* Wednesday, March 1, 2000. Hollywood, California, U.S.A.





In celebration of the 125th anniversary of J. Stuart Blackton, The Silent

Society of Hollywood Heritage, Inc. and the International Animated Film

Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, are presenting a program highlighting this motion

picture and animation pioneer. A diverse sampling of works by the medium's

first director-producer-animator and actor will be featured, all drawn from

his days at Vitagraph, the company Blackton co-founded with partners Albert

E. Smith and William T. Rock. Highlights of the program are several

animated subjects, including HUMOROUS PHASES OF FUNNY FACES; trick films,

such as THE THIEVING HAND; a John Bunny comedy; and a three-reel version of

VANITY FAIR, the first of many film adaptations of Thackery's classic

novel. Musical accompaniment for the program is by Michael Mortilla.

Admission is US$6 for the general public and $5 for members of

ASIFA-Hollywood. The event takes place at 7:30 PM at the Hollywood Heritage

Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave. (directly across from the Hollywood Bowl).

For more information contact ASIFA-Hollywood at: 725 S. Victory Blvd.,

Burbank, CA 91502; E-mail: info@asifa-hollywood.org; or Web:

http://www.asifa-hollywood.org.