El Brendel returns to Cinefest, March 13th-16th

I know, I'm always late on promoting these things, but I have been invited back to show another El Brendel home movie at the Syracuse Cinephile Society's annual Cinefest film festival. It will be taking place March 13th - 16th and will have TONS of other rare film to show on their screen.

The film I am presenting is another reel from the stash of films I uncovered in 2011. This reel has been marked by El as "gags" and features just that; El performing gags in front of the camera. But there is also a section with behind the scenes footage from "The Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend", on the TV show "Cowboy G-Men", and El goofing around with his wife, Flo.

El with a trick cigar from the "gags" reel

Here is the complete line up of films from Cinefest 34:

Thursday, March 13th

9:00 am    MAIN STREET T0 BROADWAY (1953) with Mary Martin
10:45 am  SATURDAY NIGHT (1922) with Leatrice Joy, Conrad Nagel     
1:00 pm    TAKING TRAILERS SERIALSLY Hosted by Ray Faiola
2:00 pm    CASEY AT THE BAT (1927) w/  Wallace Beery, Ford Sterling, Zasu Pitts
3:10 pm    SILENT COMEDY RARITIES PT1 From the Library of Congress
4:15 pm    SWING HIGH (1930) with Helen Twelvetrees, Fred Scott
8:00 pm    HOUSEHOLD BLUES (1929) with Monte Collins
8:10 pm    THE JOY GIRL (1927) With Olive Borden, Neil Hamilton
9:20 pm    FANCHON, THE CRICKET (1915) with Mary Pickford
10:40 pm  DARKENING TRAIL (1919) with William S. Hart, Enid Markey
11:25 pm   LOVE FROM A STRANGER (1937) with Ann Harding, Basil Rathbone

Friday, March 14th
9:00 am    ALWAYS GOODBYE (1931) with Elissa Landi, Lewis Stone
10:05 am  FOR THE DEFENSE (1915) with Fannie Ward, Jack Dean
11:10 am  THE BEST OF MOSTLY LOST From the Library of Congress
1:00 pm    UNDERCRANKING: Magic Behind the Slapstick  Hosted by Ben Model
2:15 pm    PARTNERS IN CRIME (1928) with Wallace Beery, Mary Brian
3:15 pm    SILENT COMEDY RARITIES PT 2 From the Library of Congress
4:25 pm    A WALTZ DREAM (1925) with Willy Fritsch
8:00 pm    A SONG IN THE DARK 4  Hosted by Richard Barrios
9:15 pm    NEW MOON (1919) with Norma Talmadge, Pedro de Cordoba
10:20 pm  SANDY (1926) with Madge Bellamy, Leslie Fenton, Harrison Ford
11:40 pm  BUCK PRIVATES(1928) Lya DePutti, Malcolm McGregor, Zasu Pitts
  
Saturday, March 15th
9:00 am    MAN TROUBLE (1930) with Milton Sills, Dorothy Mackaill
10:30 am  EL BRENDEL HOME MOVIES Hosted by Louie Despres
10:55 am  BACHELOR’S AFFAIRS (1932) with Adolphe Menjou
1:00 pm    WHAT’S-HIS-NAME (1913) Dir: Cecil B. DeMille with Max Figman
2:00 pm    THE SKY HAWK (1929) with Helen Chandler, John Garrick
3:20 pm    ANKLES PREFERRED  (1926) with Madge Bellamy
4:25 pm    THE DANCING PIRATE (1936) with Frank Morgan, Charles Collins
8:00 pm    HOME CURED (1926) with Johnny Arthur
8:15 pm    NOT EXACTLY GENTLEMEN (1931) with Victor McLaglen
9:20 pm    THE LIVE WIRE (1925) with Johnny Hines, Edmund Breese
10:25 pm   A DANGEROUS WOMAN (1929) with Olga Baclanova, Clive Brook
11:35 pm   DANGER ON THE AIR (1938) with Nan Grey, Donald Woods

Sunday, March 16th
9:00 am    THANKS A MILLION (1935) with Dick Powell, Fred Allen, Ann Dvorak
10:30 am  THE AUCTION (2014) Hosted by Leonard Maltin and George Read
12 noon    JUSTIN HERMAN SHOW 6 (1950s Paramount Toppers)
12:35 pm  THE DEVIL HORSE (1926) with Rex (the Devil Horse), Yakima Canutt
1:30 pm    WOMEN EVERYWHERE (1930)with J. Harold Murray, Fifi D’Orsay  
3:00 pm    THE CRAB (1917) with Thelma Salter, Frank Keenan 
3:55 pm    FLYING LUCK (1927) with Jean Arthur, Monty Banks

Hope to see you there!!

