Harold Lloyd -- He Knows -- January 23, 2018

Moving Picture World, 05-January-1918

Harold Lloyd had been successfully appearing in the Lonesome Luke comedies for Hal Roach's Rolin since 1915. He felt dissatisfied with the unrealistic Luke, who had started as an imitation of Charley Chaplin, and looked for a new character. Lloyd came up with what he called the "Glass Character." This ad mentions Lonesome Luke, but by December, he had moved on from producing Lonesome Lukes and was only appearing as the character we know and love.

Moving Picture World, 12-January-1918

Meanwhile, Hal Roach was looking for new stars. He found the famous circus clown Toto, who was a Swiss man named Alfonso Novello. Toto came to the US during the war and was very successful in vaudeville. He was less successful in the movies.

Moving Picture World, 12-January-1918

"The Toto comedy is certain to make a particular appeal to children, and its humor is clean and inoffensive."  I imagine children might have been scared of Toto.