Douglas Fairbanks -- The Mark of Zorro -- January 25, 2021

Motion Picture News, 15-January-1921

100 years ago this month, Douglas Fairbanks was enjoying a big hit with The Mark of Zorro. 

Motion Picture News, 08-January-1921

Both Fairbanks and his wife, Mary Pickford were releasing through United Artists. The Love Light was directed by Frances Marion. 

East Oregonian, 18-January-1921

The movie played three days at the Alta Theater in Pendleton, Oregon. 

Billy West -- He's in Again -- January 23, 2021

Motion Picture News, 15-January-1921

Billy West had closely imitated Charlie Chaplin in a long series of comedies for different studios. By the time he was working for the Joan Film Sales Company, he had moved on to other characters.

Motion Picture News, 15-January-1921

Chaplin -- Six Reels of Joy -- January 21, 2021

Motion Picture News, 15-January-1921

One hundred years ago today, on 21-January-1921, Charlie Chaplin staged the premiere of his first self-directed feature film, The Kid, at Carnegie Hall as a benefit for a children's charity. 

Motion Picture News, 15-January-1921

Jackie Coogan became a major star. 

Motion Picture News, 15-January-1921

Chaplin would get back to work on the four shorts he still owedFirst National. 

George Burns 125 -- January 20, 2021

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George Burns, partner in life, in vaudeville, in movies, on radio and on television of Gracie Allen, was born 125 years ago today, on 20-January-1896. He lived and worked for an extraordinarily long time, passing on in 1996. 

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Dolly Parton, 75 -- January 19, 2021

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 Dolly Parton, singer, composer, instrumentalist, actress and really nice human being, was born 75 years ago today, on 19-January-1946. She is in the Country Music Hall of Fame and has a pile of Grammy awards. She grew up in a poor family, but was always surrounded by love and music. Just recently she made a million dollar donation to a university doing research on COVID-19, which contributed to the development of one of the vaccines. She is a strong proponent of literacy. 

Over the years, I have  gotten a few of her songs stuck in my head. 

And she has appeared in some good movies. 

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Horror Shockers -- The "Original Frankenstein" -- January 17, 2021

 

Vampirella 51, 1976

When I was young, I read Warren Publishing magazines like Famous Monsters of Filmland and Vampirella. The magazines always carried ads for back issues, posters and movies. I didn't have a film projector, so I read the ads with envy. Eventually, I got a Super-8 projector, but I didn't have enough money to buy any of these films. A friend had Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and I was fascinated by the way it had been cut down to less than 20 minutes.

This section of an ad has Boris Karloff in Frankenstein, and also Tarantula and The Deadly Mantis. 

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California Theater Face Washing -- January 15, 2021

 

Motion Picture News, 08-January-1921

San Francisco's California Theater, the third of that name, stood at Fourth Street and Market. It opened in 1917. It was renamed the State in 1941, closed in 1954 and was torn down in 1961. More about the California Theater: Big V Riot Squad: California Theater, San Francisco -- June 17, 2018