The Ardor of Bessie Love -- July 27, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 05-July-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.

Bessie and the calf are both cute. 

Buck Jones -- A Daring Cowboy Who Was Johnny On the Spot When it Came to Law Breakers -- July 10, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 05-July-1924

Buck Jones and his horse discuss a scene with director Edmund Mortimer. 

Exhibitors Herald, 05-July-1924

Buck's leading lady in The Circus Cowboy was Marion Nixon. Every year, the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers selected several promising young actresses to be designated as WAMPAS Baby Stars. Marion Nixon was selected in 1924. 

Urbana Daily Citizen, 28-July-1924

This is not a good drawing of Buck Jones. 

Urbana Daily Citizen, 28-July-1924

"Jones has an opportunity in this picture to display some of the horsemanship which first made him famous."

Zanesville Times-Recorder, 17-July-1924

Now that is a good photo of Buck Jones. Strongheart was a popular dog star. 

Majestic Theater, Memphis -- July 17, 2023

Motion Picture News, 21-July-1923

The Majestic Theater in Memphis, Tennessee used an elaborate display to promote Down to the Sea in Ships, a whaling movie directed by Elmer Clifton. I like the whale above the ticket booth. 

In Down to the Sea in Ships, Clara Bow made her first big impression in a movie. It led to Clara being named a WAMPAS Baby Star.

Johnson City Tennessee Daily Staff, 29-October-1922

On 04-July-1923, in the tiny town of Selby, Nebraska, heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey defeated challenger Tommy Gibbons in a 15-round decision. No one expected Gibbons to avoid a knockout. Read a contemporary newspaper article on my other blog:

http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2023/07/dempsey-vs-gibbons-100-years-july-4-2023.html

Mary Carlisle, RIP -- August 1, 2018

www.listal.com

Actress Mary Carlisle, the last surviving WAMPAS Baby Star, died at the age of 104.  She was married to the same guy from 1942 until he died in 2007.  She retired from acting soon after they were married.

www.listal.com

Anita Louise 100 -- January 9, 2015

www.listal.com

Actress Anita Louise was born 100 years ago today, on 09-January-1915.  She was a 1931 WAMPAS Baby Star.  She played Titania, Queen of the Fairies in Max Reinhardt's wild production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

www.listal.com

She was the leading lady in John Ford's Judge Priest with Will Rogers. 



www.listal.com

Actor Fernando Lamas was born the same day.  I never thought much of him as an actor and I thought less of him as a man after I read about his treatment of Esther Williams during their marriage. 

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News of the Week for 09-January-1915 will appear in this blog tomorrow.