Friday, May 31, 2019

Bessie Love's a Unique Fisher Lady -- May 31, 2019

Moving Picture World, 31-May-1919
Bessie Love fishes in one panel and runs a company in the other.  She appears to wear the same hat doing both.

Fred Allen 125 -- May 31, 2019

www.listal.com
Comedian Fred Allen was born 125 years ago today, on 31-May-1894. I used to listen to Gene Nelson's old time radio show on KSFO every night. He would play Fred Allen now and then. I read about Fred Allen in Jim Harmon's The Great Radio Comedians and sought a copy of Allen's memoir, Treadmill to Oblivion. I found it at the Richmond Branch library, and took it out several times. I later found Much Ado About Me and Fred Allen's Letters and read each of them several times. I think he influenced my sense of humor and delivery.

www.listal.com
The few people who remember him today probably remember him for Allen's Alley and his long-time feud with Jack Benny.  The feud was staged, but it was often very funny.

www.listal.com
His best performance in a movie was as one of the criminals in "The Ransom of Red Chief," part of the anthology movie O Henry's Full House. Oscar Levant, another favorite of mine, was his partner.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

A Knotty Problem -- May 29, 2019

Moving Picture World, 10-May-1919
Douglas Fairbanks was one of the biggest stars in the movies. Here in a scene from The Knickerbocker Buckaroo he faces "a knotty problem."

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
This trade ad includes a song.  If I could sing, I would try it.

Moving Picture World, 17-May-1919
Does it look as if Doug is trying to start a steam locomotive with a crank?

Moving Picture World, 31-May-1919
Doug became a licensed projectionist so he could show movies to his friends at home.


Monday, May 27, 2019

The Lost Battalion -- May 27, 2019

www.listal.com
Happy Memorial Day, everyone. I thought this was a good day to write about the 2001 made-for-cable-television movie The Lost Battalion. Rick Schroder played Major Charles Whittlesey, who led nine companies of the 77th Division forward as part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The Germans surrounded them. On the sixth day, the Germans sent a blindfolded prisoner to ask them to surrender. Major Whittlesey responded "Go to hell." Major Whittlesey and seven others received the Medal of Honor.

Since I have always been interested in World War One, I made sure to watch when it premiered on the Arts and Entertainment network. I thought it was realistic and convincing.


Saturday, May 25, 2019

Clear to the Roof -- May 25, 1919

Moving Picture World, 10-May-1919
100 years ago this month, in May, 1919, Buster Keaton was awaiting his discharge from the Army. Roscoe Arbuckle and Al St John continued to produce comedies for Comique in California.

Moving Picture World, 10-May-1919
Roscoe's wife, Minta Durfee, who had appeared in many Keystone comedies, considered returning to the screen.

Moving Picture World, 10-May-1919
"...she is wading through scenarios and books that contain the material in which she is most interested."

Moving Picture World, 17-May-1919
"...one of the few leading women who is going to return to the screen, after a two years' absence."  She did not return to movies at this time, but did appear in uncredited parts in many talkies.

Maui News, 30-May-1919
If you were in Maui, Territory of Hawaii, you could see Roscoe in "The Pullman Porter" at the Wailuku Orpheum.

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
Tower Film Corporation was rereleasing old movies, including a set of twelve Keystones with Roscoe.

Moving Picture World, 10-May-1919
"Custer's Last Fight" was a 1912 film produced by Thomas Ince. Francis Ford played Custer and directed.  The William S Hart films were two-reelers produced by Ince in 1914.

Moving Picture World, 24-May-1919
Buster returned from doing his duty.

Moving Picture World, 31-May-1919
Roscoe purchased the Vernon franchise of the Pacific Coast League.  Roscoe and Buster were great baseball fans.

A scorebook graced with a photo of Roscoe.

Moving Picture World, 31-May-1919
Roscoe, Buster, Al St John and leading lady Molly Malone put on a comedy exhibition before a double header against the San Francisco Seals. The Vernon Tigers and the Seals split the double header.

Moving Picture World, 09-August-1919


Thursday, May 23, 2019

The Comedy of the Talking Feet -- May 23, 2019

Moving Picture World, May 24, 1919
100 years ago this month, in May, 1919, Mary Pickford's Daddy Long Legs was ready to be released. Daddy-Long-Legs was a 1912 novel by Jean Webster.  It has been filmed many times, even though some people find the subject a bit problematic.


