Alan Day Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Paul Merton is doing some Silent Movie programmes at the moment and I was watching a re run of the Charlie Chaplin feature last night.Whilst talking to his sweetheart and her father his job is to cut the loaf of bread for their tea.He cleverly cuts it in a spiral along the length of the loaf whilst holding a conversation.He sees his mistake and then plays the loaf like a concertina. I bet he got a lot of dough for that. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 ...Charlie Chaplin ... cleverly cuts [a load of bread] in a spiral along the length of the loaf whilst holding a conversation.He sees his mistake and then plays the loaf like a concertina. A loaf of bread and "concertina wire", but has there ever been a real (i.e., musical instrument) concertina with a spiral bellows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3838 Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Not a Charly Chaplin movie, but a few days ago I remembered an old Russian made movie about high scholl students, where chemistry teacher, played by superb russian actor (whos day job was puppeteer), Zinovy Gerdt, is playing a concertina. I rented the movie... Nope, fake. He just shakes this poor "concertina" like a maraccas, on every beat, and the music is nowhere reminiscent of the concertina. I guess they just wasnted to make the character unusual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted June 6, 2006 Author Share Posted June 6, 2006 Not a Charly Chaplin movie, but a few days ago I remembered an old Russian made movie about high scholl students, where chemistry teacher, played by superb russian actor (whos day job was puppeteer), Zinovy Gerdt, is playing a concertina. I rented the movie... Nope, fake. He just shakes this poor "concertina" like a maraccas, on every beat, and the music is nowhere reminiscent of the concertina. I guess they just wasnted to make the character unusual. Bing Crosby managed to get a full orchestra sound out of his twenty button anglo. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 ...chemistry teacher, played by superb russian actor (whos day job was puppeteer), Zinovy Gerdt, is playing a concertina. ..., fake. He just shakes this poor "concertina" like a maraccas, on every beat, and the music is nowhere reminiscent of the concertina.Bing Crosby managed to get a full orchestra sound out of his twenty button anglo. An early MIDI prototype? Scary thought: Future generations may be so used to technological enhancement that they'll view these movies without realizing that it's not supposed to sound that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodore Kloba Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 has there ever been a real (i.e., musical instrument) concertina with a spiral bellows?I made a tuning bellows out of a section of flexible vinyl duct with a spiral support wire (i.e. dryer hose). I don't use it anymore because I came upon an old accordion bellows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 (edited) Here's an old Al Hirschfeld drawing of the Marx Brothers with Chico playing the concertina. When I first saw this image (in Hirschfeld's obituary in 2003), I posted a question about it here (in the old forum). Nobody could recall an instance of Chico actually playing (or even pretending to play) a concertina. Edited for spelling. Edited June 6, 2006 by David Barnert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted June 6, 2006 Author Share Posted June 6, 2006 An interesting observation Jim,it would be a way of producing a cheap childs concertina, the bellows similar to a Jack in the box. Wonderful cartoon drawing David. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Drinkwater Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 I bet he got a lot of dough for that.Al Well, Al. he probably kneeded it. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted June 7, 2006 Author Share Posted June 7, 2006 Chris,have you been having lessons from Jim ? Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Drinkwater Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Chris,have you been having lessons from Jim ?Al Well, it's punny you should ask that Al, but no, it's all my own work. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted June 8, 2006 Author Share Posted June 8, 2006 Chris,have you been having lessons from Jim ? Al Well, it's punny you should ask that Al, but no, it's all my own work. Chris Just thought I would ask Chris It was the yeast I could do. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Chris,have you been having lessons from Jim ?Well, it's punny you should ask that Al, but no, it's all my own work. Just thought I would ask ChrisIt was the yeast I could do. Rising to the occasion, as usual, Alan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted June 8, 2006 Author Share Posted June 8, 2006 I thought it would tempt you Jim with one of your gems on this Roller Toaster. Who's that groaning? Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 I thought it would tempt you Jim with one of your gems on this Roller Toaster. Alan, the depth and breadth of your subtlety are simply amazing. And you're no loafer yourself when it comes to puns. I barley know what to say. (Now where's that rye smiley when I need it?) Who's that groaning? 'S not a groaning board. 'S a smorgasbord. With a plaice set especially for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted June 8, 2006 Author Share Posted June 8, 2006 Thank you for your warm comments Jim I am glad I did not make a bloomer. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Drinkwater Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Thank you for your warm comments JimI am glad I did not make a bloomer. Al Really guys, isn't it about time we wrapped this topic up? It's gotten far too corny. Chris P.S. What make of concertina was Charlie pretending to play? Why, a Wheatstone, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 What make of concertina was Charlie pretending to play? Why, a Wheatstone, of course. A whole Wheatstone? But I think one could make a Case that he was actually using a loaf of wry bread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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