On January 1, all films published 95 years ago lose their copyrighted restrictions and enter the public domain. This year, the crop of 1929 can now be freely used to display, remix, and build upon. In the USA.
Due to a legal Gordian Knot involving the Bern Convention, a series of treaties, and the “rule of the shorter term” being exempted for works from the USA and Mexico. Public domain American films may still be copyrighted here, specifically if, (due to CUSMA, 2020) the “authors” (and it’s legally a bit vague who all this is for a motion picture) of the work died after 1971. It’s a mess.
Result: a 20 year public domain hiatus in Canada, with no new works entering public domain until 2042. So unless that changes, we at the Vodville look forward to celebrating a real public domain day in Canada with you then.
THAT SAID, we get around all this by exercising our rights as granted by the Fair Dealing provision of the Copyright Act (1985). Here’s some non-substantial portions of possibly still copyrighted films presented non-commercially, and for educational and/or critical purposes.
Public Domain Day 2025: Films of 1929 if you‘re American
First up, we have Auld Lang Syne from Jungle Rhythm, an early Mickey Mouse film animated by the man behind the mouse himself, Ub Iwerks
1929 was the last year the major studios produced silent films, talkies were in, and the previous sound on disc process (yup, actual vinyl records synced to a film projector) was being supplanted by a variety of ways to get the sound onto the film itself. Here we present Finding His Voice, a helpful animated explainer about how Western Electric pulled this trick off.
Now that sound was in, the studios needed content, and why make new when you can recycle the works of many famous musicians and Vaudeville entertainers (some graced the stage of Vancouver’s First Pantages Theatre). Here we have a scene by George Burns, and the writer and brains of the outfit, Gracie Allen from their famous bit, Lambchops.
While Hollywood was recycling, the Soviets were innovating, here we present a city scene from the experimental documentary Man with a Movie Camera, directed by Dziga Vertov. No script, no actors, just city life in Russia in the 1920’s.
Getting back to Hollywood Vaudevillians, it’s the shirt song from the Marx Brothers’ The Cocoanuts. Laundry day at our house just got more musical.
Proof positive that unintelligible announcements for transit systems are at least a century old tradition, we have Laurel and Hardy in Berth Marks
Gabbo GABBO GABBO! ahem, The Great Gabbo, is a film about a ventriloquist and his dummy. It’s great, but those bits were creepy, so here’s the for sure not strange Web of Love song instead.
The Walt Disney company is famously litigious when it comes to copyright, but we like living dangerously, so here’s a titch over 10% of Wild Waves. Singing seals, animated by Ub Iwerks, music by Carl Stalling (who died in 1972)
Back to The Cocoanuts for an expertly played cash register and bike horn.
We finish up with the Carousel Scene from Man with a Movie Camera, (the whole movie is flat out amazing by the way).
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We are located in the fourth window from the alley, on the Woodland Drive side of the Vancouver Hack Space.
1601 Venables Street East Van VODVILLE -Google maps link
Next, if you ask any girl from the parish around what their favorite short film is, and after they tell you to mind your own business, they will let you know that they are fond of the Log Drivers Waltz directed by John Weldon Watch it here.
We tried to take it off because at 7 minutes it was too long for our format, but you know how that goes, its The Cat Came Back directed by Cordell Barker Watch it here.
Also keep your eyes open for a surprise appearance by the elusive Canadian House Hippo!
Visit us today!
We are located in the third window from the alley, on the Woodland Drive side of the Vancouver Hack Space.
More information about the East Van Vodville and its construction in this thread.
Finally we’d like to thank the NFB for not sending us a cease and desist letter… yet.
First up, Buster Keaton finds out the dangers of sleeping on the job in 1924’s Sherlock Jr. Wikipedia(3:18)
Next we learn the hazards of over cranking the film with the magic lantern scene from Karel Zeman’s 1958 masterpiece Invention For Destruction Wikipedia(2:05)
Singing on the job does make the day go faster, but if you are a projectionist is a good idea to keep the PA system off. Its the musical projectionists scene from 1937’s This Way Please directed by Robert Florey. (1:46) Wikipedia
Finally we reveal what’s happening when you press the button, its the reopening scene from 1957’s The Smallest Show on Earth directed by Basil Dearden (1:39) Wikipedia
It’s summer and you know that that means… ADVENTURE!
