News
Lost Chaplin Film Found!
Click the image to read the Chicago Tribune article about an English film collector who lucked up on a piece of cinematic history. Morace Park paid $5.68 on Ebay for an unmarked film tin containing what turned out to be an obscure Chaplin short produced as a morale-boosting World War I propaganda piece. Here's hoping one day we'll see similar articles about long lost Norman films found!
Save the Date! Norman Studios Friends of the Park Preview Recognizes its Star Supporters
Sept. 28, 2009 - Mark your calendars! The Norman Studios Silent Film Museum will hold an open-to-the-public event to recognize those who have played starring roles in the preservation of the Norman property.
The family-friendly event will feature costumed tours of the studio lot, performances by local actors, book signings by Jacksonville authors and a stellar lineup of local dignitaries, plus some exciting announcements.
Visit our EVENTS page for all the details.
Download the media release on our MEDIA page.
NSSFM, Stage Aurora announce Richard and Oscar: Filmmaking in Black and White
Oct. 6, 2009 - Richard Norman and Oscar Micheaux live and on-stage? Well, sort of. The Norman Studios Silent Film Museum and Stage Aurora Theatrical Co., Inc. announce Richard and Oscar: Filmmaking in Black and White, a new stage play that examines the unlikely friendship of two of the nation's most innovative early filmmakers.
Norman, a white man from the South, and Illinois-born Micheaux, widely regarded as the father of African-American filmmaking, both played starring roles in breaking the industry's color barrier by producing films featuring black actors in positive, non-stereotypical roles. But the two approached this goal from very different backgrounds with very different results.
“Both Richard Norman and Oscar Micheaux were trailblazers, artistic visionaries who defied the mainstream film industry,” says Stage Aurora founder Darryl Reuben Hall, who is writing and directing the play. “Richard and Oscar explores the relationship between these two giants through shared humor, laughter and anger of race relations; financial and economic challenges; and the vibrancy of the era.”
Richard and Oscar will hit the Jacksonville stage next year. Find out more by downloading the media release on our MEDIA page.
Announcing First Coast Flickers: Celebrating Jacksonville's Silent Film Heyday
Sept. 24, 2009 - NSSFM is thrilled to announce a collaboration with the Arts Institute of Jacksonville to produce First Coast Fickers: Celebrating Jacksonville's Silent Film Heyday. This 30-minute documentary will be written, shot and edited by students and staff of the Arts Institute of Jacksonville and will air locally in 2010. (Click here to see the full First Coast Flickers media release.)
Do you have a family story about Jacksonville's silent/classic film era? Did your grandfather tell you a great tale of witnessing movies made in Northeast Florida? Or do you own an artifact from the First Coast's early film days? If so, we want to hear from you! Complete the form below and let us know what you have to offer First Coast Flickers.
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The Flying Ace Featured on Forensic Files
Sept. 11, 2009 - A clip of The Flying Ace will be featured on tonight's episode of TruTV's Forensic Files, airing at 9:30 pm Eastern time. Each episode of the popular show begins with a scene-setting description of the town where the subject crime took place and producers were intriqued by Jacksonville's history in the silent film industry.
The episode covers the capture and conviction of Robert Denney for the murder of Jacksonville Beach resident Corey Parker. After a two-year investigation Denney was tried and sentenced to life in prison.
Film Students Visit Norman Studios
August 24, 2009 - More than 20 students from the Art Institute of Jacksonville visited the Norman Studios property for a first-hand look at a prized piece of film history today.
The students are studying film production and will help produce several promotional videos designed to boost interest and land financial support for our goals.
Senator Jim King Passes Away
July 26, 2009 - TheNorman Studios sends condolences to the family of Senator Jim King, who died July 26 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Known for always being "ready to rumble" in the Florida legislature, King was a staunch supporter of the state's film industry, promoting legislation that favored both in-state filmmakers and those from other markets looking to bring their productions to Florida.
Thank you, Senator King for being a friend of Florida's film industry. You will be greatly missed.
Jazz Great Teddy Washington Passes Away
July 21, 2009 - The Norman Studios mourns the passing of Jazz musician Teddy Washington, known as "America's Great Band Leader." Washington died of complications related to a blood clot on the evening of July 21.
Washington created the Jackonville Follies Awards Show which honored forgotten and aging musicians, raising funds to help support them in retirement. His beautiful music was surpassed only by his generous spirit.
During the last months of his life, Norman Studios was working with Washington on several projects. We will miss him - his music, his energy, his passion and his generosity.
Jacksonville's Film History Gets a Mention on PBS' History Detectives
July, 2009 - Jacksonville recently got a mention in an episode of PBS' History Detectives that focused on the massive Lubin Film Co. empire in Philadelphia. German immigrant Sigmund Lubin built one of the most powerful studios of its day in Philly, but also filmed on location in Jacksonville. Lubin's Northeast Florida films included 50 short, one-reelers starring comedic giant Oliver Hardy.
