100 years ago this month, in June, 1919, Roscoe Arbuckle still awaited the return of Buster Keaton from his service in the army.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
Paramount touted its upcoming movies in a multi-page ad. This page talks about the Paramount-Arbuckle Comedies.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
This article, from a series of articles about Paramount players, says that Roscoe "will continue his policy of making comedies with originality and novelties, and without vulgarity."
Moving Picture World, 07-June-1919
Molly Malone appeared with Roscoe, served as mascot of his Pacific Coast League baseball club, and divorced her husband.
Slim Pickens, star of rodeos, movies and television would have been 100 years old today. He was born on 29-June-1919. I loved what he did in westerns, Dr Strangelove and Blazing Saddles.
Yesterday we went to the Orpheum to see Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical Hamilton. There was a full house. The show used one set which could be arranged in many different ways. The actors all gave strong performances. If I read the program correctly, Brandon Louis Armstrong, who played Hercules Mulligan and James Monroe, is the grandson of Louis Armstrong. I liked the music, which had great variety.
The history was squeezed tightly, but it was there.
Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. His first production, 1919's The Homesteader, was based on his own life and his own novel. Note that "Colored People Seated Anywhere in the House."
100 years ago this month, in June, 1919, Harold Lloyd and his leading lady Bebe Daniels appeared in an interesting ad, especially in light of Harold's later deep involvement with the Shriners. Things would soon change for Harold.
Moving Picture World, 07-June-1919
"Pistols for Breakfast" is an interesting title. "There are some fairly humorous situations in this, but it is hardly up to the average production by this company." Titles in the form of "Swat the [something]" were very popular. A quick check finds these: Swat the Fly, Swat the Kaiser, Swat the Flirt, Swat the Spy .
Moving Picture World, 14-June-1919
I thought it was interesting that an Iowa theater owner held a "Harold Lloyd Comedy Week." I don't remember any earlier references to a proto-film festival like this.
Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
Harold and a heavily armed Snub in "Swat the Crook."
Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
"Swat the Crook" was a satire of crime play/movie stereotypes.
Bud Jamison appears in "Off the Trolley." Snub is the motorman and Bebe is the conductor. "Spring Fever" is said to be "One of the snappiest of recent comedies featuring Harold Lloyd, Harry Pollard and Bebe Daniels."
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
"A Live Wire Comedy." Good one.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
They must have gotten tired releasing one movie a week.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
I like this image with Snub, Harold and Bebe.
Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
Bebe, Harold's leading lady since 1915, was flying the coop to work with Cecil B DeMille.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
Mildred Harris took the place of Bebe. Later she married Harold.
Critic Pauline Kael was born 100 years ago today, on 19-June-2019. I used to take out some of her books, like I Lost it At the Movies, from the Main Library. I don't think I ever read them cover-to-cover, but I skipped around and enjoyed many of her essays. I remember that some people hated her, but I never had strong feelings about her work.
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. We saw West move from King-Bee to Bull's Eye.
Motion Picture World, 14-June-1919
Bull's Eye also made comedies with Gale Henry and Napoleon the Chimp.
Motion Picture World, 28-June-1919
"Billy West and Gale Henry comedies are popular with all classes of theatergoers."
Happy Fathers' Day to all my fellow fathers. I miss my dad. And I miss my father-in-law. I haven't had anyone for whom to buy a card for a long time.
In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Sean Connery played Henry Jones, the father of Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford. Henry Jones reminded me of my dad, who was very intelligent and did not suffer fools gladly.
100 years ago this month, in June, 1919, Charlie Chaplin's third production for First National, "Sunnyside," was in release.
Moving Picture World, 14-June-1919
The owners of the Dreamland Theater in Eagle River, Wisconsin hesitated to book "Shoulder Arms," Chaplin's second release for First National. They came up with a new method to draw customers, by having school kids figure out "How many words can you make from the letters in the two words, 'Shoulder Arms'?" They would give two free tickets to the boy and girl who found the most words.
Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
A joke. Sort of.
Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
A "Shoulder Arms" ad from Hong Kong.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
Another joke. Sort of. Decoration Day is now called Memorial Day.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
Edward Weitzel gave "Sunnyside" a good review.
Moving Picture World, 07-June-1919
Meanwhile, Essanay was trying to squeeze everything it could from Charlie Chaplin's movies.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
Chaplin's Lone Star company, which produced the Mutual comedies, ordered that all be withdrawn. Lone Star was negotiating a new coontract.
100 years ago this month, Tom Mix was starring in Fox's The Wilderness Trail, which was set in the wilds of Canada. The caption makes fun of Tom's sweater. I say you'd have to be confident in your masculinity to wear it.
Moving Picture World, 14-June-1919
Romance of Cow Hollow was released as Rough-Riding Romance. There is a neighborhood in San Francisco known as Cow Hollow. No relation.
Moving Picture World, 21-June-1919
In Rough Riding Romance, Tom was a poor farmer who struck oil and went to San Francisco to help a princess he met when she visited Cow Hollow.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
Fox had a lot of movies in release, including seven Victory Pictures starring Tom Mix.
Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919
High Speed may have been released as The Speed Maniac. I do not know what became of A Hard-Boiled Tenderfoot.