First up, it’s the first use of bluescreen in a feature film, a technology that led to all the CGI wonders we have today. It’s the flying horse from 1940’s The Thief of Bagdad. More info on the chroma key process Wiki
Next we have Buster Keaton, playing Jimmie Shannon, who will receive a huge inheritance if he gets married by 7 pm, dodging dozens of rocks and even more potential brides in 1925’s Seven Chances Seriously, this chase scene goes on for over 20 minutes and it’s all amazing, stay tuned for more clips of this Watch online Wiki
Next we have a literal cannonball ride courtesy of the Czech master of combining live action and animation, Karel Zeman. It’s 1962’s The Fabulous Baron Munchausen. This film, and Zeman’s work as a whole was heavily influential on many directors, including Terry Gillam, and Tim Burton. More About Karel Zeman Wiki
Finally we can all scream along with Fay Wray and King Kong as they battle a T-rex in the eponymous 1933 classic featuring absolutely stunning animation by Willis O’Brien. Content warning: PG black & white puppet gore. Watch online Wiki
Next we join Charlie Chaplin playing a bumbling new hire learning the ropes in the early days of film. Behind the Screen, 1916 (2:44)
Want to see what chaos ensues when you supply over three thousand weaponized pies to a bustling city street? We’ve got you covered in this clip from The Battle of the Century, 1927 (3:42) -ed: and it keeps going after this
Ever looked at the violence that rocked prohibition era America and thought “this would make a swell children’s musical comedy?” No? That’s because you are not Sir Alan Parker and it’s not the seventies. We proudly present the speakeasy pie shootout from 1976’s Bugsy Malone (1:46)
Finally we bring it home with the master himself, Buster Keaton, recreating the glory days of silent film in 1939’s Hollywood Cavalcade. (3:14)
If you feel inspired to play along at home, remember two things:
Only toss a pie at someone with their enthusiastic consent
This week, by viewer request, we are serving up a taster flight of Charlie Chaplin
First up, it’s 1928’s The Circus. Here we have Chaplin, as the tramp, in the right place at the right time for a new job. Hijinks ensue. (3:10)
Next we have Chaplin’s Nonsense Song from 1936’s Modern Times. Showing us that if you don’t know the words, don’t worry: it’s all about the delivery. (4:05)
After that, we have a clip from 1921’s The Kid. A heartfelt scene about an upstart family-owned glass repair business. (3:17)
1952’s Limelight, shows Chaplin returning to his vaudeville roots in a virtuoso violin act accompanied by an almost unrecognisable Buster Keaton on the piano. (3:18) ed - we cut out the really beautiful sentimental song in the middle for length, it plays better with our format, but go check out the original.
Finally we learn the value of properly locked off work areas. It’s the iconic skating scene from Modern Times, 1936. (2:15)
This week, we are proud to feature a selection of scenes from French director and master of slapstick sight gags,
Pierre Étaix.
First up, it’s the seamlessly choreographed caravan departure scene from 1965’s brilliant riches to rags to riches film Yo Yo. (3:24)
Next is a short scene from 1962’s The Suitor, where a job is never done when an obsessed fan is involved. (1:16)
We change gears in our third scene, and learn about the vast possibilities of a mid-century miracle cleaner in As Long as You’ve Got Your Health, 1966 (4:26)
After that we return to Yo Yo, to learn how to take care of your pets when you’re part of the 0.01%. (2:38)
Finally we check out the dream sequence in 1969’s Le Grand Amour, where even if your dreams and your love are free, it’s still a good idea to comply with all relevant local traffic ordinances. (4:46)
This week, in salute to the dog days of summer,
we are proud to present a selection of:
Creature Features
First up, its a good ol’fashioned dinosaur fight from 1925’s The Lost World. With excellent stop motion by Willis H. O’Brien, who went on to animate such classic creature features as Mighty Joe Young, and King Kong (2:32)
Onward to 1953, we meet The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, animated by O’Brien’s protege, and successor, Ray Harryhausen. Watch for excellent performances by screaming extras heroically padding out the run time. (1:49)
Stop motion is great and all, but what if we just put a stuntman in a rubber suit instead? Now what just brushed against your leg in the pond? Must be the Creature from the Black Lagoon, 1954. (3:34)
The first rule of Kaiju fight club: No building shall be left undestroyed. It’s the King of the Monsters himself in 1954’s Godzilla Raids Again. With special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. (2:46)
Finally we jump to 1966’s Ultraman - Episode 14. With the most fabulously hand puppety hand puppet monster we’ve ever seen. It’s Eiji Tsuburaya showing us that last decade’s blockbuster extravaganzas are this year’s Saturday morning television. (2:41)
This week we delve into the wonders of modern innovation, its
What will they think of next?!
