Another treasure unearthed...

Recently I've received a couple of comments from others interested in the lovely Edith Meinhard, which is wonderful! I haven't given up on her, but it's been tough to find any new information as of late...in English, that is. Using the right keywords makes all the difference, and tonight they've led me to a lovely surprise in an issue of Das Magazin from 1928:

I hope to have more updates for you soon, major or minor. I do keep her filmography post updated as new films become available to stream or purchase. Many thanks for the wonderful feedback!

Not "just a show".

There are a few factors that have brought about my interest in film: the Star Wars trilogy re-release that dominated my childhood, chancing upon a series of short silents on TCM that had me instantly hooked, the discovery of Louise Brooks and her sharp-witted Hollywood anecdotes. One thing I've never really discussed is my love of Mystery Science Theater 3000, the show where a man and his bots, marooned in space, are forced to watch cheesy B-movies and ultimately riff on them to help ease their pain (and ours). The show doesn't have much plot otherwise, save for the Sci-Fi Channel years in which time travel plotlines were forced upon the Brains. There's all kinds of information available for the uninitiated should you be interested in checking out MST3K yourself; as for a starting point, I'd recommend any episode from seasons 2-7 except for Manos: The Hands of Fate (you're better off working your way up to that one).

My collection of bots with a Gamera vs. Guiron mini-poster, signed by Joel Hodgson when he brought his one-man show, Riffing Myself, to the Dryden Theater this past May.

Sadly, I didn't get into the show until recently, though I do recall vague details from the original Comedy Central run (the bots, Joel and Mike, the Shadowrama in the theater, the "spaghetti ball" logo). There were so many things competing for my attention that I settled into all of the other weirdness '90s TV had to offer, and poor MST3K was left in the dust. Back in 2009, having just recently relocated to Cincinnati, I was browsing various websites, when I stumbled upon a clip from the show (though I honestly don't remember which episode). I was intrigued enough to start watching episodes whenever I could, realizing what a perfect gem I had neglected all those years ago. During a trip to Chicago that winter, I stepped into Reckless Records in the hopes of picking up some cheap CDs. They also had a section of used DVDs, and I noticed a few MST3K box sets in the mix. Volume 3 accompanied me on the chilly bus ride home, and I've never looked back.

 I had the pleasure of meeting Joel after the show in May. Every bit as nice and funny as you'd expect.

So why MST3K? Despite the theme song's claims, it's more than just a show to me. It's gotten me through difficult times, lifting my spirits enough to fight through any challenge, and I will always be grateful. It's also shaped the way I look at any film, good or bad. Sometimes even the biggest clunkers demonstrate a passion for the craft, and beloved classics could stand to be knocked down a peg. Riffing opens the door to critical thinking, an absolutely vital skill as nothing should be taken directly at face value. Less seriously, it's a chance to laugh and lighten ourselves up. The best riffing comes from a place of love (though most current Hollywood dreck shouldn't get off lightly), whether of the film itself, the characters in it, or the love of the medium. And when it's been elevated to an art form by the Best Brains, now behind RiffTrax and (the soon-to-be-ending, sadly) Cinematic Titanic, you can't help but fall in love yourself.

P.S. If you're looking for something to do this weekend, the Dryden Theater will be screening an episode of MST3K: Bride of the Monster. An excellent show at a valuable institution.

Oh, could she dance...

Sadly, there have been no major advances in my search for more information about Edith Meinhard's career...but I've come across a couple of interesting clippings that detail time spent working the cabaret circuit. Seeing her dance (and even sing) in films like Die Austernlilli, Hallo Janine!, and Musketier Meier III, I had a hunch that she had had some theater experience. It turns out that she was rubbing elbows with the likes of Rudolf Nelson and Kurt Gerron (her collaborator/co-star on several film projects).

The original source notes that this illustration is from a performance of "Glück muß man haben!"in 1930 at Rudolf Nelson's theater on Kurfürstendamm. Gerron is second from left, Meinhard is furthest right.

I still have a great deal of research ahead of me with regard to Berlin's cabaret scene, but I did find an advertisement from 1927 (with thanks to Google Books) in Rudolf Hösch's Kabarett von Gestern:

She was listed as a dancer in the first show, which confirms my suspicions, though I'd like to know what her role was in the Ilse Bois show. Perhaps it was one of her cabaret performances that caught the eye of a film executive...

I have also updated her filmography post, and will continue to do so as more of her films become available.

Personal Favorites: Film Books

The brief intermission has concluded, and I hope your new year has started on a high note. Work has finally slowed down to a reasonable pace, so I'm able to have actual free time to enjoy the simple things: a piping hot cup of tea, a gripping novel, a favorite film, working on that painting that's been sitting around for a month, dusting off an old CD or art book. Since I have a few film-related acquisitions, I thought I'd kick off 2013 (for the blog, anyway) by sharing some of my all-time favorites.

Hollywood Movie Stills: Art and Technique in the Golden Age of Studios, by Joel W. Finler

A recent gift, this is a wonderfully informative book, highlighting a variety of stills (and some candids) from the silent era through the 1960s. I haven't had much time to do more than skim the contents, but I like what I've seen so far. They just don't shoot 'em like that anymore.

Starstruck: Vintage Movie Posters from Classic Hollywood, by Ira Resnick

Along the same lines, Starstruck is a beautiful showcase of vintage film posters, lobby cards, and other ephemera from Resnick's personal collection. I discussed Mr. Resnick and the book in a previous post, and I was fortunate enough to buy a copy and have it signed that night. A very lovely evening that cemented my love of film and the artistry behind it.

The Parade's Gone By, by Kevin Brownlow

I've been impressed with any of Brownlow's work that I've seen or read, including the phenomenal documentary Hollywood (why isn't it available on DVD?), but for anyone with a burgeoning interest in silent film, this is the place to start. Even after reading it once through I haven't been able to absorb all of the information in this book; it's loaded with firsthand accounts from the actors, directors, cameramen, extras, and crew that were witness to film's earliest years. Once I wrap up some other books (I tend to read several simultaneously, but damned if I can finish one in decent time), it's a mission to revisit this gem.

Lulu in Hollywood, by Louise Brooks

What would any Hollywood reading list be without this fantastic compilation of Brooks essays? Predictable choice, yes, but it's highly-recommended, whip-smart reading.

There are a few other books that deserve an honorable mention. We lost two notable film figures last year, Andrew Sarris (I need to give his You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet a thorough read; if you're interested, you'll have to dig up a used copy as it's out-of-print) and Frederica Sagor Maas (I'm dying to add The Shocking Miss Pilgrim to my new Kindle, as I fell in love with the sample, but it's rather pricey for a digital book), who lived to the amazing age of 111. John Kobal's People Will Talk is another to re-read; I didn't get too far beyond Louise Brooks' chapter. I may provide singular in-depth reviews in the future, but these works speak for themselves in their quality and content.