For Work or Play -- November 4, 2024

San Francisco Examiner, 11-November-1924

Hobart Bosworth (I have always liked his name) was a big tough guy who could act. He had been a friend of Jack London's and produced and starred in a series of movies based on London's stories.

Dayton Daily News, 31-May-1924

People Love Dog Stories -- September 29, 2023

Motion Picture News, 08-September-1923

One of Jack London's most popular novels, set in the Klondike Gold Rush, The Call of the Wild, has been made into at least five motion pictures and one television series.  This is a beautiful image of Buck. Hal Roach produced this version and Fred Jackman directed. Jack Mulhall played John Thornton, Buck's last master. People love dog stories. 

Motion Picture News, 29-September-1923

Look at that face. 

Motion Picture News, 22-September-1923

Strongheart was born in Germany and trained to work for the police and the Red Cross during World War One. After the war, the dog's owner could not afford to keep him, so he placed him with a kennel in the United States. Director Lawrence Trimble saw Strongheart and persuaded screenwriter Jane Murfin to purchase him. Trimble trained Strongheart and directed him in four movies. Strongheart got burned by a studio light in 1929 and died from a tumor caused by the burn. Strongheart was one of the first German Shepherd dogs to star in a movie. I love the goggles on Strongheart and Lady Jule.

Motion Picture News, 08-September-1923

Rin-Tin-Tin was the biggest dog star of all. During the last days of World War One, Lee Duncan, an American soldier who loved dogs, found Rinty and his sister with their dying mother in a damaged German kennel. Duncan tried to bring the puppies to America, but the female died. Duncan trained Rinty and got him into the movies, where he showed great natural talent. Chester Franklin directed Where the North Begins. 

London's "Fish Patrol" to Be Pictured -- September 27, 2022

Motion Picture News, 02-September-1922

In 1906, Jack London published a short story collection called Tales of the Fish Patrol. After his time as an oyster pirate, a maritime poacher, he joined the California Fish Patrol to fight the oyster pirates. In 1922, Universal began producing a series of two-reelers based on the stories. Jack Mulhall played the main character. 

Motion Picture News, 02-September-1922

Edward A Kull directed. The eight movies were to be released one every two weeks. 

The little item for Laugh-O-Grams is an ad for Walt Disney's animation studio in Kansas City, Missouri.

Moving Picture World, 16-September-1922

The Mohican's Daughter, a feature, was based on Jack London's short story "The Story of Jees Uck." If I read it, I don't remember it.

Jack London -- The Mohican's Daughter -- August 24, 2022

Moving Picture World, 12-August-1922

I may have read Jack London's short story "The Story of Jees Uck," but I do not remember it. In 1922, Stanner EV Taylor and Sam Taylor (no relation, as far as I can tell) directed The Story of Jees Uck. Stanner wrote the adaption. The movie may no longer exist.

Klondike Gold Rush 125 -- July 17, 2022

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 22-July-1897

125 years ago today, on 17-July-1897, prospectors returned from the Klondike to Seattle. They had a load of gold. This triggered a rush. People were willing to take any kind of a ship to Alaska. Many of the ships were worn out or not suitable and sank. Among the people who rushed north was Jack London. 

listal.com

Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush is my favorite movie about the Klondike Gold Rush.

listal.com

Clarence Brown's The Trail of '98 was the most epic movie about the Klondike Gold Rush.

www.coverbrowser.com

One of Jack London's most popular novels set in the Klondike Gold Rush, The Call of the Wild, has been made into at least five motion pictures and one television series.  People love dog stories.   

www.listal.com

www.listal.com

www.coverbrowser.com

www.listal.com

www.listal.com

May Your Hands and Eyes Grow Weary From the Counting of Your Kale -- December 21, 2020

 

Motion Picture News, 25-December-1920

The Metro Parrot wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. The lion came along after the merger that created M-G-M. The stockings hung by the chimney with care hold Metro stars, including Bert Lytell, Viola Dana, May Allison, Alice Lake, Ina Claire and Buster Keaton. 

I did not know anyone had made a movie based on Jack London's The Star Rover. I would like to see that. 

Motion Picture News, 25-December-1920

The Mutiny of the Elsinore -- August 31, 2020

 

Motion Picture News, 21-August-1920

The Mutiny of the Elsinore was based on one of the few Jack London novels that I have not read. The film is probably lost. It was directed by Edward Sloman. 

