We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kevin John Charbeneau a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kevin John, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s talk about innovation. What’s the most innovative thing you’ve done in your career?

I’ve always loved history, since I was young. And, as well, enjoyed the movies (going to and watching on television). The love of movies was probably most influenced by my father who loved all movies, and my mother who worked in film exhibition for a major Southern California exhibitor, as an executive secretary. In high school I joined drama, and afterwards, in college leaned towards film. I would eventually work in the film industry. I began as an usher for the same company my mother worked for and later an assistant manager for several of their cinemas in Hollywood. From film exhibition I went to film distribution working first for Columbia Pictures, then Universal Pictures. It was while living, and working in Hollywood, that I also added more items to my movie memorabilia collection, including books. Then I was introduced to the world of glass slides. These slides were known as “coming attraction” slides, and were the forerunner to today’s film trailers.

As a result, I studied and purchased even more slides and more books about early Hollywood and her films, studios and stars, of the silent film era. Over the years, what started with seventy-five slides, grew to over 1,100 slides. And, with the collection grew the knowledge about the industry, and slides. As a result of these studies, I have started writing a film history on some of the films, as represented by the slides in my collection. The history is an encyclopedic volume of the history of films, this book will not only discuss over 100 specific films, but also include biographical sketches of six-hundred plus film personnel (actors to behind-the-scenes production staff), not just the big names but those who have been forgotten, as well.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I began in entertainment, in high school during my sophomore year, wanting to do behind the scenes. My drama teacher told me before I could work behind the proscenium, I had to know about acting on the stage. I was given a bit role, as the photographer in our All-School play production of “Inherit the Wind.” Then, I did small jobs backstage, honing my art. By my junior and senior years, I was not only the production-stage manager on most productions, I also designed the settings for all our school’s plays. I continued that study in college, hoping to become a scenic designer on Broadway. Eventually, I turned to the film side, but breaking into film was difficult. I was an extra, but becoming more was extremely hard. I worked as an usher and assistant manager in Hollywood cinemas, but I wanted to do more. I signed on with an job agency that enlisted in finding work in the industry, and that led to me working for Columbia Pictures and then for Universal. I worked for Universal for 10 years, then relocated from Los Angeles to the desert in Palm Springs, and worked for five seasons with The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, returning to legitimate theatre as stage crew and then as Property Master. Entertainment is hard work and long hours. It either proves your dedication or tells you to get out.

As a cinema historian, the long hours and hard work did not stop, in fact it continues even more. You work for yourself and not only learn every day, but learn to perfect your craft, and learn even more from the mistakes of others and yourself. The history of Hollywood and her films (old and new) are full of tall tales, lies and many half-truths… as an historian you learn to correct the history of film, as it really happened.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Most definitely, that goal, or mission is to learn, and share information about the actors, production personnel and films, that so many books on the subject do not talk about or discuss. There are so many names that are forgotten, not discussed or rarely mentioned in the annuals of cinematic history. During my many years of learning, actually, relearning the early history, I have decided to write a book trying to correct the errors, while also bringing to light those forgotten individuals who worked hard to perfect their craft and trade. To keep the history of these people, films, and studios, production and distribution companies alive one-hundred years plus. Many people might know Charlie Chaplin, or Rudolph Valentino, or heard of them, but there are thousands of unknown people who deserve to have their histories told, as well.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The lessons I had to unlearn, were the numerous stories told, by publicists, publicity departments, studios and the press, that are false. Sometimes those in the dramatic occupation felt they had to embellish their real lives to fit their studio lives. Thus, in telling the stories for trade and fan magazines and in writing their own autobiographies, they changed dates (birth year), left out jobs, marriages/divorces/children, exaggerated their education, and more. They also fibbed, or lied about it in official records such as census forms, or even marriage and passport documents. Sort of like the story of “the fish that got away,” each telling became more grand and fantastic. Well, the creative folks told the same sort of “grand” stories about their lives, and it seems with each telling it grew, and became more cemented in the publics’ imagination. So much that if it appears in print, then it is true, and those tall stories and lies, got transferred to the Internet. So, reading so many biographies and histories, you have to go back and re-learn the truth behind the lies, and tall tales.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081181279360
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-john-charbeneau-a7ba3573/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kjcbookcinemalover?igsh=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D&utm_source=gr

Image Credits