First up, we check out the latest in multi-function furniture in 1940’s Christmas in July (1:20)
Then we leap ahead to The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), where new alien technology meets a good old fashioned American army welcome. (4:20)
1965’s YoYo shows us the latest and greatest in prop technology for the business clown on the go. (2:45)
Next we travel to the Forbidden Planet (1956), where we meet Robbie, a robot pushing the boundaries of binary computing. (3:41)
Finally, we are presenting a new series,
Kaiju of the Week!
To start us off we visit the island of misfit monsters in 1968’s Destroy all Monsters. Here we learn about the impenetrable defences constructed by top scientists, which will surely contain the island’s residents, and in no way allow them to escape and wreak havoc in the second act. (2:06)
This week, it’s an all singing, some dancing Vaudeville Review!
Lord, grant me the confidence of Mae West in a 3 storey sequin dress. In a rare VODVILLE-safe performance, she stars in all her glory in 1937’s Every Day’s a Holiday. (4:41)
Our next act brings us 1936’s Everything is Rhythm, where we explore the musical and sartorial potential of your average kitchen cupboard. (3:21)
Next it’s Lucille Ball (the one and only) in 1940’s Dance, Girl, Dance, delivering a public service announcement on the dangers of untreated jitterbug bites. (2:38)
Finally we have a frog, on a log, in a bog… and lookout! he’s got a banjo! It’s Kermit the Frog himself in 1979’s The Muppet Movie. Possible appearance by ninjas cutting onions. (3:21)
Kaiju of the Week!
Our kaiju this week is none other than the guardian of the earth herself, Mothra! Here featured in 1992’s Godzilla vs. Mothra. While heat ray reflective pollen might be the ultimate weapon, nothing is a match for friendship and a song. Special effects by Kōichi Kawakita. (4:04)
Featuring your favourite scream queen’s favourite scream queen
Una O’Connor
There is nothing like a quiet retreat in the country to clear your head, at least until the locals see through you, its 1933’s The Invisible Man (3:23)
Next, marvel as Una O’Connor takes a woodchipper to 12 pages of otherwise dry exposition, in 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein (2:37)
It’s alive, IT’S ALIVE! It’s the creation scene from 1931’s Frankenstein. Featuring spectacular electrical effects by Kenneth Strickfaden (3:34)
When you have Una bring the panic, it’s so easy to believe in The Invisible Man that nobody looks for the fishing line. (3:43)
Frankenstein enjoys some food and music with a new friend, posing the question: was he truly a monster or simply in need of gradual exposure therapy and reasonable accommodations for sensory sensitivity? 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein (4:04)
Also, don’t listen to Frankenstein, smoking is bad -ed.
Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for, Una’s back as Frankenstein meets Minnie, in 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein (0:31)
This week we salute the brave actors who didn’t need a double, its:
Legitimately Dangerous Stunts Week!
First up it’s Douglas Fairbanks in 1920’s The Mark of Zorro. Here we find him parkouring away from a posse of guards, who soon discover that it’s hard to find a Zorro in a haystack. (4:15)
From swinging from the rooftops to swinging from a waterfall, it’s Buster Keaton in 1923’s Our Hospitality. (3:37)
After that, we have Harold Lloyd in 1924’s Girl Shy, it’s a classic tale of boy meets girl, girl is about to marry the wrong man, boy steals a streetcar and invents an entire new class of moving violations. (3:59)
We return to Buster Keaton (seriously he’s a madman), for the infamous tempest scene in 1928’s Steamboat Bill, Jr. Caution, only attempt the house drop gag when you are really, REALLY sure of your mark. (3:03)
Kaiju of the Week!