Moving Picture World, May 24, 1919
"MARY AND HER 'DADDY LONG LEGS'


"First National's Initial Pickford Release Is by Far the Best Picture the Star Has Had for Many a Moon and Is Made Eloquent by Mary's Talking Feet
"By Edward Weitzel

"EVERYONE has seen conversation carried on through using the hands. In "Daddy Long Legs" Mary Pickford talks with her feet. At first glance this may look like carrying atmosphere, local color, mood and all that to extremes, but the way it is done in the final scene is one of the delightful moments of the picture — and 'Daddy Long Legs' is full of them. To put it concisely: First National's initial Pickford release is by far the best picture Mary has had for many a moon. Showmanship is mixed with every stage of its making and crops out in every detail connected with the transference of Jean Webster's celebrated story and play to the screen. Not one of the thousands of readers of the book or spectators of the stage version are going to be disappointed at the story in its new form. Agnes C. Johnson's scenario and the direction by Marshall Neilan have furnished Mary Pickford with every possible aid to the display of her talents, and she dominates the picture at all times without leaving the impression that this artistic necessity is in the least overdone.

"The Comedy Is All Sure-Fire.

There is never a dull moment in 'Daddy Long Legs.' It has just enough sentiment of the right sort to balance the comedy, which is of a thoroughly entertaining character. Nothing has been left to chance in respect to the laugh getting element of the picture. The comedy is all sure-fire, but handled with such nice discrimination and fitting so neatly to the occasion that it has the effect of novelty, and is an object lesson to the tiresome person who keeps insisting that every author should put nothing but original comic situations and bits of business in his pictures. Bless the tiresome person's innocent soul, the man or woman who could do this has never been born and never will be born. A combination of story, scenario, director and star that can create the waves of laughter which swept over the Strand Theatre at the opening performance of 'Daddy Long Legs' is the best evidence that knowing how to do the trick is what screen comedy most needs.

"An Ash Can for a Crib.

"Judy Abbott, the lovable little orphan of Jean Webster's book, who begins life with a roll of newspapers for her first garments, and an ash can for a crib, and whose early years are spent in the John Greer orphanage, is well-known to the reading public of all ages. All that is required is the assurance that the spirit and charm of the original are to be found in the picture to send Judy's friends trooping to the nearest theatre where the screen version is being shown.

"For those who are not acquainted with Judy's history, the following facts will show the desirability of being among those present when Mary and her 'Daddy Long Legs' come to town:

"From Station House to Orphanage.

"Just who put Judy in that ash can and then ran off and left her is never found out. It is better to have this point settled on the start, because the end is much nicer than having her turn out to be the daughter of one of the characters in the story who showers her with money, which is the usual ending for fiction of this class. From the ash can Judy is escorted to the station house by a policeman, and then taken to the orphanage. When she is next seen she has grown into a wistful-eyed girl of twelve, whose love of fun cannot be subdued even by the systematic cruelty of the matron, Mrs. Semple. Her side partner and companion in all her defying of rules and attempts at overreaching the common enemy, the matron, is a snub-nosed boy who has more freckles to the square inch than any youngster who has so far aspired to be a movie actor.

"The Great Prune Strike.

"There is a series of comic incidents that begin with a prune strike, incited by Judy, and lead to the agitator and her faithful lieutenant being given the hunger treatment. While seated on a bench in the yard and praying for something to still the gnawing in their tummies, a box of lunch and a jug of cider are thrown over the wall. The children partake innocently but copiously of the juice of the apple when it stingeth like many swallows of fire water. Wild hilarity follows. A well, the meanest orphan of the bunch, a dog which laps up enough of the cider to send him reeling on his way, and the efforts of Judy and her chum to get the full benefit of their joyous state of mind, all take part. The skill used in its handling makes it one of the funniest comedy scenes of the screen.

"Mary Pickford's Finest Acting.

"Serious interest is put into the story when Judy is sent to college by a mysterious trustee of the orphanage whom the girl has never seen and who never lays eyes on the object of his bounty, until she has changed into a beautiful and accomplished young woman. His name is Jarvis Pendleton; but Judy, who caught sight of his shadow, calls him "Daddy Long Legs," and writes to him by the name she invented for him. As in all well-made plots, after the correct number of misunderstandings and attempts of another chap to take the heroine away from the man she loves but will not marry for fear he will not relish the facts about her birth, the two most interesting characters in the story find the right answer to their romance.

"It is in this scene that Mary Pickford does some of the finest acting of her career. It is also where she talks with her feet. She has come to Pendleton's house to explain matters. He is seated in a high-backed chair, which is turned from the spectator. When Judy discovers that Jarvis and her "Daddy Long Legs" are one and the same person, and that her secret is known to him, she attempts to leave the room, but is detained by Jarvis. Her play of mixed emotions is beautifully done.

"The Comedy of the Talking Feet

"Then comes the comedy of the talking feet. Jarvis draws her into his lap over the arm of the chair until only the heroine's slim ankles and well-shod extremities are to be seen. At first they register great indignation, then indecision, then passive consent, and as the story ends, they are moving like a pair of particularly active semaphores and telling of Judy's complete surrender. This situation brings the picture to an absolute climax which is refreshingly new, and holds the attention of the entire body of spectators to the very end.

