Episode 4 uncovers the hidden story of the first all-female film and its British amateur filmmaking club roots. Sally Sallies Forth is a 26-minute comedy romp about a young woman who becomes a maid for a day at a garden tea party. Written, directed and produced by 26-year-old Frances Lascot alongside 9 other fellow female film enthusiasts, the film was shot over two blustery weekends in October 1928 for the December meeting of the London Amateur Cinematographers Association.

Host Katie Harman recounts how the lost film and subsequent records of the 10 women who made the film were discovered and made public for the first time in over 90 years by the University of East Anglia and the East Anglian Film Archive.

In connection, Katie has a fascinating conversation with Elizabeth Gracen, Founder of the nonprofit, Flapper House Inc. Elizabeth is a filmmaker, writer and actress with a mission to create educational, informational, inspirational content and support creatives across all mediums. She is the owner of Flapper Films, Flapper Press, and the creator of the ongoing documentary film archival project and support platform, The Gen Z Collective. Take a look at Flapper Press’ feature on Virtuosa Society!

Films and research referenced throughout the episode:

Sally Sallies Forth, at the East Anglian Film Archive

The Polite Burglar, at the East Anglian Film Archive

“Invisible Innovators: Making Women Filmmakers Visible Across the UK Film Archives” report by Dr. Keith Johnston, Dr. Sarah Hill, and Dr Stephanie Clayton

TNA Project: Cataloguing of the Institute of Amateur Cinematographers Women Film Makers' Films

“The hidden history of women’s filmmaking in Britain”

Laura Rossi’s Silent Women Film Project

British Women Amateur Filmmakers: National Memories and Global Identities by Annamaria Motrescu-Mayes, Heather Norris Nicholson

Subscribe to www.virtuosasociety.com and follow @virtuosasociety on Instagram and Facebook for access to bonus materials from this episode.

Producer: Katie Harman @katieharmanebner

Audio Engineer: Will Cowser @williamcowser

Title Song: “Reflection of the Sun” by Anna Landström

Host Katie Harman takes a trip down memory lane to revisit some of her favorite moments in each of Season 1’s seven episodes. She reveals the common thread of collaboration within each story and the “moments of convergence” that are the apex of each story - when one talented woman meets another talented woman and spontaneous combustion happens in the form of something impactful, innovative, imaginative or awe-inspiring. Producer: Katie Harman @katieharmanebner Audio Engineer: Will Cowser @williamcowser Title Song: “Reflection of the Sun” by Anna Landström www.virtuosasociety.com Follow @virtuossociety on Instagram, Facebook and Threads

Episode 7 is a ghost tale!

The mystery of a name that was only known to paper… and a woman who wrote hundreds of Tin Pan Alley tunes in the shadow of a pseudonym. Host Katie Harman unfolds the story of composer Irene Higginbotham, and how she - along with three other legendary women of Tin Pan Alley - helped shape American popular music in the 1930s-1950s. The episode also features a portion of Katie’s interview with Broadway and cabaret star Natalie Douglas, as she shares her thoughts on the influence of Irene Higginbotham. Catch their full conversation in Virtuosa Society Podcast’s companion series “Between the Bio” which dives deeper into Natalie’s fascinating life and career, including the challenges, triumphs and lessons learned between the highlights in her bio.

Research referenced throughout the episode:

The Jazz Standards, by Ted Gioia

Lady Sings the Blues, by Billie Holiday with William Dufty

“Good Morning Heartache,” by David "Chet" Williamson Sneade https://worcestersongs.blogspot.com/2012/12/good-morning-heartache.html

“Recording Studios: A History Of The Most Legendary Studios In Music,” by Martin Chilton https://www.udiscovermusic.com/in-depth-features/history-of-recording-studios/

“The History of Tin Pan Alley” by Nate Wooley https://soundamerican.org/issues/big-band/history-tin-pan-alley

“The Harlem Renaissance: What Was It, and Why Does It Matter?" by Cary D. Wintz https://www.humanitiestexas.org/news/articles/harlem-renaissance-what-was-it-and-why-does-it-matter

“Glenn Gibson Biography” by Eugene Chadbourne https://www.allmusic.com/artist/glenn-gibson-mn0001331660#biography

Producer: Katie Harman @katieharmanebner

Audio Engineer: Will Cowser @williamcowser

Title Song: “Reflection of the Sun” by Anna Landström

www.virtuosasociety.com

Follow @virtuossociety on Instagram, Facebook and Threads