Bessie Love is a Veteran Trouper -- August 27, 2024

Picture Play, August, 1924

I have always been fascinated by the career of actress Bessie Love. She was born in Texas. Her name was Juanita Horton. Her family moved to Los Angeles and she went to Los Angeles High School. Looking for work, she met director DW Griffith and got a small part in Intolerance. She appeared in movies with William S Hart and Douglas Fairbanks. She was a 1922 WAMPAS (Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers) Baby Star. She played many leading roles, most famously in The Lost World, but never broke through until the talkies came, when she starred in The Broadway Melody. Her career was hot again for a few years, but then tailed off. She continued to appear in small parts in movies until the early 1980s.

Exhibitors Herald, 30-August-1924

Bessie Love starred in Sundown, a western story mostly shot in Texas. Laurence Trimble and Harry O Hoyt directed.

Picture Play, August, 1924

Bessie Love sits at her typewriter.

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

Harry O Hoyt also directed The Lost World, an adaption of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. Willis O'Brien used stop-motion animation to bring the dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts to life.

Picture Play, August, 1924

Bessie Love "on location for 'All Day.'" I guess this is an alternative title for Dynamite Smith, which was set in Alaska. 

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

"The real thing!"

The Wonder Dog in a Human Drama -- April 25, 2024

Photoplay, April, 1924

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.

The Perfect Motion Picture Actor -- March 28, 2024

Photoplay, March, 1924

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.

Motion Picture News, 01-March-1924

Motion Picture Magazine, March, 1924

"The Rival of Strongheart." 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.

I wonder if Strongheart and Rin-Tin-Tin ever met. They might have made a nice buddy movie together.

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. 

Here's Strongheart -- October 14, 2021

Exhibitors Herald, 01-October-1921

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. The Silent Call was Strongheart's first movie.

Exhibitors Herald, 22-October-1921

Strongheart -- February 16, 2018

Motion Picture News, 26-August-1922

In honor of the beginning of Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dog, here is Strongheart, the Wonder-Dog. 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 dogs to star in a movie.

Trimble and Murfin co-directed Brawn of the North.

If you were born in 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 or 2006, then it is your year.  Or if you're a dog.