Our Kaiju this week is 1958’s Varan the Unbelievable.
We also want to send a special salute out to all the brave photographers who risk life and limb to get the fantastic shots of the kaiju we know and love. Special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. (2:12)
First up… This. Is. HALLOWEEN! Henry Selick, Danny Elfman, Tim Burton and an elite horde of sculptors, model makers, animators, and more bring us the opening scene from 1993’s cross-seasonal masterpiece, The Nightmare Before Christmas. (3:06)
From pre Velvet Revolution/post Czech New Wave Czechoslovakia, Saxana the student witch wreaks havoc in Dívka na koštěti (The Girl on the Broomstick). (1:20)
Next up, it’s our hands-down favourite non-Bowie scene from 1986’s Muppet-tastic Labyrinth. (1:04)
Canadian Content goes old-school with Paul Donovan’s utterly charming spooky comedy George’s Island, 1989. Come for the pirate ghosts, stay for the bad-ass disability-positive halloween costuming, and biting satire of the Mulroney-era foster system. (2:30)
With a remarkable 0.00 seconds of screen time, Harry Belafonte stars in 1989’s Beetlejuice. (2:43)
We return to George’s Island to bring the stop-motion skeleton action full circle. (0:46)
It’s our grand opening week (with flashy lights and everything), so we are showing 38 of our favorite clips from the last five months!
Which clips you ask? Well we didn’t write it down so you’ll just have to push the button and find out! You can always press it again to skip to the next clip.
11th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl Film and Video Exhibition
“The earth has music for those who listen.”- Scott Cunningham
5 Senses, 4 Elements” explores the profound relationship between our shared humanity and the four classical elements of Earth, Water, Fire and Air, inviting viewers to experience how contemporary artists reinterpret these fundamental aspects of existence through the lens of digital media — fostering a dialogue between nature, technology, and emotion. This year’s selections emphasize the dynamism with which we experience the world: the joy of water, the wonder of air, the fire in our bellies, and the ground that sustains us all. Concrete whispers, conservatories are written, webs are unraveled and a serpent devours the moon. An equilibrium of elements connects us all.
The Flower Sniffer by Lucas Isidoro e Silva
The Schizo Socius of Tokyo: Tell me what you mean by being new by Masayuki Iwase
The Joy of Water by Pablo Munoz featuring Bryan Taylor
This week it just feels like time for a warm hug, so we are serving up an extra-large helping of scenes from the beloved Japanese Animation studio, Studio Ghibli
First up we check in with the Tanuki -Japanese trickster spirits- who put on a festive parade for the neighbouring town in 1994’s Pom Poko (3:17)
After that we have a narrow escape from an adorable murder floof 2012’s Secret World of Arrietty (2:42)
Next we have a young girl exploring the wonders of a rural yard and meeting the neighbours in 1988’s My Neighbor Totoro (2:59)
If what you want is pure spectacle, look no further than this escape scene from 2008’s Ponyo (3:23)
We check in with 1989’s Kiki’s Delivery Service, and learn that while geese are most often jerks, occasionally they are just trying to help in the only way they know how, loud honking. (2:40)
We return to Ponyo and learn the value of proper preparation for any voyage, especially snacks and a stylish captain’s hat. (4:19)
Given that he has now moved into the theatre, it seems only fitting that we show the umbrella scene from 1988’s My Neighbor Totoro. (4:24)
Finally we have the meditative and beautiful train journey from 2001’s Spirited Away (3:20)
This week for reasons that we are sure are entirely unrelated to toxoplasmosis we are proud to present:
Movie Cats Week
We open with a scene from 2002’s The Cat Returns. In his only film for Studio Ghibli, Hiroyuki Morita shows us that it’s always good to be nice to animals, and not to mess with tuxedo cats. (3:44)
Disney has featured everything from bears to beetles in their long running ‘let’s work with children AND animals!’ era. 1965’s That Darn Cat proves that cats will always block the biggest screen they can find.
