of THE RAINS CAME, to which Robert Birchard and I contributed commentary, has now been released -- in November 2005 -- by 20th Century-Fox.


The Razor's Edge Commentary



In July 2005, 20th Century-Fox released THE RAZOR'S EDGE (1946) on DVD, with commentary by myself and Robert Birchard. The LOS ANGELES TIMES (May 22, 2005) described our commentary as "juicy." Bob Birchard and I hae also recorded commentaries for 7th HEAVEN (1927) and THE RAIN'S CAME (1939), both of which should soon be available on DVD. Also in July, I videotaped an interview with Hilary Mackendrick on the work of her husband Alexander "Sandy" Mackendrick, which will appear as an extra on Optimum Releasing's UK release of WHISKY GALORE! (1949, and released in the U.S. as TIGHT LITTLE ISLAND)

On July 10, 2005, I was at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, signing copies of SILENT PLAYERS and AMERICAN RACIST, and I would like to thank all those who came by to say hello and (better yet) to purchase copies of the books.


Filmmakers Series



After 25 years, Scarecrow Press has informed me that it no longer wishes to continue publication of the Filmmakers series, of which I am editor. I feel both sadness and bitterness that such a worthwhile publishing venture in the field of film literature, which has included both critical biographies and autobiographies, is to disappear. I take heart from Leonard Maltin's recent comment on his website,

"Tony deserves some sort of award for seeing to it that so many autobiographies made their way to print that wouldn't have stood a chance with mainstream publishers. The memoirs of such veterans (and pioneers) as Alice Guy Blache, Henry Wilcoxon, Georgia Hale, Joseph Henabery, Curt Siodmak, Jimmy Starr, Charles G. Clarke, Esther Ralston, William Bakewell, John Bright, Maurice Rapf, Edward Bernds, Bernard Vorhaus, Rose Hobart, Lita Grey Chaplin, Ronald Neame, and Harry Carey Jr. constitute a major contribution to film literature and scholarship."

The last group of books in the series, coming in 2005, include the autobiographies of screenwriter / producer Sydney Box and legendary cinematographer Ossie Morris, as well as studies of African-American singer / actress Elisabeth Welch, 3-D filmmakers, and David Lynch

Those with whom I have spoken directly will know of my deep sorrow at what has happened to Scarecrow Press and the manner in which it has been managed. It will come as no surprise, therefore, that what is my latest book, SILENT TOPICS: ESSAYS ON UNDOCUMENTED AREAS OF SILENT FILM, is quite definitely my last for the company. Published as a $35.00 paperback, SILENT TOPICS: ESSAYS ON UNDOCUMENTED AREAS OF SILENT FILM, examines various under-discussed or completely ignored areas of cinema. Included here are essays on the release of British silent films in the United States, the "Great Events" series produced in the 1920's by Technicolor, the manner in which silent sheet music exploited film personalities, production costs of silent feature films, special effects pioneer Roy Pomeroy, actor/minister Neal Dodd, Margerie Bonner (Mrs. Malcolm Lowry), and an analysis of talent and lack of it in silent actors and actresses, as well as the only interview with composer/arranger David Mendoza.