It’s Silent-ology’s 2nd Anniversary!

Well! Another year has whizzed by with the speed of a well-thrown cream pie, and Silent-ology is now two years old!

Nazimova cutting Silent-ology’s birthday cake. Being Nazimova, she added 26 extra candles for dramatic effect.

2015 was a very exciting and fulfilling year, and to everyone who has taken the time to drop in and read my articles:

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!

It all means a great deal to me, more so than words can ever express, and I’m working hard on making 2016 another year to be proud of!

In keeping with last year’s post, I’m going to do a little roundup of the various highs and lows from the past 12 months. Let’s start with Silent-ology’s Top 5 Articles of 2015:

5. How To Make A Genuine Silent Comedy Pie (For Throwing!)

Although the focus is on 2015 articles and this one’s from 2014, it has consistently gained steam throughout the past year–enough to demand itself a mention! If anyone’s achieved slapstick success with this historically-accurate recipe, do not hesitate to send me the video.

4. 5 Silent Films That Would’ve Terrified Me As A Child

Talk about a post that was a blast to write! Silent fans don’t discuss the “creep factor” of certain old films often enough if you ask me, so I decided to let loose with some of the more blatant examples. As a kid black and white cartoons were a little freaky to me (not anymore, fortunately) so I thank my kind and tender lucky stars that I never saw any of these films at that age.

3. The First Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon

My very first blogathon ever was a rousing success–in fact, the record for the most Silent-ology traffic in one day goes to day one of this ‘thon! It was a real treat to get to read about Buster all weekend, and I’m sure this year’s event will be equally fun.

2. Lost Films: “Saved From The Titanic” (1912)

The Titanic is always a fascinating subject…but little did I suspect how this article would take off. Then again, how many people knew there was a Titanic film circa 1912?

1. How Do Silent Films Become “Lost”?

For the second year in a row, this is my biggest article and has gotten consistent views in the past 12 months.  And again, it wouldn’t be the success it is without the historians who helped me with the info (thank yew kindly!).

And here’s my list of 5 Articles That Got Fewer Views Than I’d Hoped. It’s not that they were ignored–some had a decent number of reads–but they seem to have quietly flown under the radar. Hopefully they’ll get more readers in the future!

5. Thoughts On “Bangville Police”

This was one of a flurry of posts during my Keystone Month, so it probably snuck by a few people.

4. Fantabulous Ford Sterling

Sterling is so little-known and underrated today that this one wasn’t a big surprise. Still, I hope a few more of you will check out this cartoony comedian and that he’ll gain some new fans.

3. Thoughts On “The Phantom of the Opera” (1925)

My big Halloween post fell flat–maybe it’s such a familiar film that it actually garnered less interest?

2. Mack Sennett, King of Comedy

Also an article from Keystone month. Not a blockbuster of a post, plus I couldn’t escape the fact that some of the info was present in other Keystone articles.

1. “Splashes of Fun and Beauty”–Sennett’s Famous Bathing Beauties

Now this was a head-scratcher–it did okay, but wasn’t quite the bonanza I had hoped. I’m very pleased with it, though, and might repost it at a later date.

Some highlights from 2015: I went to Hollywood. For the first time in the my life. Hollywood. HOLLYWOOD!! I also attended my very first silent film festival in San Francisco. It was such a lovely event that I might try to make it this year, too (and go back to Hollywood. Because HOLLYWOOD!!). Silent-ology joined quite a few blogathons, and hosted the first Buster ‘thon. August was Keystone Month, the second themed month I’ve done (and boy did it take a lot of preparatory work–oh, man!). October observed all things creepy and spooky for Halloween. Oh, and Silent-ology has a Tumblr now, for all those extra fun pics that don’t fit anywhere else (and I really oughta update more often–be right back).

Some plans for 2016: The 2nd annual Buster blogathon will be underway in a few days! I’ve toyed with the idea of hosting other blogathons too, but so far am satisfied with just the one event. A new theme month or two is in the works, as well as some posts that I’ve been excited about for awhile now (fingers crossed that they all come together!). Oh yes, and those of you who are subscribed to The Silent Film Quarterly might take particular interest in the upcoming issue…*wink*

Lastly, here’s my list of Articles I Take Particular Pride In from the past year, organized by their categories:

Favorite “Thoughts On…” Post: Thoughts On Murnau’s “Faust” (1926)

This is one of my favorite film essays so far; I feel that it flows smoothly, has the right amount of words, and says exactly what I want it to say. It’s also a darn cool film.

Favorite “History and Culture” Post: A History Of Those Darn Banana Peels

Researching this post was a pleasure, and armed me with lots of obscure trivia to stump my “just humor her” friends!

Favorite “Exploring the Silent Era” Post: 5 Silent Films That Would’ve Terrified Me As A Child.

Again, it was simply a blast to write.

Favorite “Personalities” Post And, Heck, My Favorite Post Of 2015: Sybil Seely, Buster’s Most Charming Leading Lady.

Readers who’ve been with me since 2014 know about my Buster Keaton And The MN State Fair research project (and maybe a few of you new arrivals have given it a read!), and know what a thrill it was to publish my article on it at last. Well, Sybil was my other big project. Digging for info on this much-loved but elusive supporting actress was quite a challenge, but happily it came together at last–Sybil deserved a bit more of the spotlight. Many thanks to the International Buster Keaton Society for all of their assistance and support!

Well, that seems to be it for now! If you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to Silent-ology’s 2nd Anniversary dinner party.

Seems like a decent group.

Adieu!

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