Burning Daylight -- May 17, 2020

Film Daily, 16-May-1920

Jack London published Burning Daylight in 1910 and it was his biggest seller while he lived. I have not read the book, but I use the phrase a lot. Mitchell Lewis played the title character.

At the same time that Metro was releasing Burning Daylight, Paramount was releasing The Sea Wolf.

Film Daily, 16-May-1920

The Sea Wolf -- May 15, 2020

Motion Picture News, 08-May-1920

Jack London's novel The Sea Wolf has been filmed many times.  Paramount's 1920 adaption was directed by George Melford.  Tom Forman played Humphrey Van Weyden and Noah Beery played Wolf Larson.

Film Daily, 16-May-1920

Circuit Theater, Seattle -- March 19, 2017

Motography, 03-March-1917

"The very unusual and attractive lobby display made by Manager Merwin of the Circuit Theater, Seattle, for his showing of "The Sea Wolf."  Note the bow of Wolf Larsen's ship Ghost. 

Moving Picture News, 01-November-1913

Actor Hobart Bosworth admired Jack London's writing and formed a company to produce movies based on London's stories and novels.  I was surprised to see that a movie released in late 1913 or early 1914 was still getting big play in 1917. 

Jack London 100 Years -- November 22, 2016

Exhibitors Trade Review -- 15-September-1923

100 years ago today, on 22-November-1916, writer Jack London died at his ranch in Glen Ellen, California.  For many years, people said his death was a suicide because of ill-health, but it was probably a result of sickness, alcoholism and an accidental overdose of morphine.  His was the first case I can remember reading of someone who died as an atheist.  I spent a lot of time thinking about it, especially when we visited his resting place, under a big rock at Glen Ellen.

www.coverbrowser.com

 One of his most popular novels, The Call of the Wild, has been made into at least five motion pictures and one television series.  People love dog stories.   

www.listal.com

www.listal.com

www.coverbrowser.com

www.listal.com

www.listal.com

Moving Picture World, 05-September-1914

Jack London was interested in motion pictures.  He worked with actor Hobart Bosworth on adaptions of several of his stories, but not The Call of the Wild. 

Moving Picture World - 18-July-1914

Burning Daylight -- October 23, 2014

Missoula Daily Missoulian, 05-October-1914

Actor Hobart Bosworth admired Jack London's writing and formed a company to produce movies based on London's stories and novels.

Jack London published Burning Daylight in 1910 and it was his biggest seller while he lived. I have not read the book, but I use the phrase a lot. This is another story based on London's time in the Klondike. There was later a second movie, Burning Daylight: The Adventures of "Burning Daylight" in Civilization.

Martin Eden and Burning Daylight -- September 16, 2014

Moving Picture World, 05-September-1914

Actor Hobart Bosworth admired Jack London's writing and formed a company to produce movies based on London's stories and novels.

I first read Martin Eden one summer while I was in high school.  London's description of working conditions during the Gilded Age made a large impression on me.  Martin Eden shares many of Jack London's traits, as a self-taught man who pulled himself from the bottom to the top.  I have never seen any of the film or television adaptions. 

Moving Picture World, 19-September-1914

Jack London published Burning Daylight in 1910 and it was his biggest seller while he lived.  I have not read the book, but I use the phrase a lot.  It is another story based on London's time in the Klondike.  Has anyone seen the 2010 version? 

The Valley of the Moon -- August 16, 2014

Moving Picture World, August 29, 2014

 

Actor Hobart Bosworth admired Jack London's writing and formed a company to produce movies based on London's stories and novels.

I think I first heard about Jack London's novel The Valley of the Moon when I read a book about San Francisco Bohemians who gathered in Carmel.  London's novel had been out of print, but I found a paperback copy and enjoyed it.  Billy (Jack Conway) and Saxon (Myrtle Steadman) were a young couple who were stifled by city life.  They wandered through California and wound up in Jack London's favorite place, the Valley of the Moon in Sonoma County. 

I don't think the novel has been filmed since 1914. 

Moving Picture World, August 22, 2014

Moving Picture News, August 22, 2014

Moving Picture World, August 29, 2014

Odyssey of the North is based on a short story, "An Odyssey of the North," which London published in 1900.  Hobart Bosworth played Naas, a man of mixed race.