2011.07.01

Saturday, July 9, 2011 New History Film Blog History Film’s revamped website has a new blog feature which will offer articles, links and commentary related to history, world, national and local, biography and literature. Some of our favorite authors will be discussed here like Mark Twain who of course was the subject of Dangerous Intimacy: The Untold Story of Mark Twain’s Final Years – our recent documentary currently available on DVD. Speaking of Twain, one of the books which I drew on often while making the documentary was a compilation of the great man’s tales, sketches, speeches and essays from his last years. I open it up at random. I find “Letters from the Earth” and the topic is religion. “The first time the Deity came down to earth he brought life and death; when he came the second time he brought hell.” Mark Twain, or Satan, the supposed author of these fiery words, suggests that God found that the fact of death was not satisfactory. A way must be contrived to pursue the dead beyond the tomb.  So “ … as soon as he came down to earth and became a Christian his mind cleared he knew what to do. He invented hell, and proclaimed it.”  Not a gentle bit of phrasing there. But humorous, Twain was always humorous, and sulfurous. You can pick up Mark Twain’s Tales and Sketches from the years 1891 to 1910 at Amazon.   That’s the sort of thing we will be doing in this blog. Providing you with a guide to the best in viewing and reading in history and literature and supplying a source where you can purchase what you need. One of the partners of History Film in this is the History Channel. Like us, the History Channel produces work on history of great variety, exciting documentaries on World War II, the Civil War and Ancient times, albeit at a somewhat higher budget. There are interactive discussion pages on history films and quizzes too. They offer DVD boxed sets currently at a discount. So this is the launch. The first blog entry is entered. Keep coming back to this page to find the latest news, commentary, previews and offers. Post your own comments as well. But try to keep the sulfurous (sul-fur-ous adjective: similar to burning sulfur) bits at a minimum. Unless you have the humorous gift of a Mark Twain. 9:15 pm edt          Comments

History Channel Offer (Click here)

History Film History Film Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1987 to create film and video works on cultural and historical subjects. The films are intended to educate, entertain and inform, and to provide a living link to the past. Richard Altomonte, the organization’s founder, graduated from Boston University’s College of Communications with a B.S. in Filmmaking and has been a fundraiser, screenwriter and documentary producer/director for many years. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Long Island. Projects include: YESTERDAY’S TIME (1987), narrated by Tony Bennett, is an evocative look back at Bennett’s hometown, Queens County, New York, from the turn of the century through 1950. The film was broadcast on public television WNET/13. VIDEO PORTRAIT: ROSLYN (1993), featuring archival footage, photos and an extended interview with town historian Roy Moger, recounts the story of the North Shore Long Island village from the 1800s to the present. ROSLYN was broadcast on cable News 12/NY. GUNFIGHTERS AND SAMURAI (1998) explores the historical relationship and interplay of American westerns and Japanese swordplay films. With funding from the Japan Foundation the documentary features interviews with Lawrence Kasdan, Peter Bogdanovich, Donald Richie, Joseph Anderson, and Kyoko Hirano of the Japan Society. HISTORY ALONG THE TURNPIKE (2004), a video portrait of the landmark communities of Franklin Square and Levittown, features interviews, photographs and archival film with music by Jason Tillary and others. The project was funded by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation and sponsored by Astoria Federal Savings. History Film granted permission to MCD Holdings Inc. (Richmond American Homes) to use HISTORY ALONG THE TURNPIKE: LEVITTOWN as a training video illustrating for homebuilders the explosive development of postwar construction in America. History Channel Offer (Click here) "Yesterday's Time", recollections of bygone Queens County neighborhoods, narrated by Tony Bennett. "History Along the Turnpike: Levittown" recalls the development of America's most famous suburban community. Also: "History Along the Turnpike: Franklin Square" depicting the evolution of the historic town along Hempstead Turnpike. Work-In-Progress ... "The Hempstead Plains Project": restoring and preserving the Hempstead Plains. A Teacher's DVD describing the work of Friends of Hempstead Plains.
Kalb's Hotel, Franklin Square, N.Y. From "History Along the Turnpike: Franklin Square". Photo courtesy the Franklin Square Historical Society. History Film P.O. Box 1713 Mineola, N.Y. 11501 Email: Richard@historyfilm.com