#cinebox

[scopitonearchive]

Alice and Ellen Kessler, stars of Cinebox and Scopitone, die together at 89

The legendary Kessler twins, Alice and Ellen, died on November 17, 2025 at their home in Grünwald, Germany, near Munich. They died together, of assisted suicide, at age 89. In an Italian interview last year, the twins stated their desire “to leave together, on the same day … The idea that one of the two will go first is very difficult to bear”.

The singing and dancing Kesslers were icons in Germany and Italy and continued performing together into their 80s. In the U.S., they made appearances with stars like Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Harry Belafonte.

They made one film for Cinebox, "Pollo e Champagne" and two for Scopitone, "Bon Baisers à Bientôt" and "Quando Quando."

For more info, see:

Karl Keim, "Kessler-Zwillinge (†89) sind tot: Sie wollten nicht mehr leben," Bild, Nov. 17, 2025: https://www.bild.de/news/kessler-zwillinge-starben-gemeinsam-trauer-ueber-ihren-tod-691b120458d2cfb625f5eca3

Jan Gebauer, "Im Tode vereint: Kessler-Zwillinge gemeinsam gestorben," Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Nov. 17, 2025: https://www.ksta.de/panorama/promis/kessler-zwillinge-unter-ungeklaerten-umstaenden-gestorben-1152084

Angela Giuffrida, "The Kessler Twins sisters Alice and Ellen die together aged 89," The Guardian, Nov. 18, 2025; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/18/the-kessler-twins-sisters-alice-and-ellen-die-together-aged-89

Christie D'Zurilla, "Kesser twins Ellen and Alice, singer-dancers who performed with Sinatra and Belafonte, dead at 89," Los Angeles Times, Nov. 18, 2025: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-11-18/kessler-twins-dead-alice-ellen

Clay Risen, "Alice and Ellen Kessler, '60s Singing Sensations, Die at 89," New York Times, Nov. 19, 2025: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/arts/alice-ellen-kessler-dead.html

Kessler Sisters, "Pollo e Champagne" (Cinebox): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLymx1fiUIg

Kessler Sisters, "Bon Baisers à Bientôt" (Scopitone CA-21): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arIqRiootco

Kessler Sisters, "Quando Quando" (Scopitone CA-118): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKoXFSV1ZXE

[matty-barnes]

[danismm]

The Cinebox, Musical Theatre

[livinginaretroworld]

Frankie Avalon at the Cinebox - 1964

[scopitonearchive]

July 2023 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Neil Sedaka, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” Cinebox

[scopitonearchive]

Cinebox star Gino Paoli died on March 24, 2026 at the age of 91. Paoli made at least five Cinebox films, including "La gatta," "Sapore di sale," "Rimpiangerai, rimpiangerai," "Sassi," and "Vivere ancora."

For more information, see:

"Italian singer-songwriter Gino Paoli dies at 91," RTE, March 24, 2026: https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2026/0324/1565013-italian-singer-songwriter-gino-paoli-dies-at-91/

"Italian singer-songwriter Gino Paoli dies at 91," Reuters, March 24, 2026: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/italian-singer-songwriter-gino-paoli-dies-91-2026-03-24/

"Gino Paoli dies aged 91," Wanted in Rome, March 24, 2026: https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/gino-paoli-dies-aged-91.html

Nicola Bambini, "È morto a 91 anni Gino Paoli: una lunga storia d'amore," Vanity Fair Italia, March 24, 2026: https://www.vanityfair.it/article/morto-gino-paoli

[scopitonearchive]

Scopitone and Cinebox star Neil Sedaka dies at 86

Neil Sedaka, legendary singer, songwriter, and star of Scopitone and Cinebox films, died on February 27, 2026 in Los Angeles. Sedaka had major hits of his own from the late 1950s through the 1970s with songs such as "Oh! Carol," "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do", "Calendar Girl," "Laughter in the Rain," and "Bad Blood." He also wrote hit singles for others including "Stupid Cupid," "Where The Boys Are," "Working on a Groovy Thing," "Solitaire," and "Love Will Keep Us Together." Sedaka continued to perform into the 2020s.

He was also the star of one of the most iconic U.S. Scopitone films, "Calendar Girl," as well as at least four Cinebox films, including two sung in Italian.

For more info, see:

Jem Aswad & Payton Turkeltaub, "Neil Sedaka, Legendary Singer-Songwriter Behind 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,' 'Bad Blood,' and 'Love Will Keep Us Together,' Dies at 86," Variety, February 27, 2026: https://variety.com/2026/music/news/neil-sedaka-dead-singer-songwriter-breaking-up-is-hard-to-do-1236675098/

Peter Appleborne, "Neil Sedaka, Singing Craftsman of Memorable Pop Songs, Dies at 86,' New York Times, February 27. 2026: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/arts/music/neil-sedaka-dead.html

Neil Sedaka, "Calendar Girl," Scopitone S-1062: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7RBPqvgyTA

Neil Sedaka, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," Cinebox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22fdTFFQzkk

Neil Sedaka, "The Dreamer," Cinebox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpfil4KdsUE

Neil Sedaka, "I tuoi capricci," Cinebox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXG8VhY9STY

Neil Sedaka, "La terza luna," Cinebox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zr2RLIuLps

For more information about Neil Sedaka in Italy, please see this wonderful interview by Michele Bovi: https://www.michelebovi.it/?p=15&lang=en

[scopitonearchive]

I 60 anni del nonno italiano di videoclip e Youtube (di M. Bovi)

Sessant’anni fa l’invenzione del Cinejukebox, l’apparecchio tutto italiano che originò gli antenati del videoclip musicale e si rivelò precu

Michele Bovi celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Cinejukebox!