Did the Girl Finally Circumvent the Hooded Terror? -- July 17, 2019

Wid's Daily, 02-July-1919

Billy West, the Genuine Article -- July 15, 2019

Moving Picture World, 26-July-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. Before we saw West move from King-Bee to Bull's Eye. This month we'll see him move from Bull's Eye to Emerald.

Moving Picture World, 26-July-1919

In this ad over his signature, Billy attests that he is now working for the Emerald Motion Picture Company.

Moving Picture World, 05-July-1919

Bull's Eye Film Corporation was still releasing Billy West comedies, along with movies starring Gale Henry and a monkey.

Moving Picture World, 05-July-1919

Exhibitors were happy with the Bulls Eye Billy West comedies.

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919

"The Bulls Eye idea is: The funniest pictures from the two funniest stars, Billy West and Gale Henry."

Moving Picture World, 19-July-1919

Bulls Eye sued Billy, who had fulfilled three months of a two year contract, and then left to sign with Emerald, claiming that Bulls Eye "failed to live up to its agreement."  This article says that Billy prevailed.

Bastille Day, 2019 -- July 14, 2019

In honor of Bastille Day, here is an item about Pathés "All for Liberty," which featured the Bastille Day Victory Parade in Paris:

https://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2019/07/happy-bastille-day-2019-july-14-2019.html

Film Daily, 31-July-1919

Pathé News No. 62 celebrated Bastille Day.  

Charlie Chaplin as a Poor Farmer Romeo -- July 13, 2019

Moving Picture World, 26-July-1919

100 years ago this month, in July, 1919, Charlie Chaplin's third production for First National, "Sunnyside," was in release. This unique newspaper ad used a typewriter sketch.

Moving Picture World, 26-July-1919

"William Brandt, manager of Feltman's Open Airdome, hired an imitation Charlie Chaplin to lead a real cow up and down Surf Avenue..."

Moving Picture World, 05-July-1919

Chaplin's second First National release, "Shoulder Arms," was still setting records.

Moving Picture World, 05-July-1919

Chaplin was a big fight fan.  He rode on a special train with other celebrities to see the Dempsey-Willard heavyweight championship which took place in Toledo, Ohio on 04-July-1919:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2019/07/fight-should-have-ended-in-one-round.html

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919

Meanwhile back home, Chaplin's wife Mildred Harris was expecting.

Moving Picture World, 19-July-1919

Their child, Norman Spencer Chaplin, was born on 07-July-1919.

Moving Picture World, 19-July-1919

"Here's to Charles Chaplin, Junior!" Actually, Charlie was Charles Chaplin, Junior.  "May he live to laugh and grow fat, just fat enough, at the comedy of his father."

Moving Picture World, 26-July-1919

Norman Spencer Chaplin died three days after he was born, apparently from a birth defect.  "The  news of the doctor's discovery was kept from every one except the father, and Mrs. Chaplin was not told of her baby's condition until after the infant had passed away." 

Moving Picture World, 05-July-1919

The Clark Cornelius Corporation purchased the rights to Chaplin's excellent series of 12 two reelers which had been released by Mutual.

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919

Essanay continued to try to squeeze everything it could out of Chaplin's earlier movies.

Moving Picture World, 26-July-1919

"Do you know him?" Sure.

Moving Picture World, 26-July-1919

Looking forward to making movies for United Artists, Chaplin "declares he will depart from jazz comedies..." This is an interesting use of the world "jazz."

Moving Picture World, 19-July-1919

Charlie's half brother Syd had started an airline to carry people from San Pedro to Catalina Island. Charlie's leading lady, Edna Purviance, christened the first airplane.

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919

Syd planned to resume his acting career at Paramount.

Tom Mix -- The Man Who Never Fakes -- July 11, 2019

Moving Picture World, 05-July-1919

100 years ago this month, Tom Mix was busy making movies. He still had time to meet with a group of Civil War veterans from the x and promise them a part in one of his upcoming movies

Moving Picture World, 19-July-1919

The Fox Film Corporation promoted a series of eight Tom Mix features.  He is called "the man who never fakes."

Moving Picture World, 19-July-1919

Last month we saw another item which made fun of Tom's sweater.

Valentina Cortese and Rip Torn, RIP -- July 10, 2019

www.listal.com

I was sad to learn that Valentina Cortese and Rip Torn have died.  I remember her best from Francois Truffaut's Day for Night.

www.listal.com

www.listal.com

I remember when I was a kid and I noticed Rip Torn's name in the credits of a television show or a movie.  I figured it had to be an assumed name.  Later I learned that he was born Elmore Torn, Jr in Texas.  I don't know how many movies I have seen him in, serious and not-so-serious.

www.listal.com

He played Judas Iscariot in the talkie King of Kings.

www.listal.com

www.listal.com

Mad Magazine, RIP -- July 9, 2019

coverbrowser.com

I was devastated to learn that Mad Magazine is going to cease publication.

The October-November 1952 issue of Mad, published in August, was the beginning of a great American tradition. EC, famous up to that time for horror comics, moved in a new direction. Published by Bill Gaines and edited by Harvey Kurtzman, Mad introduced sharp satire (Humor in a Jugular Vein) to comic books.

Mad became a magazine in 1955. Legend said it was because of the growing controversy about comic books, but it was done to satisfy Kurtzman's ambition.

I read Mad for many years and it certainly influenced my sense of humor. I know some movies better through reading the Mad parodies rather than seeing the movies themselves.