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The Citizen, 1996-06-12, Page 22• 144,60-64.Y. By John Schedler As the motion picture enters its second century and our computer age changes the face of this popular art form here are a few great movies from those early days well worth searching out. • Once described as the "flickers" short films were used as novelties augmenting live vaudeville performances or in some high brow areas as Chasers, an effective way of clearing the theatre between performances. This all changed in 1903 with the release of The Great Train Robbery where all the elements of telling a story on film came together. By 1908 there were over 10,000 nickelodeons in North America with an estimated weekly attendance of over 8 million people. The time was right for someone to take control of this new medium and among the many who tried, the taLent that stood out was that of D.W. Griffith whose The Adventures of Dollie became the first of 300 one and two reel films he made for the Biograph company. Griffith became a major force in turning these so called "flickers" into a major new art form. His Birth of a Nation in 1915 set the standard for every film that followed and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt the power of the movies. As important as The Birth of a Nation is to movie history it is seldom shown today due in large part, to its overt racism. In an effort to answer his critics Griffith's next film tackled the subject of intolerance throughout the ages. An unreleased small scale film. The Mother and the Law that Griffith had made prior to the release of The Birth of a Nation provided the basis for Intolerance, one of the movies' great masterpieces. Totally misunderstood in 1916 and for many years thereafter, this epic told four separate stories all interwoven by dazzling rapid cross-cutting which was way ahead of its time. For the remainder of the silent era Griffith directed some of that period's finest films like Hearts of the World (1918), Broken Blossoms (1919), Way Down East (1920), Orphans of the Storm (1922) and others. Of course Griffith wasn't the only director turning out great movies. Erich Von Stroheim (Greed/The Wedding March), King Vidor (The Big Parade). Cecil B. DeMille (The Ten Commandments) and others were hard at work as well. Many of the classics from the movies first several decades are now available on home video in excellent, versions from Kino on Video featuring the era's most popular stars and filmmakers including the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks, Lousie Brooks, Lon Chaney, Rudolph Valentino and Lillian Gish. Also worth a look is Kino's highly praised series The Movies Begin featuring freshly mastered copies of over 120 early short films and HBO Videos 13 part Hollywood: The Pioneers series, produced by the award winning team of Kevin Brownlow and David Gill. Narrated by James Mason, this excellent series contains interviews with many of those who were part of this fascinating era of film making in addition to extremely rare footage from film archives from around the world. video F.A.X. IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... J.R.'S GAS BAR & TAKE OUT LTD. BRUSSELS 887-6951 NEW TITLES TO CHOOSE FROM Armen Bullik (AC), American Ninja 5 (PG), Heavy Metal (18A), Phantom 2040 (G), Grumpier Old Men (PG), Powder, Dunston Checks In (PG), Murder Without Motive, Get Shorty (14A) CHILDREN'S MOVIES 990 REGULAR MOVIES $1.49 NEW RELEASES $2.49 PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1996 Brussels PS news School cookbook has gone to press By Tricia Teeft and Mike Comeau May 29 the school held the spring concert with the theme "It's a Small World". The students and teachers of Grades 5 through 8 planned it well. There were singing, piano and dancing solos. The Grade 7 band and the performing band both played well, and the choir sang many of our favourite Disney tunes. It was enjoyed by the young and the young at heart. Even though it was cold, the concert was great! Thank yous go out to Mrs. Perrie, conductor of the bands and choir, Mike Comeau and Nathan Garland, Mary Ann Alcorn, who worked with the Lion King group, and Mrs. Douma, our pianist. You all did a great job! On Thursday, the annual "track and field meet was held. Fortunately, the weather co- operated with us, and everyone showed good sportsmanship, and hopefully, had fun! Our medal winners this year were: Matthew White (1), Garret Backhaus (2), Mary Ann Aitchison (1), and Tara Martin (2) in the Mite