#markredfield

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin

(16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977)

One of my favorite screen actors made his motion picture debut on 18 November, 1928.

Mickey Mouse stared in “Steamboat Willie”, and is the inseparable spokesmouse of The Walt Disney Company.

Mickey was co-created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, after Disney lost the rights to his character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to distributor Pat Powers. Legend had it that Walt originally christened The Mouse “Mortimer”, but Walt’s wife Lillian suggested Mickey.

“Steamboat Willie” (a play on Buster Keaton’s popular comedy “Steamboat Bill, Jr.”) was the third Mickey Mouse film produced, and a cost of about $5000. Walt had seen “The Jazz Singer”, and knew that synchronous sound would give his cartoons the edge in a very competitive field, and spent the money to record music and vocal effects. Walt was the first to voice Mickey, and did so for many years.

The question of Mickey’s actual birthdate is of interest to fans of Mickey, Disney, and animation. For decades, it’s whatever date the Company chose, usually a Saturday in the autumn, eventually settling on the release date of “Steamboat Willie”. Walt took a trademark out on “Mickey Mouse” in September, 1928.

My favorite incarnations of Mickey are the earliest. His character, and the characters he played, were rascally, adventurous, plucky, and somewhat inspired by other screen heroes of mine: Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks.

Design wise, the “pie-eyed” version is my favorite.

“…it all started with a mouse.”

~ Walt Disney

-Mark

On the eve of POEtober ‘24! visit with Edgar Allan Poe as he gives one of his final talks before a live audience!

Jeffery Combs is Poe in “Nevermore: An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe”! On Audible, GooglePlay, and wherever great #AudioBooks are sold!

Written by Dennis Paoli. Directed by Stuart Gordon.

Produced by Mark Redfield.

Happy Birthday Mark!

With my old friend and high school (!) pal Bill Johnson. Co-playin’ cause #BatmanDay #Prince #BatDance at

Baltimore Comic Con 2024!

LAST DAY Sunday 22 Sept 2024: 10am to 5pm

Baltimore Convention Center. We’re in booth #116. Bill acted in a film I directed in high school. At #BaltimoreComicCon he ran the Saturday Costume Contest! Bill always has great costumes!

9/21/24

DAY TWO!

#BaltimoreComicCon

#TheBatman #Joker

“Orson Welles 80” by Mark Redfield.

Canvas Print 16x20

Ready-to-hang. Free shipping in the USA.

MarkRedfieldArt.com

#OrsonWelles #CanvasPrint #wallart #AmericanCinema #filmmaker #RadioDrama

Remembering my friend Stuart Gordon.

(August 11, 1947 – March 24, 2020)

Filmmaker. Theatremaker.

For the years I knew and worked with him, he was a kind and generous friend. Bursting with passion for the work. Supportive, gently demanding.

It was an honor to produce the audio book production of the play “Nevermore-An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe” that he directed, written by Denis Paoli, and stars Jeffrey Combs.

-Mark

8/11/24