Jeanne Moreau and Sam Shepard, RIP -- July 31, 2017

www.listal.com

French cultural icon Jeanne Moreau has died.  She was in a high percentage of the French movies that I have seen.

www.listal.com

www.listal.com

Playwright and actor Sam Shepard also died.  I remember when his plays premiered at the Magic Theater.  I never got to go.  He played Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff.

www.listal.com

Sam Shepard and Chuck Yeager. 

T and D Theater, Oakland -- July 31, 2017

Moving Picture World, 21-July-1917

This ad for Westinghouse Motion Picture Equipment features Oakland, California's T & D Theater.  The theater opened in 1916 and closed in 1976.

Moving Picture World, 03-February-1917

T. & D. Theater, Oakland, Cal. 

Turner & Dahnken's Newest Photoplay House a Magnificent Structure -- Bespeaks Progress in Motion Picture Theater Construction -- Seats 3,450 -- Equipped With $48,500 Wurlitzer Organ-- Many Prominent Persons Attend Dedication. 

CALIFORNIA, within whose borders are produced more than one half of the moving pictures now being made, and which but one short year ago was entertaining the nations of the world on the shores of San Francisco Bay at that wonderful Exposition in which moving pictures played such a prominent part in education and entertainment, has again spoken, and this time her offering to the arts of the silent drama is in the form of a magnificent theater which for size compares favorably with the largest in the country and which in architectural detail, decoration, arrangement and conveniences for patrons probably has no equal anywhere. This new house, located at Oakland, the largest east-bay suburb of San Francisco, is a monument to the builder, James K. Moffitt, and the Turner & Dahnken Circuit, with its chain of houses in nine Pacific Coast cities.

The opening of this new house on the evening of November 22 was the occasion for a demonstration such as had never before been accorded the opening of a moving picture theater in Western America. Society was out in full force, city officials were there, moving picture stars were present in person, musical celebrities gathered to hear the great organ, exhibitors and film exchange men came from all over Northern California, and there was a continual volley of ohs and ahs from the time the doors were opened at seven o'clock until the last scene of "Miss George Washington" faded from the screen just before midnight.

Following the opening of the doors a half an hour was set aside for an inspection of the house, but so great was the demand for seats that the general public chose to settle down in the comfortable opera chairs as quickly as possible. Within a half an hour 4,000 persons were inside the big structure, and as many more were outside seeking admission, the streets in the vicinity of the house being crowded for blocks. A period of music then followed, and at its conclusion E. B. Johnson, secretary of the Turner & Dahnken Circuit appeared upon the stage and briefly traced the growth of moving pictures as a form of entertainment. He paid tribute to James K. Moffitt, whose investment of a half a million dollars had made the theater a reality, and to the people of Oakland for their loyalty in the past. H. C. Capwell, representing the Downtown Association, made a ringing speech expressing confidence in the development of the San Francisco Bay region and of the success of the new T. & D. theater and was followed by Mayor John L. Davie and ex-congressman, Joseph R. Knowland.

The pleasant duty of presenting the film stars fell to the lot of resident manager George E. Thornton who brought upon the stage in quick succession Miss Anita King, "The Paramount Girl," Miss Myrtle Stedman, Sessue Hayakawa and Tsuri Aoki, who appeared through the courtesy of the Paramount Pictures Corporation, and all of whom were given enthusiastic receptions.

The Wurlitzer Hope-Jones organ then came in for attention, the first selection being the "Sextette from Lucia," followed by the overture from "Fantana" and "The Rosary," rendered by Gordon Bretland, organist of the T. & D. Tivoli theater at San Francisco. "Kilarney," sung by a chorus, followed by other Irish melodies, served as an effective introduction to the first picture, "A Son of Erin," featuring Dustin Farnum. This picture, with "Miss George Washington," comprised the photoplay program. But one show was given owing to the length of the dedicatory program.

The new T. & D. theater is located at Eleventh and Broadway, between the shopping center of Oakland and the harbor, occupying a lot 100 by 175 feet in area. It has a seating capacity of 3,450 on the lower floor and single balcony, and this could easily have been made 4000 had the seats been spaced as in the ordinary theater. Instead, room has been left between the rows to allow patrons to pass freely without the necessity of others arising. The chairs are upholstered in Spanish leather, with, spring seats for comfort, and are the best that could be purchased. On both the upper and lower floors there are loges arranged for special parties, and in these even more room has been allowed for the movement of those who occupy them. The lines of vision have been so carefully planned that there is not a bad seat in the house.

