Happy birthday El Brendel!!!

Elmer Goodfellow Brendel born March 25th, 1891.

Rare Brendel film to be seen again after 80+ years!

Without much fanfare it was recently announced through a Classic Images Magazine advert and later announced on their Facebook page, that one of my favorite film festivals, Capitolfest, would be showing the rare 1931 El Brendel feature, "Mr. Lemon of Orange", virtually unseen in over 80 years!!

Word came to me from Ron Hutchinson over at the Vitaphone Project early last year from a couple of reliable sources that Fox had decided to borrow the print which was housed at UCLA to make a copy for their own archive, but was blown away with the news they also made theatrical prints which would be made available to festivals.

I previously wrote about "Mr. Lemon..." HERE and I am excited to see El in this dual role as it is his only known filmed performance where he speaks in anything other than the usual Swedish dialect!

It looks like it's going to be a good year for El in 2013!

 Fifi D'orsay & El Brendel in "Mr. Lemon of Orange"

HAPPY 2013!

I just wanted to take the opportunity to wish all my readers a very happy and healthy 2013!  I will try to post more in the coming year and share with you all the great El Brendel photos and information I have accumulated so stay tuned and thanks for hanging around!

here we have Father Time (El Brendel) being given the boot by Baby New Year (Marjorie White), circa early 30's.

Sexy time Saturday #3240874019284

Back from a hiatus, as I have been with my previous 2 posts, so lets have another round of Sexy Time, shall we?

  Kay Strozzi and 

John Halliday from the 1931 feature "Captain Applejack" (THANK YOU to Richard M. Roberts if the ID's!)

Joe E. Lewis surrounded by a bevy of babes

Kieu Chinh from "A Yank in Viet-Nam" (1964)

I originally thought this was from the 1933 feature "Flying Down 

 To Rio" but the code on the still tells me maybe not??

L to R, Norah Gale, Lola Jensen, Harriette Haddon, Laurie Lane, Joyce Mathews, 

and Yvonne Duval in some still from "Coconut Grove" (1938)

and finally, Fifi D'Orsay nearly showing us the goods in this early 30's picture

For Beckie, another still from "Okay, Jose"

Fan of the site. Beckie, asked for another photo of El in drag from the 1935 Vitaphone short "Okay, Jose".  She requested a photo of El's full costume, so here is a still:

El & Flo wishing you a Merry Christmas - 1942

HEY! Yes, the El Brendel website is alive and well, I just haven't had a whole lot of time to post in a while as I have been going back to school! I am on break now so perhaps I can squeeze a few posts in before we start up again in mid-January.

This post is perfect for the holiday season. A couple of years ago I was able to acquire a number of recordings El Brendel and his wife Flo Bert made either at home on a recording machine or in studios where you could make your own discs. These records are fascinating as they feature El working on comedy routines which I've never heard before, Flo practicing songs (she made a number of recordings in the 20's, if you didn't know), and records of them just goofing around.

Some of these recordings are in very rough shape due to the nature of the sources. The records were recorded, or pressed, on paperboard stock and the available acetates were WELL played, so pops, clicks and some skips are evident.  It's a wonder these things survive at all.  In future posts, I'll share these with everybody. There are even a couple where El speaks in his normal voice, something he NEVER did on film!

This recording starts off with Flo singing, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and El comes in as Santa. They then go into a routine where Flo plays a little girl and Santa starts questioning her about how good she's been and the dialog gets a bit racy! The recording dates from 1942 and it appears they were making a record to send back to family back East but for some reason remained in their collection in California.

Enjoy and have a very happy holiday season!

Happy birthday Joan Blondell!

Anyone who has read this blog for a while knows of my love for Joan Blondell.  The snappy, wise-cracking dame of those early Warner Brothers talkies has her 106th birthday today, so let's have a photo retrospective of prints from my collection.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOAN!!!!

 a publicity still from 1931's "Night Nurse"

 with future husband Dick Powell in "Broadway Gondolier" (1935)

 Joan pulled out all the stops for her portrayal of Zeena in the film noir "Nightmare Alley" (1947)

a publicity shot with real life best friend Glenda Farrell, riding them Harleys!!

 as 'Flips' Montague in the 1932 Paramount feature "Make Me A Star"

 we move on to 1936 and Joan is now married to her co-star Dick Powell in "Gold Diggers of 1937"

 riding the rails with the ALWAYS hilarious Guy Kibbee.  I believe this is from 1934's "Dames"

 court room drama as Joan appears before the press camera during her divorce proceedings against cinematographer George Barnes.  Her first marriage was finally dissolved in September of 1936.

 although Joan appeared in Busby Berkley's 1933 film "Footlight Parade", she never appeared in the "Sittin' On A Backyard Fence" number, where this costume originates.

 Dorothy Mackaill lounges in bed while Joan soaks in the tub, "The Office Wife" (1930)

 Joan not wanting to see what the scale says!  Early 1930's promotional shot