The Catalina Island Museum’s
Silent Film Benefit commemorates its 25th anniversary on Saturday
with the return of
Wings, the first
film ever honored as “Best Picture.”
Although the benefit celebrates the golden age of Hollywood filmmaking, the
event itself has made its own brand of history.
During its earliest days, the benefit attracted a number of
silent film stars who were still living in the Los Angeles area.
For its inaugural in 1988, the benefit
kicked off with the first showing on the island of
Wings, which has always been recognized as one of the silent
screen’s greatest movies.
Arrangements were made to bring to the island Buddy Rogers, the handsome
star of the movie, whose reputation was established by the film, and who will
be known forever as having been married to Mary Pickford.
Everything was in place for
Rogers’ arrival when bad news struck suddenly.
Buddy, who was 84 at the time, had fallen in the shower
after a round of golf and had broken several ribs.
Was he still planning to come?
Buddy answered with a resounding yes.
He loved Catalina Island, and nothing
was going to stop him.
Chuck Liddell, an islander known
for his deep love of Santa Catalina history, was given the enviable task of
picking up Buddy at the Express terminal.
But the day looked headed for catastrophe.
Buddy could hardly make his way down the gangplank.
“He was in excruciating pain and
could barely walk,” Chuck recalled during a recent interview.
“But the worse news was when he told me
he couldn’t attend the movie!
He
said, ‘Chuck, Richard Arlen [his co-star in the film] was my best friend, and
he’s just died.
Of all the stars
in the film, I’m the only one left.’
At this point, he’s crying.
Then, he says to me, ‘In the film, I have to tell Richard’s parents that
I had to kill him and that he’s dead.
If I see that scene, it will be like I really killed him!
I just can’t be in the theater during
the movie.’
At this point, he’s
really crying.”
Chuck came up with an ingenious
plan:
“I told him we were going to
sit at the front of the theater, near an exit sign.
I said, just before the movie begins, wave to the audience,
and as the lights go out, I’ll sneak you out through the exit.
I’ll drive you back to your hotel, and
you can take a nap.
Then, I’ll
have you back in time for intermission when we’ll repeat the process.
It worked beautifully.
No one found out that he wasn’t in the
theater while the entire film was shown.”
But Chuck wasn’t out of the woods
yet.
“Buddy couldn’t walk, but
insisted on going to the ball after the film.
He wanted to meet the TV star Gregory Harrison, who grew up
on the island.
So, I take him, and
he says to me: ‘We old actors have ways of making people believe we’re still
virile.
You and I are going to act
like old friends and walk arm in arm.
But you’re really supporting me.
But whatever you do, don’t let go of me or I’ll tumble like a pile of
bricks!’
So, we walk into the
dance, arm in arm and everything is alright until a city councilman across the
room is flailing his arms, insisting we come to his table.
We’ll never make it, and Buddy whispers
to me to just keep going and ignore the guy.
And that’s exactly what we did.”
With the hour getting late, it
looked like Chuck might be able to get Buddy back to his hotel and grab some
well-deserved rest.
No such luck.
“After the dance, the yacht club
wanted him to make an appearance,” Chuck remembered.
“He insisted on going, and when we entered, the room erupted
into applause.
Later, I’m making
excuses for him and getting ready to leave, when he says ‘Nonsense, I feel
great!’
He looks at me and says,
‘Chuck, you go home now.
The only
thing old actors like me need is applause!
I can walk from here.’
And he did.
I went home
exhausted, and he regaled the crowd for the rest of the evening.”
Buddy Rogers’ appearance was so
successful that the museum began the tradition of having a celebrity attend
every Silent Film Benefit.
Sadly,
the stars of the silent film era have now almost entirely perished.
But Chuck Liddell will never forget the
first star of the first Silent Film Benefit.
“It’s going to be very moving to
see the film and Buddy on the screen again,” Chuck reflected.
“I’ll never forget my weekend with
Buddy.”
The Catalina Island Museum’s Silent Film Benefit Presents Wings takes
place on Saturday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m. in the theater of the Avalon Casino.
This year’s celebrity guests are Cissy
and William Wellman, Jr., children of the legendary director of
Wings, William Wellman. The Catalina
Island Museum is Avalon’s sole institution devoted to art, culture and
history.
The museum, its digital
theater and store are located on the ground floor of Avalon’s historic Casino and
are open 7 days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the Silent
Film Benefit, the museum may be reached by phone at 310-510-2414 or at its
website: CatalinaMuseum.org.
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