Showing posts with label Rolin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rolin. Show all posts

Monday, August 7, 2023

Lloyd's First Serious Attempt at Straight Farce -- August 7, 2023

Motion Picture News, 11-August-1923

Why Worry?, despite some racist elements, is one of Harold Lloyd's funniest films. It was his first film with new leading lady. Jobyna Ralston. Harold and Jobyna are supported by a giant, John Aasen.

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

"Why Worry? is Lloyd's first serious attempt at straight farce." "Serious"/"Farce"? Interesting combination. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

Industry big shots saw Why Worry?  in a private screening and commended it.

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

I have been searching through Sunday Chicago Tribunes from the summer of 1923 and I haven't found this "full page Sunday comic."

Motion Picture News, 25-August-1923

This article and the next one mention Lloyd's practice of previewing his films. 

Motion Picture News, 11-August-1923

Motion Picture News, 25-August-1923

Harold's movie, Girl Shy, would be his first production after his breakup with Hal Roach. 

Motion Picture News, 25-August-1923

Harold awarded his new leading lady, Jobyna Ralston, with a three-year contract.

Motion Picture News, 11-August-1923

Contrary to popular rumors, Harold did not plan to shift the distribution of his independent features from Pathé to United Artists. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

Safety Last continued to do well in wide distribution. Exhibitors tried various gimmicks to promote the movie. An exhibitor in Charlotte used a streetcar decorated with banners and posters. An aviator made a stunt flight to promote the film. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

Meanwhile Hal Roach and Pathé were redistributing Harold's one-reelers. I wonder if these include Lonesome Lukes and glass pictures, or just the latter. I like the image of Harold in an auto. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

Thursday, January 7, 2021

It Has More Laughs Than There Are Smiths in the Telephone Book -- January 7, 2021

 

Motion Picture News, 15-January-1921

100 years ago this month, Harold Lloyd was appearing in "Number, Please." This was the standard greeting from telephone operators. I don't like the image of Harold. 

Motion Picture News, 01-January-1921

The manager of the Palace Theater in Hamilton, Ontario promoted Lloyd's "Get Out and Get Under" with a Model T Ford. 


Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Pretty Soft For Exhibitors Who Play the Rolin Comedies -- July 29, 2020

Motion Picture News, 10-July-1920
After Snub Pollard left the Harold Lloyd series, Hal Roach cast him in his own series of one-reelers. 

Please excuse the racism.  "Pickaninny Sammy" was a young boy, Ernest Morrison, who was often billed as Sunshine Sammy.  In later years, he was one of the Dead End Kids. 

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

And Now Stardom -- June 3, 2020

Motion Picture News, 03-June-1920
Bebe Daniels, who had been Harold Lloyd's leading lady in a long series of short films for Hal Roach's Rolin studio, left to work as an ingenue in Cecil B DeMille's movies. Realart had her star in a series of features that lasted for the rest of the 1920s. 


Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Harold Lloyd in a Series of Special Two Reel Comedies -- September 17, 2019

Moving Picture World, 27-September-1919
100 years ago last month in August, 1919, Harold Lloyd suffered a terrible accident while posing for publicity pictures. A prop bomb turned out to be real. It took away the thumb and forefinger on his right hand. By September, he was making a remarkable recovery.

"Captain Kidd's Kids" was Harold's last movie with leading lady Bebe Daniels.

Moving Picture World, 13-September-1919
You don't see the phrase "not all cakes and ale" much nowadays.  It comes from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Moving Picture World, 13-September-1919
This is a nice portrait of Harold without the glasses.

Moving Picture World, 20-September-1919
This is a nice portrait of Harold with a co-star.

Moving Picture World, 20-September-1919
I don't think Snub Pollard and Mildred Davis made a movie without Harold, but I could be wrong.

Moving Picture World, 20-September-1919
Moving Picture World, 13-September-1919
"Despite Accident, Harold Lloyd Multiples
"Will Be Released Monthly After November 2

"UNHINDERED by the accident which recently befell Harold Lloyd, and which 'will keep him inactive tor a short time, Pathe is going through with plans made during the visit of Charles Pathe to America, to present the Rolin comedian in a series of special two reel comedies. Beginning on November 2, the initial multiple Lloyd feature will be issued and one a month will be released thereafter. Lloyd worked on these comedies for more than two months before the accident in the Rolin studio, and in the Pathe announcement this week is contained the information that he was far enough ahead of schedule to permit of the listing of the new offerings beyond the first of the year.

"Will Issue Two Reelers Monthly.

"The two reel subjects will be issued once a month instead of once a week, as heretofore, because it is impossible for Lloyd to produce comedies of this high class type in less than three weeks, working at top speed.

"Definite information has come from California, that the accident to Lloyd will in no manner impair his ability as a comedian. His injuries are much less serious than were at first expected, and he will be able to resume his screen work in time to round out the schedule of two reel productions planned for him. Hal E. Roach, president of the Rolin Film Company, and director of the Lloyd comedies, wired Paul Brunet, of Pathe Exchange, Inc., last week, to the effect that he was continuing the selection of stories for Lloyd pictures, and that he was in hopes of having the noted young comedian back in the studio in a short time.

"Lloyd will be surrounded by the most competent staff of comedians it is possible for Director General Hal. E. Roach to engage. In his company will be a bevy of beauties which will make the blase "beach bugs" of Long Beach, Cal., sit up and take notice. Mr. Roach who has as large a part in the success of the Lloyd comedies, will continue to direct the two reel subjects.

"In announcing the two reel comedies, Pathe indicates that exhibitors may contract only for six of the features at a time. No yearly contracts will be accepted."

Moving Picture World, 27-September-1919
Harold Lloyd had made two-reelers with Lonesome Luke, but went back to one-reelers with the glasses character to give it more exposure.  "Bumping Into Broadway" was the first two-reeler with the glasses character.

Moving Picture World, 27-September-1919
"His Royal Slyness" was Harold's first movie with his new leading lady, Mildred Davis.

Photoplay, September, 1919
"A Bebe Grown Up."  It is hard to realize that Bebe Daniels was fourteen when she first served as Harold Lloyd's leading lady, and was only 19 when she left to work for Cecil B DeMille.  "A pretty child when we first saw her, she has grown to be a beautiful woman, in the California sunshine and the Lloyd comedies."

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Harold Lloyd, Comedian, Injured by Explosion of Property Bomb -- August 24, 2019

Moving Picture World, 06-September-1919
100 years ago today, on 24-August-1919, Harold Lloyd suffered a terrible accident while posing for publicity pictures. A prop bomb turned out to be real.  It took away the thumb and forefinger on his right hand. He went on to make a remarkable recovery and managed to conceal his disability with help from Sam Goldwyn.  

"Harold Lloyd, Comedian, Injured
"by Explosion of Property Bomb

"THE condition of Harold Lloyd, comedy star, who was seriously injured August 24 by the explosion of what was thought to be a harmless comedy bomb, is far better than anticipated and his complete recovery within two months at the most is looked forward to by Pathe Exchange, Inc., and the many friends Lloyd had made in film work.

"President Hal E. Roach, of the Rolin Film Company, has sent the following telegram to Paul Brunet, vice-president and general manager of Pathe in New York:

"'Harold Lloyd's condition greatly improved. He will lose a portion of finger and thumb of right hand. His face is in good condition. There will be only slight scars easily covered with makeup. His right eye, which we feared to be injured, is in good shape and will not be deformed in any way. This is far better than we expected.'

"Was Making Still.

"Lloyd was hurt while taking stills in the Witzel photographic studio, Los Angeles. He was lighting a cigarette from the fuse of a property bomb when it exploded, burning his face and chest, injuring his right hand and apparently injuring one eye. He was rushed to the nearest hospital.

"Neither the photographer nor his assistant, who were in the room at the time, were injured, although both were thrown to the floor by the force of the explosion.