division; Tyke, Morgan Bishop (1), Kent Lee (2), Catrina Josling (1) and Candice McLellan (2). This year, we had two ties, the first between Lee Dilworth and Nolan Krotz for the first place medal. Other winners were Matthew Kroll (2), Nicole Mastnak (1), and Courtney Sallows (2). And last but not least, the medal winners of the Bantam category were Andrew Grant (1), Tyler Bragg (2), Amy Douma (1), Nicole Lowe and_ Amanda Van Beek tied for second. Congratulations to the winners, as well as everyone who participated! On Friday, the skipping team organized Jump Rope for Heart for students in Grades 1 - 7. Most who participated had fun skipping from 2:30 - 3:20. The money sponsored is still coming in, but so far there is over $600 to donate to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The school cookbook has gone to press! Each page will feature a recipe brought in by a student, and that student's picture. Mrs. Johnston, chair of the advisory council, would like to thank Mrs. Perrie, Mr. Prior, Rev. Campbell and all other students, teachers and parents who volunteered their time to help out. The book will hopefully be on sale soon at $8 each. Last week, Mrs. Crane from the Clinton Tech 21 centre came in to talk to the Grade 6s. Most of them seem excited to go on their first Grey class to visit Royal Ont. Museum Continued from page 21 cedar bush and the hardwood bush. Then we looked at the living creatures - plant and animal inside that small area noting largest and smallest living things, estimating the number of plants and sketching some of the things. Our class put forth an excellent effoit at our field day last week. Fifteen of our students will compete in the North Huron Track and Field meet next week. We have been enjoying the literature of Ted Staunton, one of the authors that will be presenting workshops at the Literacy Festival next week. Early Years to Grade 4 pupils will be attending on Wednesday, June 5. We also looked at the illustrations of Paul Martin in one of the books he has done - The Dragon's Pearl. On June 14, Mr. Park's class is travelling with us to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. We are going to have lab sessions on Ancient Egypt and Canada's First Nations. HAPPY 25TH JUNE 12 DOUG & LINDA DAVIDSON visit to the centre next year. The kindergartens have been talking about the changes spring and summer bring, like the arrival of tulips, dog tooth violets, and daffodils, the opening of leaves, and blooming of our crab apple tree and lilacs. They have also studied a tent caterpillar nest, and made a lot of dandelion chains. Grade 7/8 has been studying the history of black slaves, and we have just finished reading the book "Underground to Canada", about two slave girls escaping to Canada. We also have an essay type question test coming up about the history of slavery. Hullett thanks reporters Continued from page 21 travelling on two buses to Black Creek Pioneer Village for a tour at 10 a.m. At 1 p.m. we will be heading to Canada's Wonderland for the rest of the afternoon. We will be returning to the school at 10 p.m. The grade 7/8 students are really looking forward to this wonderful experience. REPORTERS This year we have had five great reporters who have done a great job writing articles. Thank you very much to Angie Martin, Jenni Jackson, Steph Muehlethaler, Diana Bakelaar and Sharon Hartman. 50" Anniversary The Family of George & Isabel Pearson invite you to an OPEN HOUSE Saturday, June 22nd 2 - 4 p.m. Grey Central School Ethel No Gifts Blyth Lions Club presents NO FENCES "A Salute to Garth Brooks" for their "SUMMERFEST" SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1996 at the Blyth Arena Proceeds for the Blyth Soccer Field Age of Majority only Advance Tickets - $7.00 At the door - $10.00 Tickets available at: Blyth Decorating Scrimgeour's Food Market or from any Lions Club Member This ad is generously sponsored by Scrimgeour's Food Market Blyth 523-4551 The Seaforth Harmony Hi Lites Need You!! Come sing ladies' barbershop with us every Tuesday at 7:45 at the Seaforth Public School. Come for the fun and learn to sing better too. Sing high-sing low or anywhere in between. For more information or a ride, please call. Seaforth - Katie Teall 527-0075 - Gail Moffett 522-0581 Clinton - Alice Andrews 482-7272 Mitchell - Esther Rose 348-9501 Brussels area - Jaquie Gowdy 335-3945 Exeter - Carol Moore 235-1346 Zurich - Cathy Shantz 236-04414 Summer hours are different. Please contact one of the above for time and place. See you there!