D'Ye Wanta See Warren Kerrigan Work? -- April 28, 2015

Washington Times, 28-April-1915

"D'ye wanta see Warren Kerrigan work?  Come on out to Universal City, then, and see how he earns his dough." 

J Warren Kerrigan was a popular actor until he made an unfortunate comment about the draft during World War One. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.

"Take the Santa Fe to Los Angeles.  Universal city is only a few minutes from there and you can See How the Movies are Made."

He Was the Funniest Man in the World -- April 26, 2015

John Bunny was a popular performer in early Vitagraph comedies like "A Cure for Pokeritis" (1912), "Hearts and Diamonds" (1914) and "The Pickwick Papers" (1913). He was born to play Mr Pickwick. Bunny died in 1915 and the world mourned.  This article is from the 27-April-1915 Tulsa Daily World. 

He Was the Funniest Man in the World

NEW YORK, April 24. --  John Bunny. whose antics as a moving picture comedian have made millions laugh, died today at his home in Brooklyn, He had been ill about three weeks of a complication of diseases.

Members of his family were with him when he died. For a week he apparently bad been improving. A strenuous month of work, it is believed, caused the breakdown which resulted in his death.

John Bunny was 52 years old. For twenty-nine years he had been before the footlights before he entered the moving picture field four years ago. During his career as an actor, he had leading roles with many old time stars, among them being Annie Russell. He had attained country-wide popularity as an actor before he achieved his greatest success on the screen.

Mr. Bunny was born in New York City of English parents, was educated in the Brooklyn public schools and was a clerk in a general store until he went on the stage at the age of 19. In the moving picture world he was regarded for a time as the country's leading comedian. He was said to have received more than the president of the United States in salary and royalties. The amount of his compensation was never divulged to the public. He will be buried in Brooklyn.

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

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

"The fruit liner Heredia after her collision near New Orleans.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  On 30-March-1915, the United Fruit Company liner Heredia rammed liner Parisian near the mouth of the Mississippi, then swerved off and sank steamer Weems. 

"Vice-president Marshall speaking at University of California.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Thomas R Marshall of Indiana was Woodrow Wilson's Vice President.  Here he spoke at Cal Berkeley. 

"U. S. divers leave Washington for Honolulu to raise submarine.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  USS F-4 sank on 25-March-1915 off of Honolulu.  All hands were lost. 

"General Von Morger and his stall leaving their headquarters near Bolimov, Russian Poland.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  I can't find anything about Von Morger.

"Easter parade on boardwalk at Atlantic City, N. J. Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  Easter fell on 04-April-1915. 

"Wm. Hale Thompson, Chicago's new mayor, with Mrs. Thompson.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  Big Bill Thompson (no relation, thank Heaven) was the last Republican mayor of Chicago.  He served from 1915 to 1923, then 1927-1931.  He was known for being profoundly corrupt. 

Blowing Up the Scenery -- April 21, 2015

Washington Times, 21-April-1915

"Some days we blow the scenery up.  Some days we smash locomotives and hold an earthquake."

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City. "It's only a few minutes from Los Angeles and Los Angeles is on the direct line of the Santa Fe." 

News of the Week April 17, 1915 -- April 17, 2015

The 17-April -1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"New York fire fighters in new oxygen helmits (sic - JT).  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  I did not know that firefighters had such equipment available in 1915.  I thought such equipment might have come after the war, inspired by gas masks. 

"Cavalry horses assembled at eastern seacost for shipment to England.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  I have mentioned it before, but the armies still depended greatly on animal power. 

"Sixty tons of nitroglycerine exploded in one blast at Riverside, Calif.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  I don't know why.  Perhaps it was for railroad construction. 

"President Wilson and ex-President Taft laying cornerstone of Red Cross headquarters.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  The American Red Cross National Headquarters is still in use today. 

"New 14-inch guns just completed for Panama Canal.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  I'm guessing these were 14-inch gun M1907s on disappearing carriages. 

"Testing new U. S. submarines in New York harbor.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  I don't know, but this could be an N-class submarine, intended for coastal defense. 

Eat a Piece of Mince Pie and Sleep on Your Back -- April 14, 2015

Washington Times, 14-April-1915

"Eat a Piece of Mince Pie and Sleep on Your Back -- and you'll dream of a city like Universal City -- out in California -- where the movies are made." 