One of the distinguishing features of the house is the absence of stairways. From the marble tiled lobby one passes into the main entrance from which either the lower or the upper floor is reached. A broad incline, on which Everlastic tiling has been used to prevent slipping, leads to the mezzanine, through a bower of potted plants and past walls decorated with oil paintings of popular film stars. The balustrades leading to the mezzanine floor are of hand-polished marble in Etruscan design and the foyer, which extends the full width of the house, is also wainscoted in marble.

The original features of the house culminate in the mezzanine floor, where the management has fairly outdone itself in arranging for the comfort and convenience of its patrons. On the left is the Pompeiian lounging room for the use of both men and women who may desire to rest or await the arrival of friends. A stone table with an aquarium illuminated by colored lights forms the central decorative feature, and arranged around the room is other stone furniture and objects of art in pure Pompeiian design, cural chairs, tall vases, statues of the design of Pliny's time, reproductions of tapestries of the time of early Rome, lounging divans, settees and drinking fountains. Here, as in the other rest rooms, are bells to give notice of the beginning of productions on the screen.

At the head of the incline, fronting on Eleventh street, is the women's tea room, a decorative dream, with its woodwork in English oak, its tapestry walls, silk curtained windows, beautiful upholstered chairs and divans and exquisite blue carpet. The lighting comes from concealed sources and illuminates the room with a warm glow that is enchanting. German "roller" canaries sing in vari-colored cages, while maids serve tea, cakes and ices. Adjoining the tea rooms are the women's parlors, with lounges, sofas, writing desks, telephones, triple-mirrored tables and other conveniences, all bespeaking culture and refinement.

At the right of the incline landing is the gentlemen's lounging and smoking room, luxuriously furnished with chairs heavily upholstered in leather, tables and other conveniences, with beautiful Persian rugs on the floor. A retiring room for men is located in the basement, with an entrance from the foyer, and a rest room for women is to be found on the ground floor.

From the mezzanine floor there are two inclines to the balcony, one to each side, these terminating about one-third the way up the balcony. Between these is a third entrance to the upper floor, one that takes the visitor high up in the balcony. The addition of this entrance was an after thought on the part of the designers and it is planned to close the two side inclines when the balcony is fairly well filled, so that the patron will take the middle one and reach the rear rows before coming in sight of the screen.

The decorative features of this house are typical of the Golden State, the side walls on the lower floor being decorated with an orange motif, while those above the balcony show fields of golden poppies fading away into a California sky. At each side of the proscenium arch are openings in which illuminated paintings are shown, these being changed with the change in program. Above the arch is a huge gilded grill illuminated from behind, and here is located the organ. The house lights are controlled from the organ seat and are arranged in five circuits with colors in green, amber, red and white, to produce effects suggested by the pictures.

The organ is the largest on the Pacific Coast and is said to be the sixth largest in the world. The largest pipes weigh as much as half a ton, and are installed in concrete chambers. while the smallest ones are not much larger than a match. This unit organ was installed at a cost of $48,500, and combines the volume and tone of the cathedral pipe organ with the sweetness and spirit of a symphony orchestra ensemble of forty musicians. It was installed under the direction of George H. Leathurby, Pacific Coast manager of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company.

The projection room is equipped with two Power's Cameragraphs No. 6B and is located on the ground floor, there being a straight throw of 133 feet to the screen, which is of local manufacture. The booth is of concrete construction and its observation ports can scarcely be noticed, so carefully have the lights been arranged. The size of the screen is 19 by 25 feet.

Heavy carpets have been used throughout the theater, except on the incline, where a noiseless tiling has been laid. A feature of the house is the stage sets which will accompany the various productions. The screen hangs in the center of a theater stage and appropriate prologues will be given in advance of the main productions. The ventilating system is probably the largest ever installed in the Far West, handling 60,000 cubic feet of air a minute, much more than will be required. Fresh air is drawn in from the roof and warmed or cooled as the case may be and forced into all parts of the house. Steam for heating purposes is purchased from outside sources and the heat is regulated by automatic thermostats.

The exterior of the building is Roman in design, with a modern art facade executed in mat-glazed terra cotta. At intervals along the Eleventh street side are huge urns from which steam arises in clouds, these being illuminated by red lights concealed within, while above them are a number of flag poles with banners flying, giving the appearance of a gala day at the Coliseum in ancient Rome.

