Blackhawk Bulletin 256 -- 20% Off Boxing Films --March 25, 2023

Blackhawk Bulletin 256, October 1974

I was an avid reader of the Blackhawk Bulletin, even though I rarely had enough money to buy any movies from Blackhawk Films. I would like to have purchased these fight films, especially at 20% off.

I was excited to learn that scans of many issues were available at the HMH Foundation Moving Image Archives at USC:
USC HMH Foundation Moving Image Archive » Blackhawk Films’ Catalogs (uschefnerarchive.com)

Blackhawk Bulletin 258 -- Buster Keaton --January 21, 2023

Blackhawk Bulletin 258, December 1974

I was an avid reader of the Blackhawk Bulletin, even though I rarely had enough money to buy any movies from Blackhawk Films. I would like to have purchased these short comedies with Buster Keaton.

I was excited to learn that scans of many issues were available at the HMH Foundation Moving Image Archives at USC:
USC HMH Foundation Moving Image Archive » Blackhawk Films’ Catalogs (uschefnerarchive.com)

Blackhawk Bulletin 258 -- Harold Lloyd -- November 16, 2022

Blackhawk Bulletin 258, December 1974

I was an avid reader of the Blackhawk Bulletin, even though I rarely had enough money to buy any movies from Blackhawk Films. I would like to have purchased these short comedies with Harold Lloyd. 

I was excited to learn that scans of many issues were available at the HMH Foundation Moving Image Archives at USC:
USC HMH Foundation Moving Image Archive » Blackhawk Films’ Catalogs (uschefnerarchive.com)

Blackhawk Bulletin 229 -- WC Fields -- October 20, 2022

Blackhawk Bulletin 229, October 1972

I was an avid reader of the Blackhawk Bulletin, even though I rarely had enough money to buy any movies from Blackhawk Films. I would have loved to get this one.

In the early 1930's, WC Fields made a series of short talkie comedies that were produced by Mack Sennett. "The Dentist" is the first one that I saw and may be the funniest.

I was excited to learn that scans of many issues were available at the HMH Foundation Moving Image Archives at USC: USC HMH Foundation Moving Image Archive » Blackhawk Films’ Catalogs (uschefnerarchive.com)

Blackhawk Bulletin 229 -- Batman -- September 23, 2022

Blackhawk Bulletin 229, October 1972

I was an avid reader of the Blackhawk Bulletin, even though I rarely had enough money to buy any movies from Blackhawk Films. I would have loved to get this edited version of the original Batman movie serial. Nowadays we can get the whole thing on dvd. 

Learn more about the serial here:

Big V Riot Squad: Batman vs Doctor Daka -- June 1, 2014

I was excited to learn that scans of many issues were available at the HMH Foundation Moving Image Archives at USC:
USC HMH Foundation Moving Image Archive » Blackhawk Films’ Catalogs (uschefnerarchive.com)

Blackhawk Bulletin 287 -- Charlie Chaplin -- August 14, 2022

Blackhawk Bulletin 287, June-July 1977

I was an avid reader of the Blackhawk Bulletin, even though I rarely had enough money to buy any movies from Blackhawk Films. 

I was excited to learn that scans of many issues were available at the HMH Foundation Moving Image Archives at USC:

USC HMH Foundation Moving Image Archive » Blackhawk Films’ Catalogs (uschefnerarchive.com)

Wolves of Kultur -- October 25, 2018

Moving Picture World, 05-October-1918

Those of us who used to receive the "Blackhawk Bulletin," a monthly catalogue of movies offered for sale by Blackhawk Films, will remember ads for the serial Wolves of Kultur, starring Leah Baird.   "What Does Kultur Mean?" asks this ad.  "Kultur" is German for "Culture."  One of the war aims of the German Empire was to spread its culture.

Moving Picture World, 19-October-1918

Notice that the producers or the distributor went to the expense of printing the ads on yellow paper.

I have never seen the serial.

David Shepard, RIP -- February 3, 2017

www.listal.com

I was sad to learn that film preservationist David Shepard died at the end of January.  Everyone who has talked about him talks about his generosity and his patience with young film fans.  I remember him from Blackhawk Bulletins.  I don't know how many of his restorations I have seen.  One of them was DW Griffith's America. 

I have made this comment in a few places:  David Shepard did a lot to save our heritage and make it available.

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum -- August 10, 2016

On Sunday, after our ride on the Niles Canyon Railway, we went to the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum.  Saturdays are busy for us, so I have never been able to attend one of their film programs.  They have a nice variety of old cameras and projectors, and many posters for Essanay films and others.  There are many items about Broncho Billy Anderson and Charlie Chaplin, who made movies in Niles.  A volunteer was giving an enthusiastic tour, telling about Gilbert Anderson. 

"His Regeneration" starred GM Anderson, but he was not playing Broncho Billy.  Chaplin made a cameo appearance.

"Versus Sledge Hammers" was a comedy short made in Niles which starred Margaret Joslin, Harry Todd, Victor Potel and Ben Turpin.

A label on the projector said it was from a company on Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco.  Golden Gate Avenue was a center of the film industry.  In the 1970s and 1980s I took black and white film to a lab on Golden Gate for developing.

The California Motion Picture Company produced many of its movies in San Rafael.  They starred the beautiful and celebrated prima donna (that's how she was billed), Beatriz Michelena.

A silent movie camera, perhaps a Bell and Howell.

A DeBrie Parvo movie camera

Blackhawk Films must have been having a special one month, because I purchased a Super-8 copy of this Broncho Billy movie. 

Another non-Broncho billy part for GM Anderson. 

This Model T Ford was parked out front.