Shirley Temple, 1928-2014

The time has come to bid another fond farewell to another co-star of El's who has left us. Although I have never been a huge fan of Shirley Temple's I do realize her importance in film history. She was an immense start in the 30's and saved 20th Century Fox from almost certain bankruptcy with her box office smashing films. As with many actors in the 30's, El appeared with her in 1938's "Little Miss Broadway".

Shirley Temple and El in "Little Miss Broadway"

Her importance in the history of Hollywood cannot be understated and her loss is particular troublesome for this researcher. I had tried to contact her on two occasions to see if she had any recollection of working with El in "Little Miss Broadway". Unfortunately I never got a reply and frankly I never expected to as her fan mail must have been enormous, even in her later years.

El, Shirley, and Jimmy Durante in a dance number for "Little Miss Broadway"

outside and inside of the herald for the only picture her and El worked on together.

El with ???? #4 - goatee guy & others

In our fourth installment of trying to figure out who's El is with in a couple of photos we stumble across the guy with the goatee. Judging by the pictures, he knows El well, maybe his agent? Actually, who are the other people, too?? HELP!!!

unknown, El, Flo Bert, and unknown goatee guy

unknown, El, & unknown goatee guy. This photo appears to 

be taken on a lot where El built one of his houses, possibly 274 Glenroy Ave.

Happy 2014!!

The staff here at "Give Me the Good Old Days!" (well, it's really just me) would like to wish all my readers a very happy, healthy, and joyous New Year! Hoping to share with all of you some new information, reviews of films, some more home recordings, and a bunch of other stuff in the next 12 months. BRING ON 2014!!

Baby New Year (Marjorie White) informing 

Father Time (El Brendel) it's time to scram!

El, Flo & the gang wishing you a Merry Christmas, 1945!

El as Father Christmas, probably during his tenure at 

Paramount during the late 20's.

We have reached that time of the year where everyone should be spreading holiday cheer, so let's go back to Xmas time 1945 and hear a home recording made by El and his wife Flo with some friends, shall we? The record starts off with El (speaking in his REAL voice!) and Flo (who sounds like she's a couple of drinks in) kicking it off with some real saucy talk. Guests Will & Gladys Ahern (the famous dancing team who were great friends of El & Flo) are up next and they keep the risque talk going. From there, a whole bunch of party-goers line up to have their turn, with El and Flo joining in at various times. Enjoy!

From the bottom of my heart, I wish all the readers of "Give Me The Good Old Days!" a very merry and joyous holiday season and best wishes for an outstanding 2014! Thanks for reading and staying in tune, even though my posts have been sporadic for a while.  All the best, Louie

El with ???? #3 - at a party??

Here's another of the "El with unidentified people" posts. Looks like he's at some sort of gathering but no further details. I'm guessing mid-1930's with this one. Anyone have any idea??

El with ???? #2 - radio show??

Here we go with another round of help me identify the people pictured with El. These 3 pictures all come from the same say and they appear to be taken in a recording studio or a broadcast room. Nothing is indicated on the reverse of any of these, so help if you can!

photo is slightly out of focus but the man on the right is holding a large document which is inscribed "Resolution" on the top.

*UPDATE - There has been much speculation that the gentleman in the photo may be Ralph Edwards (I think he's too young to be him) or Jack Parr (a certain possibility). Jury is still out.*

in these two we see what appears to be a script on the table which would lead me to believe a radio show more than a rehearsal for a movie or TV

*UPDATE - Bob Birchard (by writing) and Ian Elliot (by providing a photo) have identified the man in the bottom two photos as Los Angeles radio DJ Al Jarvis. This picture on the Getty Images website, seems to prove this one!*