The executive staff of the Oakland T. & D. theater consists of George E. Thornton, manager; Prof. Wetmore, musical director; Albert Hay Malotte, organist; Elmer E. Nichols, chief electrical operator; Irving S. Cohn, assistant operator; F. J. Clazie, chief usher, and W. H. Jobelmann, press agent. The Turner & Dahnken Circuit, whose headquarters is at 942 Market street, San Francisco, has for its officers the following: Fred Dahnken, Jr., president; J. T. Turner, vice-president and general manager; Claude E. Langley, directing manager and treasurer, and E. B. Johnson, secretary. It conducts houses at San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, San Jose, Berkeley, Watsonville and Reno, Nevada, and is erecting a large theater at Stockton, besides having plans in course of preparations for still others.

Moving Picture World, 03-February-1917

Filoscope -- July 29, 2017

La Nature, 23-July-1898

Henry William Short improved on the flip book by adding a metal holder.  David Devant, shown in the movie in the video, was a magician associate of John Neville Maskelyne.  The movie was by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company

Please excuse the poor quality of my translation from La Nature, 23-July-1898:

The Filoscope. - Everyone has seen small pocket cinematographs in the form of notebooks. It was enough to flip through them with much practice to obtain curious effects. But flipping certainly presented great difficulties. The new arrangement of the small device called the Filoscope that we are describing today will allow everyone to run the successive blocks of images quickly and well. The device consists of a specially shaped housing with both ends open. The block of the plate connected to the end is controlled by a rod and pivots around the axes in the interior of the casing. It is enough to turn the stem very slowly by pressing to see the flipping to be done clearly and the images are followed with regular intervals, which gives the successive images the real animation of the life. The shape of the case is chosen in such a way that the block of proofs, when finished reforms itself in order to be able to play properly when it is to be used again. - The "Filoscope" is of English manufacture and the concessionaire of this article for France is Mr. Kratz-Boussac, 1-5, rue Saint-Laurent, in Paris.

June Foray, RIP -- July 28, 2017

www.listal.com

I was sad to learn of the passing of voice artist June Foray.  There goes a large chunk of my childhood.  She started out in radio.  She did countless voices on Warner Brothers cartoons, although only Mel Blanc got credit.  She was Rocky and Natasha on Rocky and Bullwinkle. 

I particularly liked her work on The Stan Freeburg Show. 

Funniest Man on the Continent -- July 27, 2017

Moving Picture World, 28-July-1917

Billy West closely imitated Charlie Chaplin in a long series of comedies for different studios.While Chaplin was making the excellent Mutual comedies, West was making imitations of Chaplin's Essanay comedies.

Moving Picture World, 07-July-1917

This ad features Billy West out of costume. 

Moving Picture World, 07-July-1917

"In his actions and makeup he is a life-size painting of Charlie Chaplin.  He must surely be commended for his successful imitation of the popular comedy star." 

Moving Picture World, 14-July-1917

I could be wrong, but his face looks pasted in. 

Moving Picture World, 21-July-1917

"Funniest Man on the Continent" seems to be an odd tag-line. 

Stop! Luke! Listen! -- July 27, 2017

Moving Picture World, 07-July-1917

Rolin was a company founded by Hal Roach and Dan Linthicum. Harold Lloyd was their first comedy star. Bebe Daniels was their cute leading lady and Snub Pollard was Snub Pollard.  By mid-1917, the Lonesome Luke series was a big hit.  It had moved from one-reelers to two-reelers.

I like the photo of Snub, Bebe and Harold. 

Forgotten Sweeties -- July 25, 2017

Film Daily, 28-April-1927

"Forgotten Sweeties" starred Charley Chase and Anita Garvin with Jimmy Finlayson.  Charley Chase was a dependable star of short subject produced by Hal Roach.  The movie was directed by Charley's brother Jimmy Parrott. 

A note at the bottom of this ad says that it is a cornerblock provided to theaters to use in newspaper advertising.

Chaplin Signs With Exhibitors' Circuit -- July 23, 2017

Moving Picture World, 07-July-2017

I love "The Immigrant."

Moving Picture World, 14-July-2017

This story claims his next movie for Mutual would be a western.

Moving Picture World, 14-July-2017

Chaplin's Mutual contract was nearly up.  He signed with First National, a circuit owned by theater managers.  For $1,075,000, he would make eight movies, one every two months.  He did not make them that quickly.