The blonde-haired girl in the foreground is pretty creepy looking. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.  "Take the Santa Fe to Los Angeles and a trolley from there.  See How the Movies are Made."
"Go to Los Angeles on the Santa Fe and run from there down to Universal City -- the only moving picture city in the world where theatrical insanity reaches its greatest height." 

News of the Week April 10, 1915 -- April 10, 2015

The 03-April -1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Cardinal Farley and Mayor Mitchell reviewing St. Patrick's Day parade in New York.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  John Cardinal Farley was Archbishop of New York from 1902 to 1918.  John Purroy Mitchel was Mayor of New York from 1914 to 1917. 

"Armless wonder driving car from coast to coast.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  I have not been able to find the armless wonder's name. 

"Columbia crew off for the first spin of the year.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  I'll bet most of these young men were in the military two or three years later. 

"German Red Cross caring for wounded at Lowicz, Poland.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  The Germans were attacking towards Warsaw to try to distract the Russians from East Prussia. 

"English Chancellor reviewing troops at Llandudno, Wales.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  Richard Haldane, former Secretary of State for War, was probably Lord Chancellor at this time.   

"Lloyd George inspects Welsh brigade at Llandudno, Wales.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Welsh Liberal politician David Lloyd George had been Chancellor of the Exchequer.  He became Minister of Munitions during the 1915 Shell Crisis. 

Bob Leonard and Ella Hall Have Nearly Worn Themselves Out -- April 7, 2015

Washington Times, 07-April-1915

"Did you see the great battle at the mines?  Well, that was taken at Universal City, where most of Universal's great pictures are made."

Bob Leonard and Ella Hall starred in the Universal Serial The Master Key. 

With expositions in both San Francisco and San Diego dedicated to the newly opened Panama Canal, and with tourism to Europe cut off, Universal hoped to attract visitors to its new studio, Universal City.   "Take the Santa Fe direct to Los Angeles, get off there and run down to Universal City for a few minutes and See How the Movies are Made."

Motion Picture World, 19-December-1915

Manoel de Oliveira, RIP -- April 6, 2015

www.listal.com

I was sad to learn of the passing of Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira.  He was 106 years old and his last film was released last year.  He and his wife were married for 75 years. 

www.listal.com

He tried to make a movie in 1927, but ran into difficulties.  His first completed movie, "Douro, Faina Fluvial," was released in 1931.  It is a portrait of Porto, his home town. 

www.listal.com

The first time I remember reading about him was when I saw a review of his 2010 movie O Estranho Caso de Angélica.  The reviewer mentioned that he was 102. 

www.listal.com

His last completed feature, O Gebo e a Sombra, came out in 2012.  He released a short, "O Velho do Restelo" in 2014. 

I am sad to say that I have not seen any of his movies.  I missed the chance to do it while he was alive.  I was happy that I got to see movies by Alfred Hitchcock, John Huston and other directors while they were still alive. 

News of the Week April 3, 1915 -- April 3, 2015

The 03-April -1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Twenty-ninth U. S. Infantry leaves New York for Panama Canal zone.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  The 29th Infantry Regiment stayed in the Canal Zone until September, 1918. 

"Rescuing all that was left of Lincoln Beachey and his ill-fated machine.   Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  Lincoln Beachey was the featured aerial performer at San Francisco's Panama Pacific International Exposition, where he died on 14-March-1915 when his new monoplane crashed into the bay, where he drowned, trapped in the wreckage:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2015/03/lincoln-beachey-plunges-mile-out-of-sky.html

"The Kaiser on the battlefield in North Poland.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Kaiser Wilhelm II was visiting his troops who had driven the Russians back after they invaded East Prussia. 

"Rome, Italy visited by a great flood that swept through the city.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe News."  Rome's Tiber River flooded frequently.  The flood of 1915 lasted a long time.

"Launching the U. S. S. Pennsylvania at Newport News.  Copyright 1915 Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  Dreadnaught USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was launched on 16-March-1915.  During the Pearl Harbor attack, she was in drydock, but her anti-aircraft guns fought back.  15 of her crew were killed, but she was able to sail to San Francisco for repairs.

"A mile-a-minute on skiis at Montreal, Canada.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  I assume this is a ski jump competition.