Race Films in Dallas -- September 30, 2021

Dallas Express, 17-September-1921

The Lincoln Motion Picture Company, founded in Omaha in 1916 by brothers Noble and George Johnson, is often called the first company to make "race films," independent production with all- or almost-all-African American casts. In 1918, the company moved to Los Angeles, where it remained until it folded in 1922. The Johnsons left the company in about 1920. By Right of Birth, starring Clarence Brooks, was the company's fifth and last production. Actor Clarence Brooks went on to appear in many race films and some mainstream films during his career. 

The High School Theater in Dallas operated in the Teens and Twenties. It was apparently not a theater in a high school.

Dallas Express, 17-September-1921

This ad for the Grand Central Theater in Dallas, which was also going to show By Right of Birth, quotes the "Sole Owner and Manager," John Harris, as saying that he was going to show The Call of His People, by race film maker Reol Productions, which released about twenty movies in 1921-1922. "I also wish to state at this time that I have a number of Colored pictures booked and shall try to get as many as possible." 

The movie played two nights at each theater. Both probably showed the same print.

Billboard Magazine, 03-September-1921

National Silent Movie Day, 2021 -- September 29, 2021

nationalsilentmovieday.org

Today is the first National Silent Movie Day, a day dedicated to promoting the preservation, restoration and distribution of silent movies. 

Lizabeth Scott 100 -- September 29, 2021

listal.com

Actress Lizabeth Scott would have been 100 years old today. I love her low voice. She appeared in many films noir during her incredibly long career.

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listal.com

The Thrill-a-Minute Stunt King -- December 28, 2021

 

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

It occurred to me recently that I have not posted enough items about movie serials. Charles Hutchison wrote, directed, acted and performed stunts in many Pathé serials (Pathéserials). He was especially good at motorcycle stunts. Hurricane Hutch was directed by George B Seitz. It featured Warner Oland, who appeared in many silent serials. 

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

"The Thrill-a-Minute Stunt King."

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

"Jam 'Em in on Polo Nights." Eddie Polo was a popular serial star. He started out as a trapeze artist in a circus. He appeared in many serials in the US and then went to Germany, where he starred in action films. He later worked as a makeup artist.

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Moving Picture World, 17-September-1921

The Vanishing Dagger was advertised as "The Mighty Sea to Sea" serial. 

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

Elmo Lincoln, who had a huge chest, played a dual role in The Flaming Disk. He played a Secret Service agent, Elmo Gray, and his brother, Jim Gray, a thief. Lincoln was the first person to play Tarzan in a movie.

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

"Universal's Newest Serial Wonder." Robert F Hill directed. 

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

"Thills of Almost Unbelievable Daring."

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

The Dragon's Net is billed as "The only serial ever filmed in China, Japan and the Philippines." With a big dollop of anti-Asian racism. Many silent serials starred women. Marie Walcamp was a major star in the early 1920s. Her career faded when serials went into decline and she killed herself in 1936. 

Moving Picture World, 17-September-1921

"Starring Marie Walcamp, the Woman Who Knows No Fear." 

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

"Four countries -- Two continents."

Mack and Mabel and Hal and Al -- September 27, 2021

Moving Picture World, 17-September-1921

Mack Sennett produced mostly short comedies, but Mabel Normand returned to make features after her contract with Goldwyn ended. Molly O' was a great success.

Exhibitors Herald, 17-September-1921

Mack Sennett and Associated Producers must have paid a fair amount for this four-page ad with color. 

Exhibitors Herald, 10-September-1921

"Producer's Costliest Film" -- Sennett was famous for being stingy.

Exhibitors Herald, 10-September-1921

Indiana Daily Times, 03-September-1921

Ben Turpin, the 'Handsomest Man in the World," was Sennett's biggest star in short subjects, and he  appeared in the occasional feature.

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

Harold Lloyd was still Roach's biggest star, but he was becoming more independent. The rest of Roach's comedy performers were not major leaguers. Please excuse the racism in this item about Eddie Boland's current movie. I won't quote the title. 

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

Harold Lloyd's brother Gaylord went nowhere. 