Moving Picture World, 21-July-2017

"Chaplin to Strive for Quality" -- "It is in furtherance of this aim that Chaplin has agreed in the event a subject proves to be sub-standard that it shall be destroyed and entirely refilmed." 

Thrills in Mrs Castle's Subject -- July 21, 2017

Moving Picture World, 28-July-2017

Moving Picture World, 14-July-2017

Antonio Moreno was a popular leading man who had appeared in DW Griffith films and serials.  He would be Irene Castle's leading man in her third feature for Pathé. 

Moving Picture World, 21-July-2017

Irene Castle had completed two features for Pathé.  Both were action films. 

George A Romero, RIP -- July 19, 2017

www.listal.com

Director George A Romero has passed on.  I expect a plethora of zombie jokes. 

I first saw Night of the Living Dead on Creature Features, a late night horror show on KTVU Channel 2.  The movie scared the heck out of me, but also impressed me with its rough-hewn style.  It may have been the first independent film that I saw. 

The Fall of the Romanoffs -- July 17, 2017

Moving Picture World, 30-June-1917

100 years ago, on 17-July-2017, Bolshevik revolutionaries murdered the Russian imperial family, who were imprisoned in Yekaterinburg.  The Soviets did not admit the whole family was dead for another eight years, and many people were convinced that the youngest daughter, Anastasia, had escaped.  She didn't.

I don't have a lot of sympathy for the Romanovs, but no one deserves to die that way.  

Herbert Brenon's The Fall of the Romanoffs (sic - JT)  featured a Russian clergyman called Iliodor, who wrote a book about Rasputin.  His real name was Sergei Mikhailovich Trufanov. 

Martin Landau, RIP -- July 16, 2017

www.listal.com

I was sad to learn of the death of actor Martin Landau.  He was so good in so many movies.  I loved his Leonard in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest. 

www.listal.com

I loved his Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood. 

www.listal.com

I didn't get to watch the show much while he was on it, but I loved his Rollin Hand in Mission: Impossible, where he played with his wife, Barbara Bain. 

Zorro: From Douglas Fairbanks to Antonio Banderas -- July 14, 2017

Motion Picture News, 15-January-1921

This post is part of  Swashathon 2 -- A Blogathon of Swashbuckling Adventure, hosted by Fritzi at Movies Silently.  I agree with Fritzi that the first Swashathon may have been my favorite blogathon yet.  For the first Swashathon, I wrote about the Robin Hood of the West, the Cisco Kid:
Cisco Kid Was a Friend of Mine
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2015/11/cisco-kid-was-friend-of-mine-november-7.html   

This time, I am writing about Johnston McCulley's Zorro.  I'm going to concentrate on English-language movies and other media.  

Like the Cisco Kid, Zorro was unusual because he was a Hispanic hero in American movies, on American television and in American pulp magazines and comic books.  Don Diego de la Vega was a Californio aristocrat.  Californios were people of Spanish or mixed Spanish-native descent born in  California during the period before the US invaded in 1846.  Diego takes the secret identity of Zorro (The Fox) to fight against corrupt officials and other villains who oppress the common people around El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles (now known as Los Angeles).  Zorro made his mark, a letter "Z" formed with three slashes of his sword, as a warning to evildoers and a sign of hope to the oppressed. 

www.philsp.com

Johnston McCulley wrote hundreds of novels, novellas and short stories, which were mostly published in pulp magazines and a fair number of plays and screenplays. His The Curse of Capistrano from the 09-August-1919 All-Story Weekly introduced Zorro to the world.  The novel was serialized over five issues.  The story was a hit, and it was soon published in book form.

Motion Picture News, 18-October-1919

Among the people who read it was the person who wrote the "Fiction Mart" column for Motion Picture News.  I liked this: "Theme: Unrest of tropics."  He or she thought the story would make a good movie: "Picture Highlights: Plenty of action and a dual role.  A good story for a picture of Western life and adventure." 

www.listal.com

Also among the people who read it was Douglas Fairbanks.  Doug was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and in 1919 he had joined with his future wife, Mary Pickford, director DW Griffith, and close friend Charlie Chaplin, to found United Artists.  Once they finished their current contracts, they would produce their own movies and United Artists would release them.

