[78-L] Bert 'n' Eddie

[Michael Biel]

Robyn Astaire has blocked distribution of the three TV shows in the
Evening With Fred Astaire series because -- believe it or not -- they
were OVER-RESTORED!!!  An EMMY was awarded to the engineers who with
great difficulty and a bit of luck got the first program to play in
color from a tape that was made on a modified machine using a color
modulation system that was experimental.  There were several
pre-recorded sections that were played into the air tape, so when the
engineers used the original inserts instead of the second generation
tape that had originally been broadcast -- and bragged to her that the
program now looks better than it did when it was broadcast -- she
withdrew rights because it was over-restored.  This was told to me a
couple of years ago by the man who headed the restoration team.


Brian Gari has been known to take DVD's of some of his grandfather's
P.D. films from dealers' tables because he had not authorized them.  But
he has done yeoman work in producing CDs of his grandfather's broadcasts
and alternate takes with engineering from the original masters by Seth
Winner.  



Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com  

  -------- Original Message --------
 Subject: Re: [78-L] Bert 'n' Eddie
 From: David Lennick <dlennick at sympatico.ca>
 Date: Fri, November 06, 2009 1:35 pm
 To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
 
 Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra's brats sue over any unauthorized use
of their 
 ancestors as well..not sure if this involves the likenesses, but the
Astaire 
 situation certainly does since it's what got Naxos out of selling
reissues in 
 the US in the first place, long before the unpleasantness with
Capitol/EMI.
 
 dl
 
 Cary Ginell wrote:
 > No, but this show has been on the boards for a couple of years now
and Gari doesn't seem to be interested in going after them. I can find
out what his rights are with regard to Cantor. As for Astaire, that
might be something that Robyn got Fred to sign over to her before he
died. Anyone know about this?
 > 
 > 
 > 
 > Cary Ginell
 > 
 >> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:23:42 -0500
 >> From: dlennick at sympatico.ca
 >> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
 >> Subject: Re: [78-L] Bert 'n' Eddie
 >>
 >> "Right to Cantor's likeness as a subject to be exploited died with
him."
 >>
 >> That'll be news to Robyn Astaire. Are you sure about this?
 >>
 >> dl
 >>
 >> Cary Ginell wrote:
 >>> Just got an E-mail from Brian, and he is unaware of "Bert 'n'
Eddie." He says he has been working on his own Broadway show about his
grandfather and is annoyed that De Benedictus came out with his before
he did. So apparently, rights are not an issue. Right to Cantor's
likeness as a subject to be exploited died with him. But you're right,
he does support any efforts to expose Eddie to the public. There's a
website for the show: bertneddie.com. Nice raggy era music played on the
site.
 >>>
 >>>
 >>>
 >>> Cary Ginell
 >>>
 >>>> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:26:34 -0500
 >>>> From: jeffsultanof at gmail.com
 >>>> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
 >>>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Bert 'n' Eddie
 >>>>
 >>>> I cannot swear to this absolutely, but I believe that Brian was
consulted
 >>>> and gave his okay. Anything to keep Eddie Cantor in front of the
public.
 >>>>
 >>>> I had a great lunch once with Brian and his mom Janet. Great
people. Great
 >>>> stories. A lovely memory of my years in publishing.
 >>>>
 >>>> I once saw Whoopee at the Regency Theatre in New York with a
packed house.
 >>>> They were roaring at Cantor's performance. What a treasure to have
 >>>> it.....and in Technicolor to boot.
 >>>>
 >>>> Jeff Sultanof
 >>>>
 >>>> On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 1:17 AM, Michael Biel <mbiel at mbiel.com>
wrote:
 >>>>
 >>>>> From: Cary Ginell <soundthink at live.com>
 >>>>>> Anyone ever see this stage musical? I'm seeing a local
production of
 >>>>>> it next weekend. It's a new musical that focuses on the
friendship
 >>>>>> between Bert Williams and Eddie Cantor. Written by Richard De
Benedictus.
 >>>>>> I'll report back after I've seen it, but it sounds interesting.
 >>>>> I wonder if they have cleared this with Brian Gari?
 >>>>>
 >>>>> Mike Biel mbiel at mbiel.com
 >>>>>
 >> _________
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