Happy Thanksgiving

I've got plenty to be thankful for in 2011.  Good friends, lots of good movies and what I hope is a good attitude. 

Thanksgiving, for me, is the official start of holiday themed movie viewing.  While I will never willingly watch Plymouth Adventure ever again, here's a little Thanksgiving treat from one of my favorite holiday films from 1942, Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby, Marjorie Reynolds and Fred Astaire.

Bing singing I've got plenty to be thankful for with the wonderful Louise Beavers.

I'm thankful that there are some readers here who have stuck around given my irregularity in posting.  While it's a tad early to make any resolutions in the new year, I will resolve to work harder and post more.  You have no clue how many draft posts there are awaiting completition in the queue!  In any case, thanks for reading and commenting when warranted.

Lastly, here's an odd bit of cheesecake that is holiday themed.  Let's hope that because Esther Williams is presenting a crown to this bird that he was spared being the dinner and got to live out his days on the MGM backlot.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rudolph Valentino and Nita Naldi - A Perfect Partnership

Rudolph Valentino and Nita Naldi were not only co-stars, they were good friends. Valentino and Naldi shared a wonderful partnership onscreen in three films. We celebrate their partnership in 2012 with a calendar featuring some wonderful stills from Cobra, Blood and Sand and A Sainted Devil. The calendar also features a couple of candid shots of Rudy and Nita off screen.

Click below for a full preview.  The calendar is 13x19, spiral bound and handsome in glorious black and white!  $25.00 the perfect gift for any silent film fan.

Lulu has a 25% off coupon code through Nov. 30th: enter this code at checkout: NOVPHOTOS25

Let me also take a moment to shamelessly self-promote my book Rudolph Valentino The Silent Idol, once more.  Blurb is currently running a promotion (good through November 28th) for 20% off the cover price.  Simply enter LYNDA22 at checkout (remember to use ALL CAPS) and the discount is yours.

Rudolph Valentino The Silent Idol by Donna L. Hill | Make Your Own Book

Do Your Bit for Film Preservation

Want to make a donation for a really worthy cause?  Want to get something really wonderful in exchange?  Something you can enjoy for the next twelve months?  If the answer is yes, I have the perfect feel good thing for you.

The Silent Film Benefit Calendar courtesy of Rodney Sauer (fearless leader of the Mont-Alto Motion Picture Orchestra) and designer of the annual calendar.

The 2012 edition is the special "Animal Edition" and how can you resist it, it's got Rin Tin Tin, Brown Eyes from Buster Keaton's Go West and a herd of others, a veritable who's who from the silent era.

While visiting Mont-Alto's website you can also order other fun items such as CD's and DVDs featuring the excellent Mont-Alto Orchestra.  Ideal gifts that are perfect for the silent film fan's Xmas list, yes, Black Friday starts now!