Moving Picture World, 02-June-1917

Doug was looking to change his image.  He had appeared in a long series of films, first for Triangle, then for Paramount's Artcraft subsidiary and then in his first three movies for United Artists, that were almost all action comedies set in modern times.  Doug wanted to do a costume picture.

Film Daily, 22-June-1920

Doug picked The Curse of Capistrano and may have invented the swashbuckler in the process. 

Camera, 04-December-1920

Photoplay, November, 1920

Fred Niblo directed many major films, including the 1925 Ben Hur.  "Mary Fairbanks" would be Mary Pickford, who had recently married Doug.  It was the second marriage for each.  The November Photoplay probably came out earlier in the year.

Camera, 06-November-1920

Doug and his associates made the excellent choice to change the name of the movie to The Mark of Zorro.

Exhibitors' Herald, 04-December-1920

"Action, romance, mystery, thrills and comedy in fullest measure -- all the elements of the Fairbanks successes of the past, yet in a more picturesque and colorful setting than any release you have yet had from this idol of the masses."  I like the image of Doug as Zorro. 

Film Daily, 30-Jovember-1920

The "Newspaper Opinions" column in Film Daily collected quotes from newspaper reviews.  "But on the whole the story is interesting, the playing well done, and the film decidedly good entertainment."

www.listal.com

Doug defends Lolita, played by Marguerite De La Motte, from the attentions of Captain Juan Ramon, played by Robert McKim. Most leading ladies in Zorro movies tended to be passive. 

Motion Picture News, 07-May-1921

The Mark of Zorro was the featured attraction at a special screening for Mexican President Álvaro Obregón and 150 guests. I have to learn more about "Randolph Jennings, 'The Movie magnate of Mexico.'"

The Garden Island, Lihue, Kauai, Territory of Hawaii, 19-December-1922

"Want something snappy, romantic, exciting, full of tense action, bubbling over with romance, chivalry and glamor?" It took a while for the movie to reach the Territory of Hawaii.

Camera, 19-March-1921

Fairbanks' next film was The Nut, another modern-dress adventure.  "More seriously, "The Nut" doesn't compare with 'The Mark of Zorro' from any standpoint, but does provide light entertainment for those of us who are, or who have upon our acquaintance lists, just such 'nuts' as the one here offered for our amusement."  I think other people felt it didn't compare the The Mark of Zorro.  The Nut was Doug's last modern-dress movie until his second talkie, Reaching for the Moon, in 1930.  Doug's next three films were all swashbucklers, The Three Musketeers (1921), Robin Hood (1922) and The Thief of Bagdad (1925).  Each was a big hit. 

www.philsp.com

The success of the movie The Mark of Zorro led McCulley to write more Zorro stories.  The novel The Further Adventures of Zorro was published by Argosy Magazine starting on 06-May-1922. "In which Douglas Fairbanks will again play the Hero."  Didn't happen.

Film Daily Yearbook, 1925

"He never had a fizzle" says Johnston McCulley's ad in the 1925 Film Daily Yearbook.  Captain Fly-by-Night with Johnny Walker is sometimes compared to a Zorro movie, but the Captain never wore a mask.  "Generally a few good stories available." 

When Fairbanks made a sequel to The Mark of Zorro, he based it on a 1909 book, Don Q's Love Story, by Kate and Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard, a mother-son team.  Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard is quite a name.  Don Q (Don Quebranta Huesos) appeared in a series of stories and novels starting in 1897.  Don Q was born as a Spanish aristocrat, but misfortune and betrayal caused him to become a bandit.  He did not wear a mask. 

Camera, 05-February-1913

Some Don Q stories, like this British one-reeler, "The Chronicles of Don Q (No. 2)," had been filmed.  I can't find anything that tells me how many episodes there were.

Exhibitors Trade Review, 21-February-1925

"Douglas Fairbanks has stepped from the land of fantasy back to the realm of realism for his new picture, 'Don Q,' which is based on the novel 'Don Q's Love Story,' by K. and Hesketh Pritchard.  The new Fairbanks story has no relation whatever to Cervante's celebrated tale 'Don Quixote,' as many people are inclined to believe."

Moving Picture World, 27-June-1925

The criitcs praised Don Q, Son of Zorro.  Don Diego's son Cesar is going to school in Spain.  He inadvertently insults Don Sebastian, a haughty soldier played by Donald Crisp, who also directed the movie.  Cesar falls in love with Dolores, played by Mary Astor, but Sebastian wants to marry her.  Sebastian frames Cesar for murdering an Austrian nobleman.  Cesar heads for the mountains and adopts the identity of Don Q, a bandit. 

Doug had a good time, playing a quadruple role, Don Diego de la Vega, Zorro, Don Diego's son Cesar, and Don Q.

Exhibitors Trade Review, 02-May-1925

"Douglas Fairbanks in his usual virile style..." 

www.listal.com

Doug learned to use a whip for the movie.

www.philsp.com

In 1931, Johnston McCulley serialized Zorro Rides Again in Argosy Magazine.  Zorro remained off the screen for a few more years.

www.listal.com

In 1936, Republic Pictures, the top B picture producer in Hollywood, released The Bold Caballero, which was the first talking Zorro film and the first to be shot in color.  It starred Robert Livingston.

In the 23-September-1936 Independent Exhibitors' Film Bulletin, Roland Barton gave The Bold Caballero a good review even though "The film has some technical deficiencies such as poor lighting and bad acting in spots, nor is the color all it might be, nevertheless, we found it dashing, actionful and oftimes exciting entertainment."   Barton approved of Livingstone's Zorro: "Robert Livingston is excellent as Zorro.  He duels with swords, rides, fights and looks good."

www.listal.com

The success of The Bold Caballero inspired Re;public to release a twelve chapter serial, Zorro Rides Again, in 1937.  John Carroll played James Vega, Zorro's great grandson, in a story set in modern times.  James assumes the identity of Zorro to fight a terrorist gang which is trying to stop his uncle from building the California-Yucatan Railroad.  Look at a map some time and try to imagine where that railroad would run.  I doubt the story had anything to do with the book by Johnston McCulley.

Motion Picture Daily, 05-November-1937

 "The colorful exploits of the character in the title role of this serial ... in the past have proved box-office.  This, too has all the earmarks of another hit."

The team of William Witney and John English directed.  Serials were so long that they were often directed by teams.  Witney and English directed many Republic classics, including  The Lone Ranger, The Fighting Devil Dogs and Dick Tracy Returns. 

FilmIndia, September, 1938

FilmIndia, September, 1938

It appears that Zorro was known in India in 1938.

www.listal.com

In 1939, Witney and English directed Zorro's Fighting Legion, which is the best Zorro serial I have seen.  Reed Hadley played Don Diego de la Vega and the film was set in the original period, specifically 1824, but in Mexico rather than Alta California.  Don del Oro is a mystery man in a very complicated suit of gold armor who poses as a god and inspires the Yaqui Indians to attack gold shipments.  When the man who has formed a legion to protect the gold is killed, Zorro takes over its leadership.  Reed Hadley as Zorro engages in lots of sword play.

National Board of Review Magazine, December, 1939

The "f" is for family audiences (12 and up).  The "j" is for juvenile audiences, up to 12.

Showmen's Trade Review, 02-December-1939

"Reed Hadley reminds one of the agile Fairbanks in the earlier Zorro films."  I like the suggestions for attracting business. 

www.listal.com

Despite the fact that Republic was featuring Zorro in a B feature followed by two serials, 20th Century-Fox (appropriately, considering his name) decided to make an A feature based on the original novel and the Fairbanks film.  The new Mark of Zorro would star romantic leading man Tyrone Power, Jr as Don Diego de la Vega and Zorro the Fox.

www.listal.com

Many people like the Tyrone Power, Jr version better than the Douglas Fairbanks version.  Rouben Mamoulian was a great director.  Alfred Newman's score won an Academy Award.  And the 1940 movie featured Basil Rathbone as Zorro's nemesis, Captain Esteban Pasquale.  I'll watch any movie with Basil Rathbone.

Screenland, December, 1940

The studio promoted the movie heavily.  Tyrone Power, Jr and his co-star Linda Darnell appeared on the cover of Screenland, which carried an adaption of the story "Fictionized by Elizabeth B. Petersen."

Screenland, January, 1941

"Same old 'Mark of Zorro' with expensive new wardrobe -- and girls, how becoming!  He's still Robin Hood in old California, but there's more romantic action than oldsters will remember in original Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. version of 20 years ago."

Screenland, December, 1940

 I like this ad. 