Jacksonville gets just one quick mention in the episode - by Lubin biographer Joseph Eckhardt, author of King of the Movies: Film Pioneer Sigmund Lubin. The next segment focuses on D.W. Griffith's controversial Birth of a Nation. Though it's subject matter is deplorable, the film is considered among the great pioneering films in terms of its production value and acting.
Click here to watch the full episode of History Detectives.
Norman Studios Restoration, "First Hollywood" Author Honored
May 17, 2009 - Norman Studios took the spotlight at the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission's 2009 Preservation Awards.
Author Shawn C. Bean also was honored for his debut book The First Hollywood: Florida and the Golden Age of Silent Filmmaking, which chronicles Jacksonville's time as the Winter Silent Film Capital of the World prior to the industry's fateful westward move. The book includes Richard Norman's story and has been lauded in major media outlets including The Hollywood Reporter, USA Today and NPR.
Please join us in thanking these passionate individuals for their support of the Norman Studios - for returning Richard Norman's studio complex to its original glory and for telling the widely unknown story of Florida's heyday as a film production hub.
History of "Race Films" In the Spotlight at Jacksonville Film Festival
Filmmaker Richard Norman was among the first to create "race films," which afforded African Americans a place in legitimate, mainstream films. Join us Monday night, May 18, 8:30 p.m. for the Jacksonville Film Festival screening of In the Shadow of Hollywood, a new documentary that chronicles the early days of black cinema. We'll be there handing out brochures, so grab a few for your friends and coworkers and enjoy this inspiring and informative film. In the Shadow of Hollywood is produced by AMS Pictures as part of its Black History Uncovered series. Click here to buy a DVD copy.
Norman Enthusiasts Pay Thousands for Memorabilia in Online Auction
April 27, 2009 - Several recent online actions by Heritage Auction Galleries brought in thousands of dollars for vintage film posters, lobby cards and pressbooks advertising Norman films, including The Flying Ace, The Love Bug, Green Eyed Monster, The Bull Dogger, Regeneration and Black Gold. In fact, since 2006, Norman enthusiasts have ponied up nearly $20,000, including a single $4,780 purchase of a 27" x 41" poster of The Bull Dogger.
Heritage Auction Galleries also has sold several rare posters of the 1953 documentary film, Roar of the Crowd starring legendary heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. Following his career as a feature filmmaker, Richard Norman helped promote Louis fights, including distributing promotional films.
Established in 1976, Heritage Auction Galleries is the world's largest collectibles auctioneer and third largest auction house. It's the undisputed Internet auction leader with more than 445,565 registered online bidder-members. Besides an impressive collection of movie memorabilia, Heritage Auction Galleries also boasts vintage comic books and comic art, sports collectibles, rare books and manuscripts, vintage and couture handbags, historical and political memorabilia and much more sought out and authenticated by a staff of more than 100 experts. If you're in the Dallas, Texas area, be sure to visit their gallery and showroom. And thank them for recognizing the unique value of Richard Norman memorabilia.
New York Loves The Flying Ace!
Special guest Richard Norman, III, grandson of the filmmaker introduced the film and answered audience members' questions afterward.
Pianist Donald Sosin provided impromptu accompaniment that beautifully complemented the film. We hope to bring Donald to Northeast Florida to offer a workshop on silent film accompaniment one day soon.
Original Glory
Jan. 25, 2009 - Driven by the Norman Studios property lately? If not, it's worth the drive. In the summer of 2008, construction wrapped on the structural repair and exterior renovation of the four Norman Studios buildings owned by the City of Jacksonville. Join us in thanking Kenneth Smith Architects and Onas Corp. for helping us return these treasured buildings to their original glory. The property is located at 6337, Arlington Road in Jacksonville's Old Arlington neighborhood.
What's next? We're kicking off a capital campaign to restore the interiors of these four buildings and to procure the fifth Norman Studios building currently owned by Circle of Faith Ministries. In the next few months, you'll hear about exciting events and volunteer opportunities designed to preserve and further the Norman Studios Silent Film Museum's vision for this historic property.
Images from Top:
- Courtesy Chicago Sun Times
- Oscar Micheaux, Richard Norman
- Oliver Hardy, courtesy State Library & Archives of Florida
- Film students from the Art Institute of Jacksonville
- Jazz Musician Teddy Washington
- Silent film pioneer Sigmund Lubin, courtesy Betzwood Film Archive
- Norman Studios Structural and Exterior Renovation Design & Construction Team
- Shawn C. Bean, author, The First Hollywood: Florida and the Golden Age of Silent Filmmaking
- DVD cover for In the Shadow of Hollywood, copyright AMS Pictures.
- Poster advertising Roar of the Crowd, a documentary film featuring famous champion heavyweight boxer Joe Louis and distributed by Richard Norman.
- A passerby looks at a poster advertising the Faded Glory film series.
- Richard Norman, III introduces The Flying Ace at the Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theatre.
- Pianist Donald Sosin provides beautiful musical accompaniment to The Flying Ace.
- Production building / Norman family home, copyright Norman Studios Silent Film Museum, Inc.
Feb. 20, 2009 - The a standing ovation at its Feb. 18 screening at the prestigious Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater in New York. The screening was part of a film series presented by 