Do you love watching classic films on TCM? Then if you live in the Los Angeles area, or will be there over Labor Day weekend, you'll love Cinecon. Described as a "7th heaven for cinephiles," Cinecon returns for a 59th year August 31 to September 4 with a playbill of rare goodies you can't even see on TCM. Among those programming the festival is this week's podcast guest Stan Taffel, president of Cinecon and a dedicated film archivist and curator.
One of Stan's innovations was introducing "Kinecon at Cinecon," an exhibition of very rare, often one-of-a-kind kinescope prints from the earliest days of television. This Labor Day weekend, Cinecon will be saluting CBS Television City, the mid-Los Angeles fun factory the network no longer owns. Long-time tenant The Price is Right was among the last to pack up and leave earlier this year.
Among the nuggets from Stan's own 16mm film collection to be shown at the festival is a 1953 film featuring famed CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow, who takes viewers on a tour of Television City. Encountered there are such early tenants as Jack Benny and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson.
The festival will also salute the 100th anniversary of 16mm film with rare silent treats from Laurel & Hardy as well as Harold Lloyd, all accompanied on a mighty Wurlitzer organ. Enjoy this trip aboard the film and TV time machine with Cinecon's Stan Taffel.