Motion Picture Herald, 14-November-1940

I also like this trade ad, which shows that the movie has done well in many cities.

www.philsp.com

 In 1941, after the success of The Mark of Zorro, Johnston McCulley serialized The Sign of Zorro in Argosy Magazine.

www.listal.com

Republic did not return to Zorro until 1944 when it produced the serial Zorro's Black Whip, which was directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Wallace Grissel.  Perhaps because of 20th Century-Fox's movie, Republic did not use the character Zorro in the movie.  Beautiful Linda Stirling played Barbara Meredith, who assumed the character of The Black Whip to fight forces opposed to statehood in 1880s Idaho Territory.  Idaho became a state in 1890. 

www.listal.com

The Black Whip without her mask.

Motion Picture Herald, 11-November-1944

"'Zorro's Black Whip" has the usual abundance of mystery and action, captures and escapes, but it offers novelty in the person of its heroine.  She takes on the identity of the Whip, a masked rider who avenges wrong with gun and cattle whip, after the death of her father." Actually, it was her brother.

www.philsp.com

 From 1944 to 1951, Johnston McCulley published a Zorro novella every month in West Magazine. I couldn't find an issue where he appeared on the cover. 

Film Bulletin, 30-April-1945

When Tyrone Power, Jr came home from his service in the Marine Corps, 20th Century-Fox considered putting him in a remake of Don Q, Son of Zorro.  Sadly, it didn't happen. 

www.listal.com

In 1946, Republic produced Daughter of Don Q, which sounds as if it should have been a Zorro serial, but it was not.  The heroine, Dolores Quantero, played by the lovely Adrian Booth/Lorna Gray was a descendant of a different Don Q (Don Quantero).  It was a fun serial. 

www.listal.com

1947's Son of Zorro, directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet andFred C Brannon, was an unusual 13-chapter Republic serial. By this time, Republic had started to recycle a lot of stock footage in its serials to save money.  Jeff Stewart, played by George Turner, returns from the American Civil War and finds that his home town has been taken over by corrupt politicians.  He assumes the identity of his ancestor, Zorro, to fight them.

www.listal.com

The last official Zorro serial was 1949's Ghost of Zorro, directed by Fred C Brannon.  It included more stock footage than Son of Zorro, including stock footage from Son of Zorro.  Clayton Moore, who later played another masked man on television, was Ken Mason, Zorro's grandson.  Zorro must have had a large family.  Ken Mason became Zorro to fight for law and order.

www.listal.com

1954's Man With the Steel Whip, directed by Franklin Adreon, was one of the last Republic serials.  Jerry Randall, played by Richard Simmons, adopted the identity of El Latigo to fight injustice, so this was not a Zorro movie.  However, El Latigo was played by Richard Simmons, John Carroll, Reed Hadley, George Turner, Clayton Moore and Linda Stirling.  The latter five people appeared in stock footage from all the Zorro serials.  The stuff with Linda Stirling was fairly obvious. I haven't seen it, but I hear it is lousy.

www.listal.com

Back in 1926, someone in Belgium produced a movie called À la manière de Zorro.  I can't find anything about it.  The next Zorro movie made in Europe was 1952's Il sogno di Zorro (The Dream of Zorro), produced in Italy, directed by Mario Soldati and starring Walter Chiari.  I can't find a photo of Chiari wearing a mask.  This was followed by a slew of Zorro movies made in Italy, France and Spain, or a combination of those countries, throughout the 50s, 60s and early 1970s.  I have never seen any of them.

Broadcasting, 16-December-1957

In late 1957, the Walt Disney Studio launched a 30 minute weekly Zorro program on the ABC network.  Guy Williams played Zorro.  The series was a hit, running from 1957 through 1959. Disney then produced four one-hour episodes which aired on Sunday nights on Walt Disney Presents.  I missed this series entirely, never seeing an episode until the Disney Channel showed some in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

www.wikipedia.org

Guy Williams , who  played Zorro, posed with author Johnston McCulley.  This is the only photo I have been able to find of Johnston McCulley, and it was taken a short time before he died in 1958.

www.coverbrowser.com

 In 1959, Gold Key published a Zorro comic book series based on the Disney television show.  After the dedicated series ended, more Zorro stories appeared in Walt Disney's Comics and Stories. 

www.listal.com

Disney edited episodes of the television show into two feature films, The Sign of Zorro (1958) and Zorro, the Avenger (1959).  At the same time, Republic took advantage of the new interest in Zorro by editing its Zorro serials into features.

