He's Alright But He's a Yellow Dog -- September 22, 2018

Moving Picture World, 14-September-1918

Lloyd is Getting Greater Every Day -- September 21, 2018

Moving Picture World, 07-September-1918

"It's a close shave between the screen comedian commonly supposed to be the greatest of all and Harold Lloyd as to which gives the most entertainment to the crowds."  Notice that Harold appears to be shaving off his Lonesome Luke mustache. "One Comedy Every Other Week."

Moving Picture World, 21-September-1918

Harold isn't wearing glasses.

Moving Picture World, 28-September-1918

Harold with glasses and a bunch of bathing beauties.  "One Comedy Every Other Week."

Everyone Laughing at "Triple Trouble" and "Triple Trouble's" Troubles -- September 19, 2018

Motion Picture News, 07-September-1918

This ad for "How Charlie Captured the Kaiser" calls it "A side splitting amateur burlesque by Pat Sullivan -- famous cartoonist." Sullivan later produced the Felix the Cat movies.  According to  historians, animator Otto Messmer did all the work.

Moving Picture World, 07-September-1918

Meanwhile back at Essanay, they were still trying to squeeze a buck out of their Chaplin footage. They took pieces of released shorts ("Police") and unreleased and an unfinished feature (Life) and some footage not shot by Chaplin to produce Triple Trouble.

Motion Picture News, 07-September-1918

Theaters like the Rialto in San Francisco reported that Triple Trouble was doing good business.

Motion Picture News, 07-September-1918

The Chicago-area booker had 16 prints in circulation.

Motion Picture News, 07-September-1918

In many cases, the film was held over for a second week.

Motion Picture News, 14-September-1918

A telegram from the Philadelphia exhibitor said that at first he was worried, but the audience response had reassured him.

Motion Picture News, 14-September-1918

"Everyone has been happy."  People were desperate for a new Chaplin movie.

Motion Picture News, 21-September-1918

"Everyone Laughing at 'Triple Trouble' and 'Triple Trouble's Troubles.'"  Try saying that five times real fast.

Motion Picture News, 28-September-1918

A telegram from the Chicago exhibitors says "Tell the other exhibitors to get busy and cash in."

Film Daily, 22-September-1918

"Newspapers Critics Call 'Triple Trouble' Funniest Chaplin Film."  I guess there is no accounting for taste.

Film Daily, 29-September-1918

"Play a Trump and Win."  Bridge was a popular card game back then.

Moving Picture World, 07-September-1918

Chaplin and other stars were making short films to promote sales of Liberty Bonds.

Moving Picture World, 07-September-1918

"Charlie Chaplin has maintained great secrecy as to the nature of the story upon which he is working..."

Moving Picture World, 21-September-1918

First National asked exhibitors to make sure to advertise "The Bond" as a propaganda film, so it would not be confused with regular Chaplin releases.

Moving Picture World, 28-September-1918

Chaplin's next regular release, "Shoulder Arms," would be three reels in length.

A Patriotic Story of the Western Secret Service -- September 17, 2018

Moving Picture World, 14-September-1918

100 years ago this month, Tom Mix starred in Mr Logan, USA for Victory Pictures, a new brand of the Fox Film Corporation. Among the action, featuring Tom Mix doing his own stunts, was "Routing of the IWW."  The IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) was a radical organization that wanted all workers in One Big Union.

Moving Picture World, 21-September-1918

This ad has a list of stunts:
"Hauls a girl up side of precipice
"Leaps from horse into speeding auto
"Hurls a man across a room
"Slides for life down mountain side

Moving Picture World, 28-September-1918

"The company had to go to Prescott (Arizona) to find a ranch big enough for the setting of 'Treat 'Em Rough'..."

They're Watching for Him -- The Yellow Dog, September 15, 2018

Moving Picture World, 14-September-1918

Theatre Opened at Naval Training Station -- September 13, 2018

Moving Picture World, 29-September-1918

Mare Island Naval Shipyard, founded in 1854, was the first US Navy base on the West coast.  It sits across a channel from Vallejo, California.  During World War One, it was a busy naval training station.  The new theater, with a capacity of 500, had room for 48 wheelchairs.

What Is He Doing Over There? -- September 11, 2018

Motion Picture World, 07-September-1918

The United States joined the First World War in April, 1917. Learning from the British, the United States put its propaganda efforts into the hands of one organization, the Committee on Public Information, also called the Creel Committee, after its chairman, George Creel. The Creel Committee produced the "Official War Review," a series of weekly one-reelers about war subjects.  This one tries to answer the question "What is he doing over there?"  I like the image of a soldier in a dugout.

Motion Picture World, 14-September-1918

Under a photo of a nasty-looking German, it says "Scenes of wanton destruction and murder are shown that would shame a tribe of head-hunters."

Motion Picture World, 21-September-1918

The series was "Booked solid over the UBO and the other big vaudeville circuits for 3000 days!"

Motion Picture World, 28-September-1918

Exhibitors reported a positive response.

Motion Picture World, 07-September-1918

Why America Will Win was a feature-length dramatic biography of General John J (Black Jack) Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF).

Motion Picture World, 21-September-1918

"A KNOCKOUT" proclaims an ad with a picture of Uncle Sam, who has just punched a German.