The Knights of the National Film Registry
This past year I had the pleasure of being introduced to a small group of fellow Film Registry enthusiasts and in September we even had an informal online meeting and screening of the once rare registry title Lady Helen’s Escapade (1909). Benjamin Wilson, a brilliant member of our small community managed to get the film digitized and uploaded to this NFR YouTube page! And our fearless leader Eric Levy hosted the online premier and after-show discussion. It was lovely to meet like-minded people and I always learn so much from all of them.
Starting with Lady Helen’s Escapade everyone had so much good information to share. Fellow Film Registry blogger Tony wrote a great article on the subject and shared a ton with us, including crucial information about the film’s star Florence Lawrence. Lawrence, otherwise known as the “Biograph Girl” for being a leading lady for the Biograph Company, was said to be the first real movie star. Not only that, but she was an inventor in the same vein as Heddy Lamar. While Lamar invented technology that lead to WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth, Lawrence invented the “auto signaling arm” which laid the groundwork for the modern turn signal and mechanical break signal. I always love learning about beautiful brilliant women and I’m so glad that one of Lawrence’s key films has not only been added to the registry but has been digitized for easier access so her legacy may continue to spread.
Conversations with our NFR community, or the Knights of the National Film Registry as I like to think of us have continued for months now and I’m so glad to have access to so much vital information about the registry and otherwise from such a nice supportive community.
Links:
1) Eric Levy, fellow Film Registry blogger and leader of our small community who brought us all together hosts the fan site:
2) Fellow Film Registry blogger Tony wrote a great article about Lady Helen’s Escapade and was kind enough to mention me!:
https://thehorseshead.blog/2024/10/30/723-lady-helens-escapade-1909/
3) Check out the newly digitized Lady Helen’s Escapade on Benjamin Wilson’s YouTube channel here:
