How the British Cinema Handles the Covered Wagon -- January 24, 2025

Moving Picture World, 31-January-1925

The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, was one of the first big western epics. Last month we saw that it was a big hit in Japan: 

Big V Riot Squad: Chiyoda Kan Theater, Tokyo -- December 20, 2024

This month we have examples of eleven British theaters, mostly in London, promoting the film.

1. Shepherd's Bush Pavillion, the largest theater in Europe.
2. Kingsland Empire, Stoke-Hewington, London.
3. Imperial Theater, Lee Green London.
4. West Ken Theater, Kensington, London.
5. Golden Domes Cinema, London.
6. Pavillion Theater, Lavender Hill, London.
7. Premier Super Cinema, London.
8. Central Cinema, Wood Green, London.
9. Theater Royal, Manchester.
10. Palladium Theater, London.
11. Grand Palace Theater, London.

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Corral! Corral! Indians! -- November 24, 2024

Casper Daily Tribune, 28-November-1924

George N Fenin and William K Everson in their book The Western: from Silents to Cinerama said that The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, may have been the first epic western. Jesse Lasky gave Cruze liberty to shoot on location and spend money

Casper Daily Tribune, 28-November-1924

Never Yet Shown in a Picture Theater -- June 29, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 14-June-1924

"Never yet shown in a picture theater." -- I thought that was an interesting tag line in June, 1924 for a movie that had been in release since March, 1923, but The Covered Wagon had shown in big city theaters for remarkably long runs. By this time, it must have been in general release. 

George N Fenin and William K Everson in their book The Western: from Silents to Cinerama said that The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, may have been the first epic western. Jesse Lasky gave Cruze liberty to shoot on location and spend money. 

Hollywood -- June 20, 2023

Motion Picture News, 16-June-1923

Hollywood was a feature-length comedy directed by James Cruze. The film featured about 70 cameos from a large group of celebrities, including Charley Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. The film is probably lost.

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

"An entirely new kind of comedy-drama..."

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

A detail from the ad above has a list of the stars and celebrities, including the immortal Snitz Edwards.

Motion Picture News, 23-June-1923

The Covered Wagon -- The Great Love Story -- June 9, 2023

Motion Picture News, 12-May-1923

George N Fenin and William K Everson in their book The Western: from Silents to Cinerama said that The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, may have been the first epic western. Jesse Lasky gave Cruze liberty to shoot on location and spend money. Paramount promoted the film heavily, as we see in this two-page ad with color, which is number 6 of a series. I didn't get to post this last month.

Motion Picture News, 12-May-1923

Members of the Bannock Tribe saw a special screening of the film in Fort Hall, Idaho. 

Motion Picture News, 12-May-1923

A Broadway theater used this electric sign to promote the movie.

The Covered Wagon -- Fording the River and The Buffalo Hunt -- April 29, 2023

Motion Picture News, 14-April-1923

George N Fenin and William K Everson in their book The Western: from Silents to Cinerama said that The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, may have been the first epic western. Jesse Lasky gave Cruze liberty to shoot on location and spend money. Paramount promoted the film heavily, as we see in this two-page ad with color, which is number 4 of a series.

Tim McCoy, who served as a technical adviser, remembered that many families had answered the call for covered wagons by bringing the ones their families had used to go west less than 70 years before. McCoy said that whole families came and treated the shoot like a camping trip and a picnic. 

Motion Picture News,
 28-April-1923

The buffalo hunt was shot on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. Some animals, then very endangered, were hurt or killed.

Motion Picture News, 28-April-1923

The movie opened to good business on the West Coast. 

The Covered Wagon -- The Indian Attack -- March 30, 2023

Motion Picture News, 17-March-1923

George N Fenin and William K Everson in their book The Western: from Silents to Cinerama said that The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, may have been the first epic western. Jesse Lasky gave Cruze liberty to shoot on location and spend money. Paramount promoted the film heavily, as we see in this two-page ad with color, which is number 2 of a series.

Future western star Colonel Tim McCoy translated for the native American members of the cast. 

The Covered Wagon is the Most Colossal Achievement in All Motion Picture History -- February 26, 2023

 

Motion Picture News, 24-February-1923

George N Fenin and William K Everson in their book The Western: from Silents to Cinerama said that The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, may have been the first epic western. Jesse Lasky gave Cruze liberty to shoot on location and spend money. Paramount promoted the film heavily, as we see in this two-page ad with color.

We have seen James Cruze as an actor in a large number of films for Thanhouser. 

Motion Picture News, 20-January-1923

"Facts About the Bigness of 'The Covered Wagon.'" It was Big:

• 3,000 actors spent three months on location, eighty miles from a railroad.
  
• Nine states were searched for locations.
  
• 1,000 Indians were brought from reservations hundreds of miles away, with their horses, tepees, and complete equipment.
  
• Eight truckloads of supplies a day had to be taken over the rough desert roads.
  
• Three hundred wagons were built. 40,000 square feet of canvas used to cover them.
  
• 100 oxen broken to the yoke.
  
• 3,000 costumes of the period made.
  
• Water backed up three miles for river scene ; dam broke and flooded camp, tearing down tents.
  
• 500 horses brought from Oregon for buffalo hunt scenes, which required particularly strong animals. 500 ordinaty horses also used.
  
• 500 buflaloes used in the hunt; the only large herd in existence.
  
• Nine square rniles of territory burned up for prairie fire scene.
  
• Seventy trees felled and transported eighty miles for building of ferries.
  
• Sixty wagons hauled material daily for six weeks to build replica of Fort Bridger.
  
• Mile-wide river forded by 300 wagons; men and animals had to swim; this was really dangerous, as bottom was quicksand.
  
• Every department of studio represented on location : wardrobe, property, scenario, publicity, film laboratory, construction, bookkeeping, auditing, stenographic and doctor's ofIice.
  
• Electric light plant built and light supplied to all tents.
  
• Complete commissary department employing several hundred fed the crowds. Mess tent held 1,000 at a time.
  

Motion Picture News, 13-January-1923

"A fortune has been spent in making this picture."

Motion Picture News, 06-January-1923

Betty Compson 125, Glenn Close 75 -- March 19, 2022

Moving Picture World, 15-5eptember-1917

Actress Betty Compson was born 125 years ago today, on 19-March-1897. Al Christie gave her leading roles in many of his short comedies. She went on to star in many dramatic feature films. Her career faded after the early sound era but she continued to appear in small roles, sometimes uncredited, until the late 1940s. She was married to director James Cruze for six years.

Moving Picture World, 13-5eptember-1919

Her most famous feature was George Loane Tucker's The Miracle Man, which also starred Lon Chaney. This movie is believed to be lost.

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Actress Glenn Close was born 75 years ago today, on 19-March-1947. She has been in everything from Hamlet to 101 Dalmatians, and was good in everything I have seen.

The Life of the Party -- November 5, 2020

 

Motion Picture News, 06-November-1920

The Life of the Party was the ironic title of Roscoe Arbuckle's second feature film released by Paramount. It was based on a story by Kentucky writer Irvin S Cobb. 

Motion Picture News, 06-November-1920

Determined to get their money's worth out of Roscoe, Paramount had him working on two features at the same time, Brewster's Millions and The Dollar-A-Year Man. Joseph Henabery, who played Abraham Lincoln in The Birth of a Nation, directed Brewster's Millions and James Cruze, who later directed The Covered Wagon, directed The Dollar-A-Year Man. Both films are lost. 

Motion Picture News, 06-November-1920

Apparently rolling in dough, Roscoe owned four cars, worth a total of $42,000.  

Washington Evening Star, 06-October-1920

 For comparison, Ford was selling a Model T touring car for $440. 

Jim's Love for Zudora is Evident -- January 26, 2015

Moving Picture World, 30-January-1915

Thanhouser's serial The Million Dollar Mystery had been a roaring success.  In 1914, it stopped at chapter 22, promising that chapter 23 would be released at a later date.  Fans were invited to submit a solution to the mystery.  The person whose suggestion would be used to make chapter 23 would receive a $10,000 prize.  This article shows actors Sidney Bracy, Marguerite Snow and Flo La Badie, the star of the serial, sitting in a room piled with mail.  It says they had picked the winner, but his or her name would not be disclosed until the chapter was released in February. 

Moving Picture World, 02-January-1915

"Most Successful Photoplay Ever Staged!"  Thanhouser's next serial, Zudora, was not as much of a success.  "Watch for sensational developments in the new episodes of 'Zudora.'  The early episodes of this wonderful photoplay are constructed to lead up to some of the most remarkable pieces of acting in the history of motion pictures."  Does this sound like an excuse for starting slowly? 

Moving Picture World, 02-January-1915

  This item claims that Thanhouser insured leading lady Marguerite Snow after an auto accident. 

Moving Picture World, 09-January-1915

I like the design of this ad. 

Moving Picture World, 09-January-1915

The manager of the Casino Theater in Des Moines, Iowa used this gentleman to advertise Zudora.  The crystal ball is an empty fish bowl. 



Motography, 09-January-1915

"Jim, disguised as Hassam Ali, photographs Chang." 

Motography, 09-January-1915

"Chang hypnotizes Zudora." 

Motography, 09-January-1915

"Jim's love for Zudora is evident." 

Moving Picture World, 16-January-1915

"In episode No. 8 James Cruze is transformed into the dashing and inspiring hero that made him famous in 'The Million Dollar Mystery.'"  Was this an effort to revive audience interest by making it more like the successful Million Dollar Mystery?

Moving Picture World, 16-January-1915

People like cat pictures ;0)

Moving Picture World, 16-January-1915

"One of the features of 'Zudora' is the attention given to the furnishings of Hassam's home.  Certainly there is no material which in richness seems so strongly to appeal to the camera as teakwood." 

Moving Picture World, 23-January-1915

I like Zudora's expression.  "Thrills, Thrills, THRILLS."

Moving Picture World, 23-January-1915

They lost one of the Persian cats.  "Director Hansel fails to see anything funny about it." 

Motography, 23-January-1915

"Zudora returns the visit of 'the woman of mystery.'"

Motography, 23-January-1915

"Jim, disguised as Hassam Ali, meets Madame Duval." 

Motography, 23-January-1915

"Zudora learns where the little heiress is held prisoner." 

Moving Picture World, 30-January-1915

"James Cruze -- The Hero!"  Not only is James Cruze now the hero, but Sidney Bracy and Frank Farrington, who were in The Million Dollar Mystery.  Have joined the cast.  I get the feeling that Thanhouser was trying to recapture the elements that made the old serial a success. 

Moving Picture World, 30-January-1915

The dollar amount could have been exaggerated.