Veterans Day Gravestone Flag Placement Ceremony Honoring W.C. Fields' Parents

 
 
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Knights of Pythias – Greenwood Cemetery, 930 Adams Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
 
Philadelphia, PA - On Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 1:00 PM, Dr. Harriet Fields, granddaughter of the iconic W.C. Fields, will lead a special ceremony at Knights of Pythias – Greenwood Cemetery, located at 930 Adams Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. The event will involve the placement of new gravestones at the resting sites of James and Kate Dukenfield, parents of W.C. Fields.
 
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has issued a Civil War marker for Pvt. James L. Dukenfield, recognizing and honoring his dedicated service during the Civil War. This poignant ceremony, featuring a brief flag placing ritual, serves as a testament to the enduring love and respect passed down through generations. Dr. Harriet Fields, drawing on the legacy of her grandfather W.C. Fields, recognized by the Library of Congress as the "Icon of American Culture and Humor," will commemorate the sacrifice and immigrant heritage of her family.
 
The ceremony holds broader implications for current events, drawing connections between the historical context of the Civil War and contemporary issues. It highlights the profound impact of individuals like W.C. Fields and his family on shaping American culture and reflects on the enduring themes of love, sacrifice, and resilience.
 
 
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
- Time: 1:00 PM
- Location: Knights of Pythias – Greenwood Cemetery, 930 Adams Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
 
Members of the media are invited to cover this significant and heartfelt event.

Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound Present W.C. Fields - Radio and Film Careers in the Golden Age, program created by Dr. Harriet Fields, the Great One’s granddaughter.

W.C. Fields' Timeless Art in all forms: featured here at REPS (Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound), Seattle, WA, February 5, 2022.

REPS and Dr. Harriet Fields Present: W.C. Fields – Radio and Film Careers in the Golden Age read the blog article...
Slapstick logo.

Slapstick Festival 2022, Bristol UK honors W.C. Fields with screening of Sally of the Sawdust, January 28, 2022, one day before the anniversary of W.C. Fields' birth on January 29.

Dr. Harriet Fields, granddaughter and Patron of the Slapstick Festival 2022, will share a message online with an introduction by Chris Serle. This event includes live piano accompaniment by John Sweeney.

Studio photo of W.C. Fields and Carol Dempster in Sally of the Sawdust.
W.C. Fields with Carol Dempster in Sally of the Sawdust (1925).
Dir: D.W. Griffith.

Filmed in Astoria Studios, Queens, NY. The year before (1924), W.C. Fields starred on Broadway in Poppy, the stage version of the silent film Sally of the Sawdust. In ​​1934, W.C. Fields starred in Hollywood in the talking film Poppy.

W.C. Fields is the only Icon who, ​after touring the world performing, stayed in New York in the 1920's starring on the Broadway stage, with forays across the East River to make his silent films, perfecting his timing, and growing love and admiration of audiences and sister/fellow performers. Of all the Icons, W.C. Fields is the only one to find success in talking films and radio in Hollywood.

Powerhouse Films, UK issues My Little Chickadee as part of a box set of Mae West films. This UK distribution includes The Film Foundation's restored version of the classic film!

Martin Scorsese and Stephen Spielberg of The Film Foundation partner with Universal to restore a “handpicked selection of Universal's classic titles”. Of all W.C. Fields' films at Universal, Scorsese and Spielberg choose My Little Chickadee for their partnership with the Universal restoration project.

Founded by Martin Scorsese, The Film Foundation's mission is to preserve and restore the global art form of film and to make their work “accessible to the public through programming at festivals, museums, and educational institutions around the world”.

Poster with headshots of Mae West and W.C. Fields.
Candid photo at gathering with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg posing together.
Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg add technical and artistic expertise to Universal partnership in film restoration project for My Little Chickadee.

That is our goal for our grandfather, so generations to come can know the joy and comfort that W.C. Fields' art through humor brings to the human condition. Powerhouse Films, UK edition includes an interview in appreciation of My Little Chickadee with Dr. Harriet Fields, granddaughter.

Slapstick LIVE ONLINE logo.

Slapstick Festival 2021 from Bristol, England live online March 1—7. Opening March 1 features W.C. Fields with films, introductions to the films and interview with granddaughter Dr. Harriet Fields. A rare opportunity to hear W.C. Fields' granddaughter ‘in conversation’ discussing the life and work of her legendary grandfather and to ask Harriet questions. Read more...

Silent comedy double bill of W.C. Fields' Running Wild (1927) and Pool Sharks (1915). Live piano accompaniment provided by John Sweeney. Book now...

Running Wild movie poster with W.C. Fields wearing boxing gloves and a silhouette of a lion in the background.
ampersand
Pool Sharks poster with W.C. Fields sitting on pool table surrounded by a crowd of people.
Vintage Movie Night slide.

Eric Grayson's virtual Vintage Movie Night features W.C. Fields this Saturday, Feburary 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. ET, with rare clips of W.C. Fields' iconic radio and film careers as a seamless whole in the Timeless Golden Age.

Pre-register here, for access to the movie and post-discussion links. W.C. Fields’ granddaughter, Dr. Harriet Fields, presents clips from W.C. Fields' films, family photos, and a number of rare radio appearances. She will be assisted by radio/film historian Rob Farr.