Silent films have needed the voice of a strong advocate since at least the early decades of the last century, when “talkies” first started pushing them toward obscurity. Perhaps if Eugene film historian, author, biographer, and film fanatic Lon Davis had been born in Hollywood during that transitional era, the legacy of silent films wouldn’t have grown so pale in the glare of more modern cinema.
Davis recently launched his ninth consecutive season of monthly silent movie presentations for residents of the Willamette Oaks senior center, where “the audiences are the most marvelous people,” he says. “They are educated about, and know and love, silent films.”
This past October, Davis wrapped up a successful triple bill of public screenings at Willamette Oaks, spotlighting a trio of subjects on his list of all-time favorite movie topics. He launched his series with a program called “King of the Movies: Francis X. Bushmann”—not so coincidentally, also the title of his (and wife Debra’s) most recent book. The other programs covered the life of escape artist and movie producer/director/actor Harry Houdini, and the making of the Buster Keaton silent action/comedy classic about a Civil War troop train, The General, filmed in Cottage Grove.
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Davis says there are now dozens of sensational silent films on DVD, and he offers plenty of recommendations—especially for folks new to the silent era: Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Harold Lloyd: “I don’t think anybody can beat the masters of comedy.” Director D.W. Griffith: ”Tremendous dramas!” Rudolf Valentino: “Fascinating!” The Gish sisters and Marian Davies: “Wonderful!” John Barrymore: “A stunning actor!” Lon Chaney (after whom Davis was named): “A genius. Probably the greatest actor ever!”
“Because of the imagination it takes to watch silent films,” says Davis, “you have to give twice as much concentration. But the more you invest in something, the more you get out of it.” If there is a movie buff anywhere who understands this investment, and the life-long passion that can grow out of a young boy’s fascination with silent film, it would be Davis.
“Film is in my blood—I could thread a movie projector in my sleep,” jokes Davis. “And I often have done just that!”
A vinyl Resting Place
In February 1989, Madonna was perched atop the Billboard music charts with a hit single and video. The song, “Like A Prayer,” was available on CD, but not on vinyl.
Same month, same year, longtime Eugene resident Bill Finneran was getting pats on the back for having just successfully staged the first Eugene Record Convention. It was attended by about 200 local vinyl record enthusiasts.
Reflecting back today, 22 conventions—and a whole lot of Billboard hits—later, Finneran confesses that he held few expectations that his original record collectors’ confab at the Hilton might survive beyond its maiden year.
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But much like the Rolling Stones, survive it has!
This year’s gathering—on Sunday, Jan. 31, at the Eugene Hilton—will offer far more music than was ever displayed during the convention’s early years. In excess of 100 vendors from as far away as Los Angeles and Seattle will ply not only thousands of 45s, 78s, and LPs, but also untold quantities of CDs, rock ’n’ roll posters, memorabilia, audio hardware, and novelty items.
And yet, according to Finneran, “Vinyl is still king!”
In fact, Finneran says last year’s convention attendees are still abuzz over boxes of pristine albums from the collection of a particular radio DJ—since passed—whose professional lifespan covered the early 1960s through 1975. Roughly 6,000 of his albums were made available for sale in 2009, but the same vendor is expected back this year with even more discs. And according to Finneran, the 20,000-disc collection features “unusual, crazy stuff that hasn’t ever been played or even touched.”
Finneran also points out that there are always great deals to be found at the convention. Vendors typically offer large assortments of records and CDs for a dollar each. Also, bargain hunters often find album covers—many of them kitschy, or nostalgic, or downright strange—more appealing than the music inside the jackets.
“One thing that makes collecting records so cool,” says Finneran, “is that pretty much everybody was once a record buyer. Every household in the U.S once had a big stack of records. So to an extent, everybody was once a record collector.”
The Spirit of Giving Gift Trees Support Families and Children By Vanessa Salvia
One way to help make this season a little more joyous for families in need is to buy a gift for a gift tree. There are many of these trees around town; they’re decorated with tags rather than ornaments, and are often located in shopping centers or office buildings. Shoppers are invited to purchase the item listed or suggested on the tag. The gifts are then distributed to needy families or children.
Kristin Kauble, volunteer and support-services coordinator for Relief Nursery, is organizing the group’s giving tree this year. Relief Nursery helps support children and families who are at risk for abuse or neglect due to various hardships such as unemployment, disabilities, substance abuse, or homelessness. The Nursery recruits local businesses and clubs to host a tree; the goal is to provide one clothing item and one toy each for every child the nursery serves. “We have businesses that will take 15 tags and ask each staff member to take one,” Kauble says. “We have people who will take a tag and ask that, rather than someone buying them a Christmas gift, they buy a gift for a Nursery child instead. We try and get help from as many areas throughout the community as we can.” Kauble says Relief Nursery fills about 2,300 tags each holiday season. Last year, 39 businesses hosted a tree for Relief Nursery.
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“The best and the saddest part about this whole thing,” she says, “is you’ll ask a child, ‘If you had anything for Christmas that you wanted, what would it be?’ and they’ll say pajamas or a new pair of socks, or something like that. Stuff that we take for granted.” The gifts should be modest, costing about $15, and Kauble says the agency ensures that siblings receive gifts of similar value, and that each gift is age-appropriate and something they feel the child could really use. The Nursery gives the gifts to the parents, unwrapped. “The parents can really feel empowered to be able to give the gift to their children,” Kauble says. “The response from the parents is that they’re pretty overwhelmed. It makes them feel supported, and that the community cares about them.”
Last year, the Nursery was worried that the economy would take its toll on the amount that people had to give, but they received more gifts than ever. That was not the case for the Eugene Active 20-30 Club, though. Gift tree project co-chair Autumn Cummings says that last year they received about 75 percent of what they needed. “The economy really hit us hard,” Cummings says. The Eugene Active 20-30 Club has been hosting a giving tree since 2002. The organization is a chapter of a worldwide organization of people in their 20s and 30s who raise money for children’s charities in their local communities. Through their annual Autzen Stadium fireworks display, Emeralds baseball game concessions, Christmas tree pick-up, and other projects, the Eugene chapter raises $40,000 to $50,000 per year for local charities. Last year, 10 local organizations benefitted from 20-30 Club dollars, including the Relief Nursery, Willamette Family Treatment Services, Catholic Community Services, Head Start, Looking Glass, Pearl Buck Center, DHS, Kids First, and CASA.
Each year, 20-30 Club volunteers survey local organizations to find out how many gifts they will need for the families they support. Gift tree project co-chair Jennifer Larson says that in 2008 they received a request for 2,470 ornaments. Larson has already seen an increase in the number of requests they are receiving for 2009.
The 20-30 Club’s tree is located in front of JC Penney at Valley River Center. The tree is decorated Nov. 13, timed to coincide with Santa’s arrival at the mall on Nov. 14. The tree is continuously monitored, and staffers only accept unwrapped gifts.
It has long been Larson’s tradition to select a gift for the 20-30 Club’s giving tree, and now that she’s organizing the project, it has special meaning for her. For Cummings, it’s gratifying to help support local charities in other ways besides writing checks, which is much of what the 20-30 Club does. “It’s really awesome to see how thankful these organizations are,” she says. “It gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling to know you’ve done this awesome thing.”
Thanks to these and the many other volunteers who staff gift trees all around town, we have many easy opportunities to give a gift that truly makes a difference in someone’s life.
Relief Nursery
1720 W 25th Ave
541/343-9706
reliefnursery.org
Eugene Active 20-30 Club
541/341-6200
eugene2030.org
