Ray Harryhausen 100 -- June 29, 2020

www.listal.com

Animator Ray Harryhausen was born 100 years ago today, on 29-June-1920.  I remember seeing The Mysterious Island on television when I was very young.  I later read in Famous Monsters of Filmland, I think, that Harryhausen and his wife went out to dinner and he brought home the crab shell to use in the movie. 

I loved Mighty Joe Young.  I liked It Came From Beneath the Sea with its 8-legged octopus and scenes shot in San Francisco.  I saw Clash of the Titans and some of the Sinbad movies in the theater.  When I got a Super 8 camera, I tried to do some object animation.  It only showed me how difficult it is to do what Ray Harryhausen did. 

Where the Strong Win -- June 27, 2020

Pendleton East Oregonian, 01-June-1920

100 years ago this month, Tom Mix was appearing in Rough Riding Romance at the Arcade Theater in Pendleton, Oregon, along with a Big V Comdey starring Earle Montgomery and Joe Rock, "Throbs and Thrills." 

Joel Schumacher, RIP -- June 25, 2020

www.listal.com

I am sorry to learn that director Joel Schumacher has died.  I particularly liked The Lost Boys. 

www.listal.com

An Entirely New Style of Art Titles -- June 23, 2020

Washington Star, 13-June-1920

Earlier this year, I wrote about Buster Keaton's first feature film, The Saphead, for the Sixth Annual Buster Keaton Blogathon:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2020/03/buster-keatons-first-feature-saphead.html

I came across the above newspaper item.  Here is an example of an art title from the movie:

William H Crane played Old Nick.

Paul Frees 100 -- June 22, 2020

www.listal.com

Growing up, I learned to recognize the voice of Paul Frees in cartoons, feature films, radio and television shows, but I did not know what he looked like until I found this photo on listal.  Frees was born 100 years ago today, on 22-June-1920. I always enjoyed spotting it when he dubbed dialogue for other actors. 

Sidney Toler -- June 21, 2020

Exhibitors Herald, 26-June-1920

Long before he succeeded Warner Oland as Charlie Chan, Sidney Toler was a playwright. Paramount produced The Bait as an adaption of Toler's play The Tiger Lady. 

The Offshore Pirate -- June 19, 2020

Exhibitors Herald, 26-June-1920

An article about upcoming Metro productions mentioned that one would be an adaption of "The Offshore Pirate," a short story by F Scott Fitzgerald. The movie starred Viola Dana.