Attention anyone who remembers or is simply curious about the early days of television: don’t miss this sneak peek at “Kinecon at Cinecon.” The annual screening of rare kinescopes from the 1940’s and ’50s — the days before videotape — is part of Cinecon, the classic film festival held over the Labour Day weekend in Los Angeles.
Stan Taffel, the president of Cinecon and a lifelong collector and preservation advocate, is the guest this week on Stu’s Show — Stu Shostak’s nostalgic, home-based, TV platform filled with rare gems, special guests and just generally stuff you won’t find or learn anywhere else.
The 58th annual Cinecon takes place September 1-5 in Los Angeles and, for the first time in three years it is returning to a live format. Rare prints of films, some over 100 years old, will be project at the Hollywood Legion Theatre. Silent reels will feature live musical accompaniment. Find a full list of titles and more information here.
I’ve known Stan for many years as we are both afflicted with 16mm fever — an unexplained urge to collect and exhibit reels of 16mm film. Stan has a house full of them, and has made the collection of rare TV kinescopes — recordings of early live shows shot off early TV monitors onto film — his specialty.
Among the stars he’ll feature this year at Cinecon are Sid Caesar, Jack Benny, Ethel Merman, Carl Reiner, Bert Wheeler, Danny Thomas, George Kirby, Howard Morris, and John Cameron Swayze.
Check out the sneak peek at Stu’s Show on-line here; it’s also available on Roku. Missed it? Stu repeats all his episodes on-demand on YouTube, Vimeo and Dailymotion.
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