Karl Dane Evening at Grauman's Egyptian
On October 18, 2009, Laura spoke about the life and career of Karl Dane at Grauman's Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles. Following the talk
was a book signing and a showing of The Big Parade. Click here for a description of the evening!
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Karl Dane Evening at the DFI
On January 29, 2008, Laura spoke about the life and career of Karl Dane at a Dane Retrospective hosted by the Danish Film Institute
in Copenhagen. Click here for a description of the evening!
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The rise and fall of Karl Dane is nearly unparalleled in the history of film
stars. In 1925, a virtual unknown, he shot to the heights of stardom by appearing
in King Vidor's classic The Big Parade. Just nine years later, after plummeting
to the depths of poverty because of the unsuitability of his voice in sound
films, he ended his own life with a gunshot to the head. Sadly, most knowledge
of Dane's life is limited to the sensationalistic accounts of his downfall found
in Hollywood scandal books. They report, for instance, how he was reduced to
operating a hot dog stand right outside the gates of the studio where he received
accolades just a few years before. To compound the sadness of his suicide in a
shabby LA apartment, no one came forward to claim his body. Until M-G-M stepped
forward to give him a proper burial, it looked as if he would be buried in a
pauper's grave.
In light of the fact that his death was so shocking, it is no wonder that
most of the focus is on Dane's last days. Inevitably, though, one wonders how
it came to all this. How could someone who received so much adulation, and made
so much money, be reduced to such dire straits so quickly? In researching his
life, it becomes obvious that there was much more to Dane than the depressing
circumstances of his death. It also becomes apparent that there are many myths
and misconceptions that need to be dispelled.
It is my sincere hope that this website, and the biography that I am
currently researching on Dane, will help to dispell some of those myths
and misconceptions and show the world that Dane managed to achieve so much in
his short 47 years. He lived his dream, and made big money, but always remained
in spirit the same simple carpenter from Van Nuys. For this reason, he still
intrigues us seventy years after his death--and deserves a deeper look.
Laura Petersen Balogh
(e-mail)
The Big Parade [Blu-ray & DVD]
Warner Brothers released this classic film for the first time ever on DVD Blu-Ray in October, 2013!
Click here to read the Warner Brothers sell sheet.
You can pre-order your copy at Amazon! Preorder: Blu-ray |
DVD
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AVAILABLE NOW!
Karl Dane: A Biography and Filmography
Laura Petersen Balogh
Foreword by Kevin Brownlow
ISBN 978-0-7864-4207-2
ca. 55 photos, filmography, notes, bibliography, index
softcover 2009
After 3.5 years of research and writing, Laura's biography has been published by McFarland, publisher of reference and scholarly
books.
If you would like to order a signed copy directly from the author, please contact Laura at
LMBalogh@optonline.net. Cost is $40 plus shipping
($5 in the US). And supplies are limited.
Or, to order from Amazon.com click
here.
The book is mentioned in Movie News on the Turner Classic Movies website!
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Laura's book is named one of the Ten Best film books of 2009 by Thomas Gladysz at
Examiner.com!
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