"The growth of Judy's character as her skirts are gradually made longer is denoted by the star with uniform expertness, and at Commencement Day, when all the other girls rush to show their friends and relatives their diplomas, and poor Judy has not one friendly face in the crowd, her pathos touches the right chord.

"Marshall A. Neilan's Expert Direction.

Moving Picture World, May 17, 1919
"Marshall A. Neilan has never surpassed his direction of this picture. There are added bits of pleasantry such as the scenes in Cupid's Court and the intoxicated dog, that are made to fit into the story by force of their cleverness of conception and skill in accomplishment. The atmosphere of the different social grades is always correct, and several exterior scenes are gems.

"The cast could hardly be bettered. Mahlon Hamilton as Jarvis Pendleton, Milla Davenport as Mrs. Lippert, Percy Haswell as Miss Prichard, Fay Lemport and Angelina Wyckoff. Director Neilan as Jimmie McBride, and Wesley Barry as Judy's side partner, are the leading members of the support.

"'Daddy Long Legs' is in for a long run of popularity."

Moving Picture World, May 17, 1919
This ad renders scenes from the movie in cartoon form.

Moving Picture World, May 3, 1919
There's that finger again.  I would still like to know why there were not accepting any bookings.


Tuesday, May 21, 2019

This Lad is in a Class by Himself -- May 21, 2019

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
100 years ago this month, in May, 1919, Harold Lloyd and his leading lady Bebe Daniels shared a sofa with a cute dog.

Moving Picture World, 10-May-1919
I do not know why Bebe is dressed as a caveperson.

Moving Picture World, 17-May-1919
Bebe Daniels, Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard hiding under the table.

Moving Picture World, 17-May-1919
Hal Roach is quoted as saying that "'Si, Senor' … fairly thrills with the spirit of chili-con-carne and is full of tomale intensity."  Please excuse the racism.

Moving Picture World, 17-May-1919
I don't know of another silent comedy short that depicts a marathon.

Moving Picture World, 24-May-1919
I like Bebe's expression as she times a hard-boiled egg.

Moving Picture World, 24-May-1919
Harold Lloyd played a millionaire in "Back to the Woods."  He did that in several movies.

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Bring the Children. This Boy is Always Good for a Laugh -- 19-May-2019

Chickasha, Oklahoma Daily Express, 30-May-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.

Note that the bill at the Kozy Theater in Chickasha, Oklahoma is interesting.  "The Stagecoach Driver and the Girl," was a rerelease of a one-reeler that Tom Mix made for the Selig Polyscope Company in 1915.  There is also a chapter of "The Master Mystery," a serial starring Harry Houdini.  "Its Weird; It Thrills; Its different."  Those "Its" should have apostrophes.

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
"Her First False Hair" is an interesting title.

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
Bulls Eye (no apostrophe in this title) sold comedies with Billy West and Gale Henry on a states rights basis.

Moving Picture World, 10-May-1919
"Coppers and Scents"?  That is pushing it.

Moving Picture World, 10-May-1919
Executives from the offices in New York and the studio in Hollywood decided to split the difference and meet in Chicago.

Moving Picture World, 17-May-1919
Bulls Eye comedies with Billy West were selling well.

Friday, May 17, 2019

Charlie's Chauffering Some Cows Along the Straight and Narrow -- May 17, 2019

Moving Picture World, 31-May-1919
100 years ago this month, in May, 1919, Essanay was trying to squeeze everything it could from Charlie Chaplin's movies. I like the image in this ad.

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
"These four pictures and also the Essanay-Chaplin, 'Triple Trouble,' are now booking through the World Film Corporation." Essanay was still pushing its cut and paste Chaplin movie, "Triple Trouble."

Moving Picture World, 17-May-1919
"The audience which filled the Rialto enjoyed Chaplin in an Essanay of the vintage of 1915 as though it had made last week and released yesterday."

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
An Australian trade magazine presented a cake to "the most popular screen or stage star appearing in that country during the year."  Chaplin was the first male star to win the cake, which arrived at the studio on his 30th birthday, April 16.

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
Chaplin finished his third movie for First National, the rural story "Sunnyside."

Moving Picture World, 31-May-1919
Chaplin and cows.

Moving Picture World, 31-May-1919
I have no idea why Charlie's half-brother and business manager Syd wanted to pay $50,000 for a rug from the Hotel Alexandria.

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
Syd was also a pilot.

Moving Picture World, 03-May-1919
Syd planned to form an airline, one of the first privately owned airlines in the United States.  He sought a franchise for flying passengers from Santa Monica to Catalina Island. The Syd Chaplin Airline Company lasted for one year.

Moving Picture World, 31-May-1919
Syd also planned to return to the movies, producing feature films for Famous Players-Lasky release.