benshi records, etc.

[David Hopkins]

Hi
     I was at the Kyoto Bunka Museum for silent screenings yesterday, and 
afterwards I talked with the guy who runs the screening program there. The 
films were Hototogisu and Mori no Kajiya, and both were "digest" editions, 
about 30 minutes each. The time fit the time of my mysterious benshi records 
for Aisen Katsura, so I asked about that. He suggested that the records went 
with home-use (portable hand-crank projectors) versions of popular movies, 
apparently available in the thirties. (35mm celluloid--any survivors?)
This seems to answer the question of the existence of the Aisen Katsura set. 
One wonders, of course, why this is in the benshi style for a talkie, and 
not in the Lux Radio Theatre style of Hollywood radio adaptations.
     Also in my 78rpm (SP) collection, I have a few records by Ri Ko Ran 
(Yamaguchi Yoshiko) that are film related. Since her Shina no Yoru was 
recently discussed here, I asked at the museum if they couldn't have a 
special series of her movies. They don't have that one or Nessa no Chikai, 
or Byakuran no Uta. Anybody know where I might see these? Video? Peter! 
Help! Should be real good Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere stuff!

yours,
David Hopkins