Motion Picture News, 25-June-1921

Hal Roach ads were sparse 100 years ago this month, so here is an ad from June, that features Snub Pollard and Sunshine Sammy Morrison. 

Film Daily, 24-April-1921

The Christie Film Company was a major producer of short comedies from 1911 to 1933. Al Christie was the director and Charles Christie ran the business. The Christies featured situation comedy more than the slapstick favored by Mack Sennett and Hal Roach.

The Cleanest, Brightest Once-a-Week Comedy That Money Can Buy -- September 26, 2021

Moving Picture Weekly, 03-September-1921

In Century Comedies, Brownie was ably supported by Harry Sweet, Charles Doherty and Baby Peggy. The company produced 52 one-reelers a year. 

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Arrow Comedies also promised 52 movies a year. Arrow offered three series:

• Arrow Broadway Comedies starred Eddie Barry, Harry Gribbon and Helen Darling.
• Arrow "Cruelly-Weds" Comedies starred Paul Weigel and Lilie Leslie.
• Arrow Speed Comedies starred Neely Edwards and a mob of other people.

Exhibitors Herald, 10-September-1921

"Arrow's New Comedies and Their Stars." This ad mentions a fourth series, "Bobby Dunn Comedies."

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Fox Sunshine Comedies frequently featured pretty girls and lions. "The Book Agent" starred Al St John and Claire Sedgwick, but I don't think that is Al St John in the photo.

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

Harry Cohn, his brother Jack and Joe Brandt provided the initials for C.B.C. Film Sales Corp. The Hallroom Boys Comedies were a long running series of short comedies, based on a comic strip by Harold MacGill. At this point, Sid Smith played Percy and Harry McCoy played Ferdy.

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

This jolly-looking gentleman, Herbert C Raymaker directed the Hallroom Boys two-reelers. 

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

This item says that the new comedy will be "a censor-proof bathing girl comedy." Harry Cohn, always noted for his refined sensitivity, said "A picture to be funny need not be vulgar."

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Joe Martin was an every-day average orangutan who was frequently billed as a chimp. With his wife, Mrs Joe Martin, he starred in a series of short comedies. "Joe's on the Watermobile Now" is a play on "going on the water wagon" as a name for giving up alcohol.

Moving Picture World, 17-September-1921

"Signing the pledge" was another euphemism for quitting alcohol. Here we see a drawing of an actual water wagon, being pulled by a camel. 

Moving Picture World, 25-September-1921

Exhibitors Herald, 17-September-1921

On the other hand, Snooky the Humanzee was a chimp. "Does Everything a Human Being Does/And Does It Better." That's debatable. 

Moving Picture Weekly, 03-September-1921

I did not know that Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran, who had been a team for years, playing in short comedies, had made a feature-length film which they both directed.  

Moving Picture Weekly, 25-September-1921

"They knew more about water in pipes than water in mining stocks." Stock watering is an old scam which involves inflating the value of stocks before selling them.

 

Moving Picture Weekly, 25-September-1921

"Four hundred and sixty short comedies they had to their credit when Universal rewarded them with a long-time contract to make five-reelers.

Charlie Chaplin, Who is Visibly Affected -- September 25, 2021

Moving Picture World, 17-September-1921

Director Wallace Worsley and actor Elliot Dexter show Charlie Chaplin the script for the movie Grand Larceny. Chaplin appears to be shocked. Dexter starred in the movie with Claire Windsor.

Great Falls Tribune, 11-February-1922

I like the design of this ad. 

Exhibitors Herald, 17-September-1921

The Rollo Sales Corporation purchased Lone Star, the company that had produced Chaplin's Mutual comedies. Lone Star hired famous editor and writer Ralph Spence to create new movies from the miles of outtakes. Chaplin sued and eventually won.

Tulsa Daily World, 25-September-1921

"One A.M." was a Chaplin Mutual that was rereleased. 

Melvin van Peebles, RIP -- September 24, 2021

listal.com

Filmmaker, author and musician Melvin van Peebles has died. So far, the obituaries that I have read have rightly discussed his influential independent movie career and his successful plays. No obituary has mentioned that he had been a San Francisco cable car gripman. He wrote a successful book called The Big Heart.