After this, things were quiet for Zorro in the United States, except for one thing.  The Hanna-Barbera Studio introduced The Quick Draw McGraw Show in 1959.  Quick Draw McGraw was a horse who fought crime in the Old West with his sidekick Baba Looey.  At times, Quick Draw would don a mask, a flat hat and a black cape and assume a secret identity, El Kabong.  El Kabong would smash a guitar over a bad guy's head while shouting "Kabooooong!"  He was meant to be a parody of Zorro. 

In 1974, Frank Langella starred in a made-for-television adaption of The Mark of Zorro.  I do not remember it and I couldn't find a photo.

www.listal.com

In 1976, the Mexican film La gran aventura del Zorro starred Rodolfo de Anda, the first actor of Mexican descent to play Zorro.

www.listal.com

In 1981, George Hamilton starred in Zorro, The Gay Blade.  I have not seen this movie since it first came out, but I remember that it was hilarious.  Hamilton played Don Diego de la Vega and his brother, Ramon.  Their father was not happy with the way that Ramon was turning out, so he sent him to join the Royal Navy.  Ramon adopted the name Bunny Wigglesworth.  Diego returns to California from Spain and finds that his father is dead.  Diego learns that his father was Zorro, and Diego takes up the identity to fight a reign of terror led by an old rival, Esteban.  When Zorro injures his foot escaping from a trap, Diego is in trouble until his brother Ramon appears.  Bunny is gay and quite comfortable with himself.  Bunny agrees to assume the role of Zorro, but refuses to dress in black.  He wears a wonderful assortment of pastel costumes. 

www.listal.com

 Also in 1981, Filmways produced an animated series, The New Adventures of Zorro.  It was shown during The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour.  Henry Darrow provided the voice of Don Diego/Zorro. 

In 1983, there was a television situation comedy called Zorro and Son.  I never saw it.  I can't find anything about it.

www.listal.com

From 1990 to 1993, Duncan Regehr played Zorro in a Family Channel television series called Zorro, Zorro 1990, New Zorro or New World Zorro.  I never heard of it.  I would have given it a try.

In 1997, there was another animated series called The New Adventures of Zorro. Michael Gough was the voice of Zorro. 

www.listal.com

In 1998, I heard that Antonio Banderas was going to star in The Mark of Zorro, directed by Martin Campbell.  I had misread the actual title of the movie, which was The Mask of Zorro.  Anthony Hopkins played Don Diego de la Vega, who fights for Mexican independence.  The corrupt governor imprisons him and adopts his daughter, Elena.  Elena grows up to be Catherine Zeta-Jones.  When Diego gets out of prison twenty years later, he meets Alejandro Murrieta, played by Antonio Banderas.  Alejandro is a thief. Don Diego trains him to carry on the role of Zorro.  I enjoyed the movie. 

www.listal.com

Antonio Banderas looked good as Zorro. 

www.listal.com

Catherine Zeta-Jones as Elena could take care of herself, which was a nice change from most earlier leading ladies.

www.listal.com

In 2005, Martin Campbell directed a sequel, The Legend of Zorro.  It stinks.

www.ebay.com

However, also in 2005, Chilean-American author Isabel Allende published Zorro: A Novel.   The story is set before The Curse of Capistrano and describes Zorro's origin.  I have not read it, but I hope to.

What is Zorro up to today?

Bold Venture Press (http://boldventurepress.com/) has been reprinting collections of all of Johnston McCulley's Zorro stories.  In July, 2017, they should publish Number 6, the last one.

www.dynamite.com

Dynamite Entertainment (http://www.dynamite.com/) has published a line of Zorro comics since 2010. 

www.listal.com

There are two different groups proposing Zorro movies that would star Gael García Bernal.  He would be good.  One group wants to film Isabel Allende's novel.  I would like to see that.

Zorro Productions, Inc (https://www.zorro.com/) claims to control the copyright and trademark on Zorro.  Some others dispute it.

The Far Side

And finally, a word from Gary Larson's The Far Side.  All Rights Reserved. 

This post is part of  Swashathon 2 -- A Blogathon of Swashbuckling Adventure, hosted by Fritzi at Movies Silently.  Thank you to Fritzi for all the hard work.  Thank you to everyone who visited and I encourage you to read and comment on as many posts as you can.  Bloggers love comments.  


This post is my fourth blogathon post of 2017 and my 49th since 2007.  This is my 32nd blogathon.    This page has a list of all my blogathon posts.