The Seasoned Collector: Niles, the last antiques hurrah of summer
To antiques and collectibles fans, the last Sunday of August always means one thing: Niles. It’s the region’s last big outdoor sale of the summer season.
Officially, the 46th annual Niles Antiques Faire & Flea Market will start at 6 a.m. Aug. 29, but die-hards and those “in the know” show up earlier with flashlights to prowl for bargains. Nearly 200 vendors are expected to line the streets of this scenic district in Fremont where silent movies with the likes of Charlie Chaplin were once made.
And don’t overlook the goodies in the antiques shops that dot the historic downtown district. There are also countless numbers of garage sales on the side streets. That’s where I got one of my all-time great finds — a circa 1850, hand-carved wooden statue of a saint for $5!
And don’t overlook the goodies in the antiques shops that dot the historic downtown district. One of my favorites is My Friends and I at 37521 Niles Blvd. The jampacked store always has a selection of fun things, especially kitchen collectibles priced as low as a few dollars. A few doors away at 37501 Niles Blvd. you’ll find Tyme for Tea & Co. Besides the selection of fine porcelain and sterling silver, this store boasts, as its name suggests, tea service with scones, pastries, lemon curd and all the fixings.
There are also countless numbers of garage sales on the side streets where you can poke around for buys. That’s where I got one of my all-time great
finds — a circa 1850, hand-carved wooden statue of a saint for five bucks!
Once you shop until you are ready to drop, head to the Essanay Silent Film Museum at 37417 Niles Blvd. for a journey back in time. Or stop by on a Saturday night this month (Aug. 21, 28) for silent movies, with live piano accompaniment. Details: 510-494-1411, nilesfilmmuseum.org
That's an enormous question to try to answer. The main thing, of course, is that he (along with Buster Keaton) was one of the two great silent film comedians, and pretty much defined screen comedy. (To the point where his greatest films are still hilarious–see "The Gold Rush", for example.) In many ways he was also the first international film superstar, so the global reach of movies was increased. But he also had a social and political side in his films–take a look at "Modern Times" and "The Great Dictator"–as well as a heart (see "City Lights"). He was also one of the first great independent filmmakers–built his own studio, kept total creative control over his work. At the same time, because he stayed with silent film, his popular influence waned considerably after the mid-1930s. Family? You probably don't want to go there–not always a happy situation. But you can easily find all this information on-line or in the many books written about him.
I found these:
http://nyhouses4sale.typepad.com/ny_houses_4_sale/2006/12/did_you_know.html