Last Updated: 8/26/10
Saturday, September 11, 2010
8:00 PM
Admission: $7.00
Moore College of Art & Design
20th & Race Streets, Philadelphia
(215) 965-4099
The Secret Cinema at Moore College of Art & Design will launch its fall season with a new edition of From Philadelphia with Love, our ongoing investigation of industrial, educational and other lost local films. In addition to digging up a fresh batch of these hometown cinematic rarities, we'll feature a very special repeat showing of the remarkable 1967 short film The Jungle -- in recognition of it's addition last year to the prestigious National Film Registry.
When we chanced upon a 16mm print of this title about six years ago, we were fascinated. The Jungle was made not by professionals, but by the members of an actual North Philadelphia street gang, in order to tell their own story unfiltered, in an ultra-gritty documentary style. We then located Harold Haskins, the inspired social worker who instigated the project, and soon put together a special program called City of Brotherly Crime that many will recall. It included a screening of The Jungle, followed by a spirited discussion with Haskins and several of the surviving gang/crew members present.
But we felt The Jungle merited greater recognition, and thus began lobbying to have it added to the National Film Registry. This list of important films, created by an act of Congress, honors 25 films each year to be preserved for future generations. Through allies in the archive community and "orphan films" movement, The Jungle was placed under consideration for the Registry, and the Secret Cinema's print was eventually shown to voting members of the board at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Science screening room. On December 30, 2009, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced the names on the newest list of films officially designated as "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant"...and that list included The Jungle (alongside Dog Day Afternoon, Winsor McCay's 1911 animation of Little Nemo In Slumberland, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video and 21 other choices).
While this news circulated around the world, there has been surprisingly little coverage of this event in Philadelphia. Perhaps our September screening will help change that.
On Saturday, September 11, we'll proudly present From Philadelphia with Love 2010. In addition to our spotlight on The Jungle, the program will also include an all-new selection of other local film shorts from the past.
Project director Harold Haskins, today a recently-retired administrator for the University of Pennsylvania, will be present at our screening to discuss making The Jungle.
There will be one complete show at 8:00 pm. Admission is $7.00.
While most area residents are familiar with Philadelphia films such as Rocky, Trading Places, and the works of M. Night Shayamalan, there is a whole world of locally-made films that has been forgotten -- the "ephemeral" short films that were primarily made by small independent companies for the then-booming non-theatrical market. While most school districts, television stations and traveling salesman have long ago discarded their 16mm film projectors, we at Secret Cinema have not, and are proud to present a look back at these celluloid time capsules that would otherwise not be seen again.
Just a few highlights of From Philadelphia with Love 2010 are:
The Jungle (1967, Dir: Charlie "Brown" Davis, David "Bat" Williams, Jimmy "Country" Robinson) - If The Jungle looks different from other filmed depictions of gang life, there is a reason: Every aspect of its creation, from the script to its photography, editing and acting was manned by the young members of a real Philadelphia street gang. Project director Harold Haskins was an eager young social worker when he approached the 12th & Oxford Street Gang and convinced them they should try to make a movie. The result is a completely inside view of this usually hidden world, with authentic depictions of their unique social codes, activities, fashion and music (the soundtrack includes an early street-corner rap about the joys of cheap wine). Soon the gang was transformed into the 12th & Oxford Film Makers Corporation, presenting their work around the world and committed to positive change in their community. Yet, their cameraman, specially trained for this project, was later slain by a rival gang jealous of their filmmaking success. Hear the incredible story of this one-of-a-kind film, when Harold Haskins recounts its making over four decades ago.
Westside Store (1982) - An interesting contrast to The Jungle is this fun, color film that presents a very different view of supposed gang activity. Though this film shows some incredibly squalid North Philly streetscapes, the multi-racial, mixed-gender members of the fictitious "Seveners gang" (of 7th & Indiana Streets) seem to have been cast right out of a Benetton fashion ad! They pool their efforts and meager assets to start a thrift store and learn about responsibility.
Kid Gloves (1951, WCAU) - We'll show excerpts from this rare kinescope of a long-forgotten live TV show -- in which little kids compete in fierce boxing matches! See "two scrappy 9-year-olds," Irish Joe Gallagher versus Andy Fineman; see all 48 lbs. of 5-year-old Joltin' Joe Sidario...they may be small but they pull no punches! They sometimes cry, however.
Is a Career in the Hotel or Motel Business for You? (1972, Dir: Ralph Lopatin) - This guidance-counseling school film, made for the Department of Defense, introduces kids to an assortment of different jobs possible in the lodging industry. Along the way, it documents a near-complete catalog of long-gone Delaware Valley hotels and motels (plus a precious few that survive today), as well as equally extinct fashions and some hideous corporate design. See the Adelphia Hotel, Ben Franklin Hotel, Penn Center Inn, Marriott (with Kona Kai restaurant), Oasis Motel, Rickshaw Inn, and many more.
I & E Sports Reel clip (1957, Office of Armed Forces Information & Education) - In this short segment from a newsreel made by the military, we'll see highlights of a swimming and diving competition that was held at Fairmount Park's Kelly Pool, long before a hairy-backed Mayor Ed Rendell staged a photo opportunity in its previously clear waters.
...plus more!
We last reported being "cautiously optimistic" about Live Nation's announced plans to restore and reuse the Sameric/Boyd Theater. Our caution proved well-founded as Live Nation have now revealed that they are halting all work on the theater's restoration. Anything could happen now, in a city where demolition permits are rather easy to obtain.
The important job of bringing back Philadelphia's last (nearly) intact movie palace still needs to not only be done, but be done right, and joining with this ever-vigilant watchdog organization is the best chance we have to ensure that the right thing gets done.
Official site of the Friends of the Boyd - www.SaveTheSameric.org
Secret Cinema 1999 Annual Report
Secret Cinema 1998 Annual Report
Secret Cinema 1997 Annual Report
Information about the 1998 Secret Cinema "Class Trip" to the Syracuse Cinefest