Ernie Kovacs 100 -- January 23, 2019

www.listal.com

When I was a kid I had heard of Ernie Kovacs' work on television, but I had only seen his movies like North to Alaska and Bell, Book and Candle.  I don't think I saw any of his television work until the 1980s when kinescopes and video tapes became available for viewing. I liked his use of music and sketches with limited talking.

This Rolling Stone Will Gather No Loss -- January 21, 2019

Moving Picture World, 11-January-1919

Billy West closely imitated Charlie Chaplin in a long series of comedies for different studios. While Chaplin was making the excellent Mutual comedies, West was making imitations of Chaplin's Essanay comedies. We haven't seen him since August. Production has moved from King-Bee to the Bull's Eye studio.

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

"Pay Day at Bull's-Eye Studio."  Director Charles Parrott later became famous as comedian Charley Chase.  I don't know if Nat Spitzer is the same guy who later produced the famous exploitation film Ingagi.

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

Sol Lesser worked in Hollywood for many years as an independent producer.  He sold the Billy West comedies on the states rights basis.

Charles Chaplin Received $250 for a Kiss -- January 19, 2019

Battleboro Daily Reformer, January 9, 1919

100 years ago this month, in January, 1919, Chaplin's second release through First National, "Shoulder Arms," was still doing good business. I like this image.

Pensacola Journal, January 11, 1919

The same image appeared in an ad for a bill featuring Chaplin in "Shoulder Arms" and operatic tenor Enrico Caruso in My Cousin.  How is that for two cultural icons of the Twentieth Century?

Moving Picture World, 18-January-1919

Lady Stewart-McKenzie may have been married to James Stewart-Mackenzie, who was made 1st Baron Seaforth in 1921. She paid Charlie $250 for a kiss, which he donated to the Red Cross.

Moving Picture World, 18-January-1919

Newlyweds Charlie Chaplin and Mildred Harris hosted Charlie's half brother Syd and his wife for Christmas.

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

"The world having seen Chaplin, he will now see the world."  I think he finally left for Europe in 1921.

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

A large display to promote "Shoulder Arms."  Read the text in the box.

Moving Picture World, 04-January-1919

Pat Sullivan's studio released a second animated Chaplin film, ""Over the Rhine With Charlie." Otto Messmer did most of the work.

Tom Mix, Star -- January 17, 2019

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

100 years ago this month, star Tom Mix dines with Fox Film Corporation executives.

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

Exclusive Features was rereleasing Tom's short films made by the Selig Polyscope Company.

Moving Picture World, 18-January-1919

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

"Pals in Blue" (1915) and "Shooting Up the Movies" (1916) were Selig productions.  "Chips of the Flying Blue" may be the Selig film "Chip of the Flying U" (1914).  Tom later  appeared in a feature called Pals in Blue (1925) for Fox.

Moving Picture World, 04-January-1919

In competition, Fox was reediting Tom Mix's earliest Fox films and rereleasing them as comedies.

Carol Channing, RIP -- January 16, 2019

www.listal.com

I was sad to learn that Carol Channing had died.  She was born in Seattle but came to San Francisco as a baby and grew up here.  She was always the center of attention.  Herb Caen wrote about her frequently.

New Moving Picture Hall -- January 15, 2019

Moving Picture World, 18-January-1919

"New Moving Picture Hall Being Built by the American Red Cross Military Hospital No. 5, at Auteuil, France to Give Entertainment to America Soldiers While Awaiting Demobilization."

United Artists Association Formed -- January 14, 2019

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

100 years ago today (or tomorrow), a group of major Hollywood stars and the best-known director, Mary Pickford, William S Hart, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and DW Griffith, met and agreed to form United Artists.  Hollywood production companies had been trying to pay them less money and the artists wanted to eliminate the middlemen.

Washington Herald, 16-January-1919