We heartily congratulate Mr. Plummer on receiving the Golden Globe Award for his performance in "Beginnings". His role as a newly widowed father of Ewan McGreggor's character discovers he is gay after his wife of 50 years passes away. Certainly a ground-breaking role for him. He continues to receive accolades and is in high demand in films in his mid 80s. His most recent film role is in "The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo".
World renowned pianist Roger Williams passed away
Mr. Williams played John Barry's SIT theme during the end credits of our film. His lush performance supplied perfect punctuation to our beloved movie.
He was battling pancreatic cancer. He was 87 and died October 7, 2011
We had contact with Mr. Williams and published an article about him in INSITE Magazine in 2010, with which he was very pleased. He practices over 12 hours a day and knew over 10,000 songs by heart
SIT Composer John Barry Dies at age 77
We have lost another precious Somewhere in Time creator...John Barry, British composer of the original music soundtrack for Somewhere in Time, died of a heart attack January 30, 2011, at age 77. John's passionate work on the SIT score (which came on the heels of the loss of both of his parents) added so much to the film's emotional impact, it is impossible to quantify the repercussions had he not been the one to score the film.
He was an incredible talent, and leaves behind an awesome legacy of masterpieces, including the James Bond film scores and Dances with Wolves, Out of Africa, and Born Free. His score for Somewhere in Time remains his best-selling work. He won 5 Academy Awards.
Please see the Music of John Barry on our website: we highly recommend this marvelous CD (click for more info):
***With sadness, I bear the news that we lost our beloved Bill Erwin, "Arthur" on Dec. 29. He was 96.
Bill had suffered a decline since Sept. He was in the advanced stages of dementia, however, he was in no pain and no discomfort, and died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his family--and at home.
He had turned 96 on Dec. 7.
Bill was the favorite celebrity of so many attendees of the Somewhere in Time Weekends, because of his great wit. He would have people howling with laughter at his unexpectedly bold remarks, often poking fun at himself,
referring to himself as a 'prop-up comic' and blurting out such one liners as, "I'm one match away from cremation." He loved words, had a phenomenal vocabulary and enjoyed plays on words.
Bill would often 'hold court,' sitting in the Parlor of Grand Hotel, or on the Porch when the weather permitted, with fans gathered 'round him..regaling them with stories of his life and career. And also stories of making the movie. He was on hand for the entire filming of Somewhere in Time, spending 7 weeks on Mackinac Island.
Bill Erwin was so memorable as "Arthur", an impactful character, providing clues and proof that Richard Collier did in fact, travel back to 1912, that it wasn't just a dream or fantasy. He also had the last on-camera line in the movie, "Such a fine man. I wonder what happened to him." It was Arthur who, regarding The Portrait, declared in an unforgettable tone, "That's Elise McKenna!" Arthur furnished the final important detail providing Richard the conviction he needed to accomplish his time travel journey. When Collier begs to know where the Hall of History artifacts and hotel registers come from, Arthur, awakened by Collier's insistent pounding at his cottage door, says, "In the attic, Mr. Collier." Bill used to tease us saying, "I arranged my own hair for that scene."
We have posted Bill Erwin's obituary from the L. A. Times below.
We have also posted our interview with Bill from the SIT Event DVD #1...on YouTube...which I hope you will go and see.
He appears in top form, entertaining us on our SIT Event DVDs, #1, #2, #4, #5, #6 and #7. (SIT Event DVDs are very popular--and available online, in our SIT Website shop, Video/DVD section.)
He attended 15 Grand Hotel SIT Weekends and SIT events in Chicago and Los Angeles. From 1990 to 2006 he attended all but 1994's event, because he was working on a film, Dennis the Menace. His last visit with us was at the age of 91, in 2006, when we made a special point to honor him. Imagine a nearly 92-year-old man making the journey from CA to Mackinac Island...but Bill looked forward to the annual SIT Weekends with great enthusiasm, contending they "recharged his batteries," and were "the highlight of my year." That memorable Saturday evening we provided him a cake with candles and the entire audience of 600+ sang an early Happy Birthday to him, commemorating his 92nd year milestone two months in the future.
Bill Erwin's website has had over 15,000 hits Tuesday, as the entertainment media picked up on his passing...Variety, Yahoo, Hollywood Reporter, and Google news. Bill would have been thoroughly delighted at the outpouring of love.
William Lindsey Erwin was born 2 December, 1914, to Lee Eugene and Ida Mae
Erwin in Honey Grove,Texas, a town founded by his 2nd great-grandfather,
Samuel Augustus Erwin.
Bill married Frances MacLachlan 10 January 1948 in San Gabriel Mission, CA. They met
while working onstage at the Pasadena Playhouse.
The Erwins had four children: two sons, Michael and Timothy; and two
daughters, Lindsey and Kelly. Bill and Fran Erwin had seven grandchildren.
Fran Erwin predeceased her husband in September 1995. The couple shared more
than 47 years of marriage.
We will most certainly miss him, but he will never be forgotten....See ya around, Arthur.
