Jean Arthur channels her inner film historian.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we classic movie bloggers would admit we’re also history geeks. For example – don’t laugh – last summer we (as in, yours truly) read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a book we can barely lift.
As a community, classic movie bloggers know a lot about history – film and otherwise. And here’s our opportunity to collaborate on a project celebrating the history of motion pictures. The blogathon will run from January 12-14, 2014. Below is the announcement from Fritzi of Movies, Silently who created this event.
Most movie blogathons center around actors, topics, genres or eras of film. This event is going to focus on individual years. Our range is 1915 to 1950. Participants will each focus on one individual year in the history of film. In order to focus on as many years as possible, we are asking for no duplicates, please.
We are co-hosting this event with the dazzling Aurora from Once Upon a Screen and the lovely Fritzi from Movies, Silently (a.k.a. the brains behind this operation). Fritzi will be hosting the silent era (1915 – 1926), while yours truly will host the “talkies” era (1927- 1938), and Aurora hosts the pre- to post-war years (1939 – 1950).
I can’t wait! How do I join?
Pick the year you would like to focus on (or ask us to assign one to you). Be sure to wait for confirmation before going to work as the “big” years are likely to be snapped up quickly. If your chosen year is taken, we will suggest alternate years that still open.
You can contact us in the comments section, via email (925screenings @ gmail.com) or on Twitter (@925screenings).
What can I submit?
It’s your year and you can handle it any way you like. Here are some ideas:
- A pictorial focusing on the best film posters of your chosen year.
- A review of a film from your chosen year.
- An examination of the year through the films of a particular actor or director. For example, you could cover 1931 by examining the five films Joan Crawford made that year.
- A historical approach discussing events that changed the course of film history. For example, 1927 and the talkie revolution.
- A timeline showing the important events of your year. For example, a timeline of major releases for 1922.
- An examination of the year through popular genres. For example, you could cover 1916 by discussing the role of westerns and realism vs. escapism in these films.
Please help yourself to one or more banners from the gallery below. We’re looking forward to reading your fab posts!
List of Entries:
1915 – Movies, Silently
1916 – Big V Riot Squad
1917 – A Person in the Dark
1918 – One Track Muse
1919 – Totally Filmi
1920 – Durnmoose Movie Musings
1921 – Silent Volume
1922 – Family Friendly Reviews
1923 – Filmatelist
1924 – Nitrate Glow
1925 – Critica Retro
1926 – Film Buffa
1927 – Goregirl
1928 – Self-Styled Siren
1929 – Silver Screenings
1930 – The Artistic Packrat
1931 – Immortal Ephemera
1932 – Ann Dvorak
1933 – Outspoken & Freckled
1934 – Nitrate Diva
1935 – Absolutely Merle
1936 – Lasso the Movies
1937 – The Motion Pictures
1938 – Speakeasy
1939 – Once Upon a Screen
1940 – The Lady Eve
1941 – The Joy & Agony of Movies
1942 – Wide Screen World
1943 – The Last Drive In
1944 – The Movie Rat
1945 – Caftan Woman
1946 – Synkroniciti
1947 – Crimson Kimono
1948 – Hye Musings
1949 – Portraits by Jenni
1950 – Vienna’s Classic Hollywood
Silver Screenings 
This is a huge undertaking, or Historic even! The cream of the crop of bloggers putting together such an immense and profoundly significant idea for a blogathon. I’m very excited to see what will come out of this event. The possibilities are endless. Wonderful to see you all keeping the blogathon fires burning…. Fritzi’s banners are stellar as usual. I’ll be touting along the way… and reading… Cheers Joey
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I’m excited to see what will come out of the event, too – whee!
You’re not able to join us? 😦
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Oh wait! I see your name on the list. Hooray!
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I couldn’t resist… I’m in I’m in!!!!!! So happy to see three of my favorites hosting this grand blogathon!
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I’ll take 1942.
Rich
widescreenworld.blogspot.com
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You bet, Rich.
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Well, since this is right up my real-life alley I’d love to participate. I specialize in pre-1920s cinema, so I would be happy to take any year from the teens that is still available…if you’ll have me!
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How are you with 1918? I will tentatively schedule for that year. 1919 also available.
Yay! SOOO glad you’ll be joining us. 🙂
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1918 is great! Thanks for having me.
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Yup, you’re definitely in for 1918. I’m really looking forward to your post.
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Thanks, I am excited! It was a great year; there are so many things I can do with it post-wise. Now I just have to narrow it down…
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Love this idea for a blogathon! I’d like to stake a claim on 1937 if possible. 🙂
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1937 is yours, Lindsey.
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Wonderful, thanks!
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This sounds great! Just the kind of thing I sit around and think about. If available I would love to take 1936, or as a second option 1934. Let me know, I’m very excited!
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Paul, you’re on for 1936. Thank you for joining us!
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So many wonderful people signed on already!
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I know! I bet we could almost publish a book from all these great posts.
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I’d like to reserve 1917, if possible – for some Chaplin Mutuals.
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Yup, 1917 is all yours! Thanks for joining us – can’t wait!
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challenge accepted! i’m in already so just want to say I can’t wait!
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Yay! So glad you’re joining us. It wouldn’t be the same without you.
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I look forward to reading the posts and learning a little history as well!
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Me too! I think we could almost publish a film history book by the time the blogathon is finished. 🙂
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