Richard,

Thank you so much for these, particularly The King of Jazz! I used to have it an old VHS tape of it, but I can't find it any more, and I've been wanting to watch the movie again for quite a while. I guess I'll try to watch it as soon as possible, just in case they somehow take it down, which sometimes happens with YouTube videos. Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone reissued The King of Jazz on DVD or Blu-Ray? While it may not be a great musical, it is at least an interesting historical artifact and offers a good chance to see the great Whiteman orchestra and Bing at the beginning of his career with the Rhythm Boys. Also, while the "King of Jazz" moniker is definitely exaggerated when applied to Pops Whiteman, there is no doubt that his music should be of interest to anyone interested in vintage pop and early (symphonic) jazz.

Anton G.-F. wrote:

Richard,

 - - I guess I'll try to watch it as soon as possible, just in case they somehow take it down, which sometimes happens with YouTube videos.

Anton, your comment suggests that you might be unaware that it is possible to download much of what is on Youtube, (though some material is protected), thus both enabling you to watch off line, avoid the problem of interesting items vanishing, and assisting those with slow connections in avoiding multiple blips and freezes when watching in "real time".

There are several software applications that download and manage Youtube audio and video clips. One that is free and does not seem to suffer any pestilential side effects is Free YouTube Download from DVDVideoSoft here http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-YouTube-Download.htm#.VSo2evnF_To
They also have a number of other useful tools - Audio and Video converters etc. http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/


 

Richard Baker wrote:

Youtube audio and video clips. One that is free and does not seem to suffer any pestilential side effects is Free YouTube Download from DVDVideoSoft here http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-YouTube-Download.htm#.VSo2evnF_To

 

I have had an email to tell me that I am wrong about the highlighted part of my earlier message. My informant tells me that the installation program mounts some additional items and adds something to the toolbar.
I fear that I was assuming that those who download applications would be aware of the pitfalls.
What I said is correct, but only if you take some basic precautions - 

NEVER just run an installation program, particularly one from a free source, on it's default configuration. Do not accept such things as browser extensions, alterations to home page, change in search engine, etc, all of which are likely to cause annoyance. Just install the minimum package. So as the installation package runs, untick all those bits that are not core to the application itself. Just disallow all the extras. Read the conditions!
I am sorry if any have fallen into a trap. If anyone has and wants help in reverting to an earlier state, drop me an email, and I'll try to help.

Speaking of which, I have had another email from a source unknown to me, containing many links to various Bing Crosby music downloads, all of which contain .ru extensions, indicating sites based in Russia. My personal reaction is one of suspicion. If anyone else has received anything similar I suggest it is best ignored and deleted. I have not tested any of the links but I suggest that wariness is best. In fact I personally avoid all such apparently tempting items.  
 

There's an appeal under way to raise funds for a new book about the film. See https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/587220788/king-of-jazz-paul-whitemans-technicolor-revue

Last edited by Malcolm Macfarlane (29/3/2016 6:23 am)

I just saw King of Jazz for the first time a couple of month ago. I was afraid of it 'being taken down' from YouTube as well. I did a search and found it on archive.org, I believe. So I downloaded it directly to my computer. I find a lot of good stuff at archive.org in terms of audio, but this was the first 'video' I downloaded. The quality is certainly not perfect, but I think it's comparable to the YouTube version.

That's so cool, Malcolm! Now I just have to find a way to get to NYC...

For James Layton

I would like to know if DVDs of the newly restored "King Of Jazz" will be available for purchase.

Also, what is the content of the ten minutes in this version versus the 93 minute version.

Finally, when will the book be available?

Thanks, Jim Kukura

jameslayton wrote:

Thanks for your message Jim. Unfortunately it is a little too early to talk about any DVD plans at this stage. Universal are at this moment still concentrating on completing the complicated restoration work in time for May.

The 93 minute version of the film that we know well from the old VHS release and TV broadcasts features all of the Bing Crosby footage that was ever in the film. The newly recovered footage and audio mostly consists of previously lost introductions to some of the numbers, an expansion of "The Property Man" sketch with Jack White, a comedy sketch called "The Piccolo Player" featuring Paul Whiteman and William Kent, and the film's original exit music.

The book will be available to Kickstarter supporters in September 2016. We are not yet sure if it will become more widely available after that.

I will tease that the sections in the film with Bing have never looked so good. His close-up in the "Bluebirds" number is simply breathtaking!

James

Wow, this is very exciting news! I can't wait to see Universal's restoration!

I have checked out the website of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and can find no information about the screening of the restored "King of Jazz". Nothing about viewing times, admission costs, or even acknowledging that the screening will take place. Can James Layton or someone clue me in as to how I can make plans to attend the June screening?

If you were unable to attend the recent KING OF JAZZ restoration premiere at The Museum of Modern Art in NYC, blogger Will McKinley wrote up a nice summary post: https://willmckinley.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/king-of-jazz-1930-restoration-debuts-to-cheers-and-tears/

And there are just 55 hours to go to secure your copy of our forthcoming book KING OF JAZZ: PAUL WHITEMAN'S TECHNICOLOR REVUE: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/587220788/king-of-jazz-paul-whitemans-technicolor-revue

I did get to the viewing at MoMa on June 14th. The restoration is really fantastic. I sure hope they make a DVD available to the public soon. When I walked into the lobby, I saw Gary Giddens standing there and quickly and briefly introduced myself as someone he met very briefly at Hofstra. Gary gave an enlightening and entertaining introduction to the screening. I guess I was expecting too much, because there were some disappointments for me. First, there were still some herky-jerky film flashes at the ends od some of the sequences. The additional footage seems to have been 1. longer version of the Fish Story with Jack White; 2. A new comedy skit with William Kent hiding in a closet (that I did not get); 3. All the nationalities being added to the Melting Pot in the finale, where only two are added in the version at large. I was also disappointed that there was a lot of laughter at much of the film that was not intended to be amusing. Many people at MoMA that evening did not seem to understand that, although this is far from current sate-of-the-art entertaining, what was on the screen was state-of-the-art when this film was made in 1929.

As I was riding the train back to the MetroPark where I left my car, I was rehashing the film as I had just seen it, in my mind. Since I had seen the film about 50 times myself, I was anxious to see what the audience reaction would be to some of the comedy skits. Then I realized that two skits that we have in the current version were missing entirely from the restored version. And the next day, I remembered a third comedy skit missing from the restored version. Perhaps James Layton or someone else can comment on what happened to those skits in the restoration.

If anyone would like to go back to Steven Lewis Bing Crosby Internet Museum and check out my writings about the King Of Jazz those many years ago, You will find I was quite the King Of Jazz groupie even back then. It is like an olive, once you get used to it you enjoy more and more.

James,  Just tried to place an order for the book for one of our members. The cost is quoted at $50 plus $20 for postage outside the USA. However when I went to pay with PayPal, the postage became $35. Which is right please?

Thanks, James. Much appreciated.