Want a Laff? -- June 17, 2019

Moving Picture News, 14-June-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 saw West move from King-Bee to Bull's Eye.

Motion Picture World, 14-June-1919

Bull's Eye also made comedies with Gale Henry and Napoleon the Chimp.

Motion Picture World, 28-June-1919

"Billy West and Gale Henry comedies are popular with all classes of theatergoers."

Henry Jones -- June 16, 2019

www.famousfix.com

Happy Fathers' Day to all my fellow fathers. I miss my dad. And I miss my father-in-law. I haven't had anyone for whom to buy a card for a long time.

In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Sean Connery played Henry Jones, the father of Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford.  Henry Jones reminded me of my dad, who was very intelligent and did not suffer fools gladly.

Charlie Chaplin in His Third and Latest Comedy -- June 15, 2019

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

100 years ago this month, in June, 1919, Charlie Chaplin's third production for First National, "Sunnyside," was in release.

Moving Picture World, 14-June-1919

The owners of the Dreamland Theater in Eagle River, Wisconsin hesitated to book "Shoulder Arms," Chaplin's second release for First National.  They came up with a new method to draw customers, by having school kids figure out "How many words can you make from the letters in the two words, 'Shoulder Arms'?"  They would give two free tickets to the boy and girl who found the most words.

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

A joke.  Sort of.

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

A "Shoulder Arms" ad from Hong Kong.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919

Another joke.  Sort of.  Decoration Day is now called Memorial Day.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919

Edward Weitzel gave "Sunnyside" a good review.

Moving Picture World, 07-June-1919

Meanwhile, Essanay was trying to squeeze everything it could from Charlie Chaplin's movies.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

Chaplin's Lone Star company, which produced the Mutual comedies, ordered that all be withdrawn.  Lone Star was negotiating a new coontract.

Tom Mix at Old Tricks Again -- June 13, 2019

Moving Picture World, 07-June-1919

100 years ago this month, Tom Mix was starring in Fox's The Wilderness Trail, which was set in the wilds of Canada. The caption makes fun of Tom's sweater. I say you'd have to be confident in your masculinity to wear it.

Moving Picture World, 14-June-1919

Romance of Cow Hollow was released as Rough-Riding Romance. There is a neighborhood in San Francisco known as Cow Hollow.  No relation.

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

In Rough Riding Romance, Tom was a poor farmer who struck oil and went to San Francisco to help a princess he met when she visited Cow Hollow.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919

Fox had a lot of movies in release, including seven Victory Pictures starring Tom Mix.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919

High Speed may have been released as The Speed Maniac.  I do not know what became of A Hard-Boiled Tenderfoot.

Cine Real -- June 11, 2019

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919

The Cine Real in San Juan, Puerto Rico featured Ruth Roland in The Tiger's Trail, a serial. I was surprised that the title was displayed in English.

Moving Picture World, 05-April-1919

Mrs Sidney Drew Starts New Comedy -- June 9, 2019

Moving Picture World, 14-June-1919

Sidney Drew starred in the Mr and Mrs Sidney Drew comedies with his first wife, Gladys Rankin Drew and his second wife, Lucille McVey. Sidney's sister, Georgiana Drew, was the mother of Ethel, Lionel and John Barrymore. Sidney and his first wife were the parents of S Rankin Drew. The Mr and Mrs Sidney Drew series was a success for Vitagraph, then Metro and then Paramount. Sidney Drew died on 19-April-1919.

He doesn't look well in this image from one of their last movies, "Squared."

Moving Picture World, 07-June-1919

I didn't know New York City had a Punch and Judy Theater.

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

"Mrs Drew is playing her familiar role of Polly, and Donald McBride as her frivolous bachelor brother, heads the supporting cast."

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

Lucille is dressed in mourning.

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

Hobart Henley was an actor and director.  He filmed an adaption of Edna Ferber's short story "The Gay Old Dog" starring Lucille.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919

This item says Lucille bought the screen rights to the story.

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

Famous Players-Lasky had three Drew comedies in release.  

Are You Booked? -- June 7, 2019

Moving Picture World, 07-June-1919

The Red Scare went on in the United States after the successful Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and other revolutionary but unsuccessful movements such as the Bavarian Soviet Republic. Bolshevism on Trial was "A box office winner. A patronage builder. An all-round success."

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919

An interesting variety of theaters, theater chains and circuits were happy with the results.