"The bomb, which seemed to be made of harmless paper and of the kind used for producing smoke, was one of two that had been intended for the organization to take on a picnic. The other bomb had exploded at the picnic, knocking over a large table, but this one had been put in the property room in the belief it was harmless.

"After receiving the cheering telegram on August 27, Pathe announced that thanks to Lloyd's industry it had enough films of his to allow him to remain idle for a considerable time, if necessary. It is expected and hoped that Lloyd will have regained complete health within two months, but if his recovery should not be complete before the end of the year Pathe would still have enough of his films to supply exhibitors."

Moving Picture World, 02-August-1919
Harold's leading lady, Bebe Daniels, had left to work for Cecil B Demille, but there were lots of comedies with her in the queue.  We see the word "jazz" and its variants more and more in 1919.

Moving Picture World, 02-August-1919
"The scenes are placed in the Killjoy Café, where 'everything is first class except the food and the service.'"

Moving Picture World, 09-August-1919
Snub's opponent gets the point.

Moving Picture World, 16-August-1919
"Here the audience gets a glimpse of that forbidden land on the far side of the drop curtain."

Moving Picture World, 30-August-1919
"Harold Lloyd does some tall and fancy roller skating..."

Moving Picture World, 30-August-1919
I don't remember ever reading about "Heap Big Chief."

Friday, July 19, 2019

Harold Lloyd -- The Perils of Popularity -- July 19, 2019

Moving Picture World, 19-July-1919
100 years ago this month, in July, 1919, Harold Lloyd appears to be distracted in this scene from "At the Old Stage Door." Snub Pollard and leading lady Bebe Daniels appear to be unhappy.

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919
Because Harold was wearing a top hat, "He is mistaken for the manager and treated royally, but later the deception is discovered, and he is hustled out in the rain."

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919
Harold is in danger of catching flies.

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919
Harold helps Bebe take aim in "Billy Blazes, Esq."

Moving Picture World, 05-July-1919
"This is a good burlesque."


Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919
"It is full of rapid, snappy action, and while it is a broad burlesque, still it some of the real thrill of the 'wild and wooly' border story."

Moving Picture World, 19-July-1919
We saw last month that  Bebe Daniels, Harold's leading lady since 1915, had signed to appear in features produced by Cecil B DeMille.

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919
"She has just completed a comedy series with Harold Lloyd and Harry Pollard."  Only 18 years old, Bebe is rightly described as "ingenue and comedienne."



Sunday, June 23, 2019

Join the Order of Money-Makers -- June 23, 2019

Moving Picture World, 07-June-1919
100 years ago this month, in June, 1919, Harold Lloyd and his leading lady Bebe Daniels appeared in an interesting ad, especially in light of Harold's later deep involvement with the Shriners.  Things would soon change for Harold.

Moving Picture World, 07-June-1919
"Pistols for Breakfast" is an interesting title.  "There are some fairly humorous situations in this, but it is hardly up to the average production by this company."  Titles in the form of "Swat the [something]" were very popular.  A quick check finds these: Swat the Fly, Swat the Kaiser, Swat the Flirt, Swat the Spy .

Moving Picture World, 14-June-1919
I thought it was interesting that an Iowa theater owner held a "Harold Lloyd Comedy Week."  I don't remember any earlier references to a proto-film festival like this.

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
Harold and a heavily armed Snub in "Swat the Crook."

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
"Swat the Crook" was a satire of crime play/movie stereotypes.


Bud Jamison appears in "Off the Trolley." Snub is the motorman and Bebe is the conductor.  "Spring Fever" is said to be "One of the snappiest of recent comedies featuring Harold Lloyd, Harry Pollard and Bebe Daniels."



Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
"A Live Wire Comedy."  Good one.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
They must have gotten tired releasing one movie a week.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
I like this image with Snub, Harold and Bebe.

Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
Bebe, Harold's leading lady since 1915, was flying the coop to work with Cecil B DeMille.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
Mildred Harris took the place of Bebe.  Later she married Harold.