A rarity in 2010, the beautiful A Cat in Paris is entirely hand drawn. Where does your cat go at night? If they respond to the alias “Mr Cat” it’s best not to ask too many questions.
We go to the beloved 1988 Miyazaki film, My Neighbor Totoro, to meet the Catbus. For those singing along, the legs on a Catbus go back and forth, not round and round.
More Disney housecat shenanigans in 1978’s The Cat from Outer Space. The space cats went all in on telekinesis, earth cats just trained a race of primates with opposable thumbs.
In this scene from 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, Bert Lahr of Vaudeville, Burlesque, and Broadway fame gives a stirring stump speech that shows that your actual words hardly matter if you have sufficient rizz and drip.
We go to 1963’s Czech New Wave classic, The Cassandra Cat. Warning! Locking eyes with this cat may reveal your inner soul, or get you sued by Anish Kapoor. (art nerds reading these posts, we see you.)
A scene from The Muppet Show (s5e23) featuring the indestructible Gaffer the Cat performed by Kathryn Mullen. Originally created as a background character training aid to get new puppeteers used to performing in front of the camera, Gaffer finally lands the starring role.
Finally we jump back to Lumière’s OG cat video, 1900’s La Petite Fille et son chat. Sure there were older cat videos, like the 1894 Falling Cat, or the questionable ethics of 1894’s Boxing Cats, but this gem of cinema veritas captures cats as they really are… getting bored mid take and having to be thrown back into frame by the animal wrangler. Musical accompaniment added by the curators.
By request for one of our younger viewers, just when you thought this thing couldn’t get more Grandview-Woodland, this week it’s
Bicycles!
In his first feature film, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Tim Burton’s glorious weirdoness turbo-boosts the titular gonzo cyclist into all the chaos that major studio backing can buy. (4:24) For our regular viewers, spot the sneaky bonus Kaiju of the Week.
A film of few words, but so much heart: 2003’s Les Triplets de Belleville, by Sylvain Chomet. We bring you the subpontine bicycle wheel jam session. Heads-up to parents: the full film might not be suitable for young kids. (1:30)
This fixie has one speed: iconic. It’s a scene from Steven Spielberg’s trademark (literally) film from the summer of 1982, E. T. The Extra Terrestrial (0:53)
This clip from 1948’s post-war Italian realist classic Bicycle Thieves, by Vittorio de Sica, brings us a vision of a commute blissfully free from private automobile traffic. (1:38)
We go next to Denmark, to witness a magical revenge bike-jacking in Viggo Larsen’s 1909 film The Cycle Rider and the Witch. This film uses the Cowboy Swap technique, still in use to this day. The extras and wranglers deserve mad kudos for holding as still as they did between cuts, well before the advent of the digital overlay technology that we use for continuity nowadays. (2:03)
Returning to Les Triplets de Belleville, we present a portion of the climactic chase scene. Spoilers, kinda… this movie is about everything but the plot. (2:30)
We love this little slice of life on the Maroon Cartoons backlot, where, in the pre-CGI world of 1988, the seamless interplay between physical props and hand-drawn animation is accomplished in camera by mechanical effects legend George Gibbs (and team!), and in post by Canadian animation director Richard Williams (and team!), all overseen by director Robert Zemeckis, in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (0:55)
In the early 20th century if you were to shoot your friend a message, the last mile delivery from the telegraph office might be by distracted maniac on bicycle, on sidewalk… How far we’ve come. It’s the prolific Snub Pollard in 1921’s The Bike Bug. (0:59) Fun fact: You’ve likely seen Snub playing “the guy Gene Kelly hands his umbrella to after enthusiastically getting his dancing shoes soaked” in 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain.
Paul Newman (of salad dressing fame) does his utmost to impress Katherine Ross in this charmingly OSHA non-compliant scene from 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, directed by George Roy Hill. (1:17)
The same, but with Muppets. Jim Henson’s The Great Muppet Caper, 1981. (1:17)