Yours in time,
Jo Addie
Bill Erwin 1914 - 2010
(from the LA Times, 1/1/11)
Bill Erwin, 96, a veteran character actor remembered for his role as Arthur the bellman in the 1980 fantasy film "Somewhere in Time" and his Emmy-nominated guest appearance on "Seinfeld," died Wednesday (December 29) at his home in Studio City of age-related causes, his son Mike said Friday.
Erwin had a long-running career in film, television and theater with dozens of roles in episodic TV. He was nominated for an Emmy Award as outstanding guest actor in a comedy series in 1993 playing the cranky Sid Fields in a "Seinfeld" episode titled "Old Man."
He also had roles in the TV series "Growing Pains," "Gunsmoke," "Highway to Heaven," "Perry Mason," "The Golden Girls," "Twilight Zone," " Zane Grey Theater," "Who's the Boss?" and many more.
Erwin became a favorite of the devoted fans of "Somewhere in Time," the romantic time-travel drama starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, and he was featured in a documentary accompanying the film's 20th anniversary DVD.
William Lindsey Erwin was born Dec. 2, 1914, in Honey Grove, Texas, and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 1935.
He studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and performed there and at the Laguna Beach Playhouse and La Jolla Playhouse beginning in 1940.
Erwin continued acting on local stages over the decades and received a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award in 1983 for his performance in "Old Friends" at the Actors Forum.
Dates for the next Somewhere in Time Weekend: October 7 - 9, 2011
Contact Grand Hotel for reservations and information.
Somewhere in Time Producer Stephen Simon's New Book
Bringing Back the Old Hollywood
If you long for more movies like Somewhere in Time, if you would miss seeing high quality new movies, you must read this book! Learn more, or buy the book, on the click on image at the left.
Redford Theater, Detriot MI
17360 Lahser Road, Detroit, MI 48219.
August 5, 2011 - 8:00
August 6, 2011 - 2:00 & 8:00
For group ticket information for the classic film series, please call 313-531-4407
Watch this "astonishing" Fan Tribute -- the kid was 16 when he did this. Now, understand how this was done...every sound, every note comes from the actual clips, no music was created, or recorded and then video laid on, as first you might think....he only used bits and clips from the film, and everything you see provides an audio piece for the audio/music background...what you see from the film is also what you hear from the film....so it's a miracle of editing...
On May 27th,
1995, Christopher Reeve, known throughout the world for his
role as Superman, was paralyzed from the neck down in a
riding accident. This intimate portrait filmed by his son
Matthew, focuses on Chris?remarkable recovery of movement
and his constant fight to fully regain his mobility.
These two stirring
documentaries, Hope in Motion and Choosing Hope, follow
Chris closely over many months of treatment and public
campaigning for funds for stem cell research. Everyday
aspects of his family life are combined with regular visits
to a medical center, documenting his recovery beginning with
the movement of a single finger.
Sadly, Chris
died before his most fervent wish could come to pass. What
emerges through this film is a portrait of an intelligent,
determined, candid and outspoken man who was able to
maintain his sense of humour in the face of adversity. His
inspiring personality will shine through as you follow his
unpredictable, emotional journey.
Contains two stirring documentaries,
Hope in Motion and Choosing Hope, filmed over a 2 year
period by Christopher Reeve’s son Matthew.
Features candid interviews with
Christopher Reeve, his doctors and footage of his
rehabilitation.
Special Features include a candid
interview with Christopher about his injury: an interview
Jim MacLaren, Jesse Billauer and Brooke Ellison about
living with spinal cord injuries; a featurette about the
Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center.
A portion of the profits will benefit
the Christopher Reeve Foundation.
Jane Seymour
“Making Yourself at Home?br>
Buy It Now!
Home decoration is an important form of self-expression. Colors, textures, furniture and light all work together to make a room functional and comfortable. Jane Seymour, an experienced artist and home decorator, teaches readers in simple steps how to tranform a house into a home that is personal, warm and welcoming for family and guests.
Using her own home, Coral Canyon in Malibu, California, as an example, Seymour shows how anyone can change out the look of their home, affordably and practically. For Seymour, collecting the things you love and displaying them in a creative way is more satisfying than being surrounded by expensive, impersonal decorating.
Divided into chapters based on living spaces, “Making Yourself at Home” gives specific instructions for designing and decorating each type of space, including rooms for entertaining guests, family gathering places, private spaces, individual’s rooms, and creative outlets.
Seymour believes each person is an artist in his or her own right, and in this book she encourages everyone to find the artistry within.
“With this book, I want to inspire people to discover their own style and make it easy to put it all together.” --Jane Seymour. The book is a very personal peek into Jane’s family’s home and lifestyle, including many photos of her family. Hardcover.
INSITE's 3rd Quarter issue, 2004, is a Tribute to our Hero, our Star, our Friend. We invite you join INSITE so you can receive this special issue, a cherished memento. Go to Fan Club section, and join easily, online.
Click here to read the messages from fans worldwide that were posted
to the Memorial Message Board on this website.
