News of the Week August 14, 1915 -- August 14, 2015

The 14-August-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Strikers at the Bayonne, N. J. plant of the Standard Oil Co. have pitched battle.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  This is probably the riot on 20-July-1915 when strikers fought Bayonne police called in by the mayor, who also worked for Standard Oil. 

"Friends mourn for dead of Eastland tragedy.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   Last week we saw an item about SS Eastland, a tour boat in Chicago which rolled over while docked on 24-July-1915.  At least 844 passengers and crew died. 

"E. A. McManus, general manager of Hearst-Selig News Pictorial, presented with highest award for motion pictures.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   I can't find an article about this. 

"Fatal strike battle of Standard Oil employees.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  We saw the Pathe version above.  At least one striker was killed on the 20th. 

"William Jennings Bryan on his tour of Universal City.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly." After resigning as Secretary of State, Bryan toured the country. 

"Elk's convention parade at Los Angeles, California.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  Fraternal organizations were big during this period. 

Mabel Normand at the Beach -- August 13, 2015

Photoplay, August, 1915.

One hundred years ago today, Photoplay Magazine featured adorable Mabel Normand on its cover. 

News of the Week August 7, 1915 -- August 7, 2015

The 07-August-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Harry K. Thaw cheered by crowds on day he is freed.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Harry Kendall Thaw was the son of a rich industrialist.  Harry had mental problems.  On 25-June-1906 he murdered architect Stanford White, who had been involved with Evelyn Nesbit, Thaw's wife, who had been a chorus girl and a model.  Thaw's attorney had him declared legally insane, which was not a stretch.  The caption may contain a typo, or this was after Thaw's mother wanted to go with temporary insanity so the family would not be stigmatized.  We saw the Pathe version last week. 

"The rescued passengers leaving the ill-fated Eastland which sunk in Chicago river.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   SS Eastland was a tour boat in Chicago which rolled over while docked on 24-July-1915.  At least 844 passengers and crew died. 

"Paying tribute to Lieutenant Warneford, daring aviator.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  Reginald Warneford was a Royal Naval Air Service flier who brought down Zeppelin LZ 37 on 07-June-1915.  He died after a crash during a test flight on 17-June-1915.  He was buried in London on 21-June-1915. 

"Cunard Line steamer Orduna which was attacked by a German submarine.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  SS Orduna became a troop transport during the war.  While sailing to New York, she was attached by a U Boat. 

"Automobiles used to take native sons of Pennsylvania through Pittsburg.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  I can't find anything about an organization called the Native Sons of Pennsylvania. 

"Scenes of devastation caused by cyclone at Cincinnati, Ohio.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  A big storm on June 24 caused damage throughout the Midwest.  We saw the same version last week. 

Old Doc Yak Coming Back -- August 6, 2015

Motography, 12-June-1915

Old Doc Yak was a comic strip drawn by Sidney Smith who later created The Gumps.  Selig distributed a series of Old Doc Yak animated films from 1913 to 1915.  I don't know who made these. 

News of the Week July 31, 1915 -- July 31, 2015

The 31-July-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Scenes of devastation caused by cyclone at Cincinnati, Ohio.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  A big storm on June 24 caused damage throughout the Midwest. 

"Harry K. Thaw after jury has declared him sane.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  Harry Kendall Thaw was the son of a rich industrialist.  Harry had mental problems.  On 25-June-1906 he murdered architect Stanford White, who had been involved with Evelyn Nesbit, Thaw's wife, who had been a chorus girl and a model.  Thaw's attorney had him declared legally insane, which was not a stretch.  The caption may contain a typo, or this was after Thaw's mother wanted to go with temporary insanity so the family would not be stigmatized. 

"'Little' Billy McCarthy, one year old and weighing 85 pounds.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  I couldn't find anything about the poor kid. 

"Lindy Lee, said to be a perfect specimen of Chimpanzee, stars as a motion picture actor.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   I couldn't find anything about the poor chimp, either. 

"Locomotives wrecked to amuse crowd at Emeryville, Calif.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   In 1896, William George Crush came up with the idea of staging a head-on collision of two locomotives to create a spectacle.  Scott Joplin composed "Great Crush Collision March" in honor of the first attempt, in Texas.  I think this collision took place as part of a Fourth of July celebration. 

"The railroad starts a campaign for protecting the public at Long Island City, N. Y.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  The Long Island Railroad posted signs warning people to stop, look and listen at railroad crossings.  Operation Lifesaver carries on the work today. 

This is the first week that has not included any stories about World War One. 

Bugs Bunny 75 -- July 27, 2015

Showmen's Trade Review, 05-June-1940

27-July-1940 saw the debut of the Buck-Toothed Barrymore, the Hardest Working Hare in Show Business, the Chairman of the Carrot Patch, Bugs Bunny.  There is some controversy over the identity of the first Bugs Bunny cartoon.  Some people favor "Porky's Hare Hunt" from 1938.  Some people like other movies, but the rabbit's official debut was in "A Wild Hare," which was released on 27-July-1940.  Tex Avery directed it.  Bugs said "What's up, Doc?" for the first time.  Warner Brothers received an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Subject. 

News of the Week July 24, 1915 -- July 24, 2015

The 24-July-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Liberty Bell starts for the Panama Fair.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   This caption is with the wrong photo.  It belongs with the one in the lower right-hand corner.  San Francisco school children raised money and persuaded Philadelphia to allow the Liberty Bell to travel to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. 

"U. S. S. Wyoming passing under Brooklyn Bridge.   Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Dreadnought battleship USS Wyoming (BB-32) later served with the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet.  She trained many gunners who served during the Second World War. 

"Cornell beats Leland Stanford University in rowing championship race.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  The Cornell crew defeated Stanford at Poughkeepsie on 04-July-1915. 

"Firearms taken from prisoners in Chicago police stations thrown into the lake.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   I hope this doesn't cause people to go diving. 

"Heavy storm leaves toll of death in Cincinnati.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."   A big storm on June 24 caused damage throughout the Midwest. 

"Observation train at Cornell race.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  This caption belongs with the photo in the upper left-hand corner.  Rowing fans watch the race at Poughkeepsie from stands built on railroad cars.