IT CAME FROM THE BOTTOM SHELF!

Since 1979, The Niles Film Museum has been celebrating Charlie Chaplin Days in the historic district of Niles, in Fremont, California, where Chaplin made a handful of films for the Essanay Film Company.  This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festivities are relocating online (via ZOOM, YouTube, and other apps) from Friday, June 26th to Sunday, June 28th.  All of the panel presentations are free, as are almost all of the films (exceptions are noted on the schedule below).

Most of the links to the films and presentations will not be live until 12:01 AM on the day of each event, so you will need to go to the show page at nilesfilmmuseum.org starting tomorrow to access the fun.  Here’s what you can expect:

FRIDAY NIGHT, JUNE 26th

PRESENTATIONS

• Vaudeville in the time of the Little Tramp -Trav SD
• Chaplinitis – Michael J. Hayde
• Chaplin Niles Locations Presentation – John Bengston
• A story about The Great Dictator – David Totheroh
• FROM THE ARCHIVES: SYMPOSIUM about CHAPLIN (the 1992 bio film) In 2017, we celebrated 25 years of the Oscar-nominated “Chaplin” film which earned Robert Downey, Jr. a nomination. Our illustrious panel shared stories about the filming: Dan Kamin, Marc Wanamaker , David Totheroh, Sam Gill.

*************
FILM SHORTS
FREE STREAMING AVAILABLE FOR THE WEEKEND
(Thank you, Serge Bromberg and Lobster Films)

• A Night Out (1915) Intro by Michael Bonham
• The Champion (1915) Intro by Michael Bonham
• In The Park (1915) Intro by Lea Stans
• A Jitney Elopement (1915) Intro by Dorothy Bradley
• The Tramp (1915) Intro by Bob Garfinkle

*************
FEATURE FILMS
(TO CONNECT WITH OUR PRESENTATIONS)

AVAILABLE FOR A FEE ON AMAZON PRIME, etc
Chaplin (1992) – the bio film online prior to watching this discussion.

AVAILABLE FOR A FEE ON STREAMING SERVICES OR FREE AS PART OF CRITERION CHANNEL 14-DAY TRIAL
The Great Dictator (1940)

*************
SATURDAY, JUNE 27th

PRESENTATIONS

• ZOOM (1 PM EDT): Meet David Robinson – David Robinson is the author of Chaplin: His Life and Art, considered the gold standard of Chaplin biographies. Among his many books is a pioneering study of Buster Keaton. He directed both the Pordenone Silent and Edinburgh International film festivals. In this wide-ranging interview, conducted by fellow Chaplin expert Dan Kamin, David will discuss his career, current projects and latest discoveries about Chaplin. The session will include an audience Q&A. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88461047338
• ZOOM (4 PM EDT): Funnyman – This preview of the Chaplin miniseries in development by Jason Allin and Dan Kamin will include an audience Q&A. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84363051873
• Chaplin’s World Presentation – Bob Garfinkle
• Chaplin’s Film Mystery – a new mini documentary by Nigel Dreiner

*************
FILM SHORTS

• A Dog’s Life (1918) Intro by Larry Telles
• Nice and Friendly (1922) Intro by Lisa Stein Haven

*************
FREE STREAMING AVAILABLE FOR A WEEK
(Courtesy of Lobster Films)

Sydney, the Other Chaplin (Documentary) – Since his debut in 1914, Charles Chaplin has never ceased to amaze. But surely, Charles would have never reached such heights if it weren’t for his big brother Sydney, an improbable character of the shadows with a fiction-like destiny. Intro by Lisa Stein Haven

*************
SUNDAY, JUNE 28th

PRESENTATIONS

• ZOOM (1:00 pm EDT): The Whiz Bang Talent Show, Trivia Quiz, Lookalike Contest and Goodtime Hour
  with music by Janet Klein & prerecorded segments
• ZOOM (5 PM EDT): Charlie Chaplin’s Red Letter Days with Dan Kamin – In 1914 World War One shook the world with bombs and Charlie Chaplin shook it with laughter. In “Charlie Chaplin’s Red Letter Days” you’ll discover the surprising ways in which the great comedian affected the Great War and vice versa. The program will include a showing of Chaplin’s blockbuster war comedy Shoulder Arms, with a new score composed by Jon C. Mirsalis especially for Chaplin Days 2020. Don’t miss this LIVE and INTERACTIVE excursion into the public and private worlds of the comic legend. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88047139646
• Making the Tramp – Jason Allin
• Charlie’s Strange Predicament – A new mini documentary by Nigel Dreiner
• Max (Linder) and Charlie – with Lisa Stein Haven

*************
FILMS

• The Professor (1922) Intro by Hooman Mehran
• The Bond (1918) Intro by Sarah Biegelson
• When the Movies Came from Niles (1964) Intro by Rena Kiehn

*************
FREE STREAMING – FEATURE FILM
Shoulder Arms with musical accompaniment by Jon Mirsalis
2:00 – 4:30 pm PDT / 5:00 – 7:30 pm EDT