Happy New Year -- Al Jolson -- December 31, 2024

Variety, 31-December-1924

Al Jolson wishes everyone an unusually subdued happy new year.

listal.com

Lloyd Hamilton -- His First Five Reel Comedy -- May 31, 2024

Film Daily, 29-May-1924

Lloyd Hamilton starred in a series of two-reel comedies released by Educational. Many are lost. I like the skunk.

Film Daily, 11-May-1924

Film Daily, 07-May-1924

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Some of us will remember that in 1923, Al Jolson signed a contract to star in a movie produced by DW Griffith. Jolson got cold feet and broke the contract. Albert L Grey was DW Griffith's brother, who worked on many of his films. Lloyd Hamilton replaced Jolson in the movie that was made, His Darker Self. I love Lloyd Hamilton, but the movie is revolting. We may be lucky that the feature length version is lost. The surviving two reeler is bad enough.

Larry Semon was also trying to move into feature films. 

Exhibitors Herald, 24-May-1924

Photoplay, May, 1924

Baby Peggy Montgomery had been Century's biggest comedy star. She moved on to starring in features for Universal. 

Exhibitors Herald, 10-May-1924

"Hit 'em Hard" is a century comedy starring Jack Earle and Harry McCoy. "Checking Out" starred Pal the Dog. 

Exhibitors Herald, 10-May-1924

"Pretty little Evelyn McCoy" appeared in the Century Follies series. 

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Christie Comedies emphasized situation comedy over slapstick. 

Exhibitors Herald, 24-May-1924

Film Daily, 21-May-1924

"A Christie Comedy of love among the cows."

Film Daily, 11-May-1924

"A Safe Bet That You'll Crack With Laughter."

Film Daily, 21-May-1924

"A Laugh a Day Keeps the Doctor Away."

Film Daily, 11-May-1924

"Sensible Nonsense, with plenty of hokum and laughs."

Exhibitors Herald, 10-May-1924

Exhibitors Herald, 10-May-1924Film Daily, 20-May-1924

Dorothy Devore's success in short comedies led Christie to put her in feature-length comedies. Hodkinson released Christie's features. 

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Film Daily, 07-May-1924

Film Daily, 14-May-1924

Film Daily, 21-May-1924

Film Daily, 28-May-1924

"America" Will Open in N.Y. Feb. 21 -- January 9, 2024

Motion Picture News, 19-January-1924

DW Griffith's epic of the American Revolutionary War, America, was scheduled to open in New York City on 21-February-1924. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) were strong supporters of the movie. 

Film Daily, 28-January-1924

Some of us will remember that in 1923, Al Jolson signed a contract to star in a movie produced by DW Griffith. Jolson got cold feet and broke the contract. Albert L Grey was DW Griffith's brother, who worked on many of his films.

Comic Lloyd Hamilton replaced Jolson in the movie that was made, "His Darker Self." I love Lloyd Hamilton, but the movie is revolting. I will write more about it in the coming months.

DW Griffith -- Jolson's Desertion -- July 8, 2023

Film Daily, 09-July-1923

Last month we saw that director DW Griffith wanted to make a movie with Al Jolson who was well-known for performing in blackface. Jolson jumped ship after work started on Black Magic. There was talk of a lawsuit. I have also seen the film referred to as Mammy's Boy. 

Sources say that the same script was eventually produced by someone else as "His Darker Self" with Lloyd Hamilton. I have seen that movie and cannot picture it as a Griffith film. 

Motion Picture Magazine, July, 1923

I have never seen The White Rose, which was shot on locations in the south. Mae Marsh had worked with Griffith since the Biograph. Ivor Novello was born in Wales. He was a playwright, a composer and singer. Someone called him "a minor league Noel Coward." Carol Dempster, Griffith's protégé, also played a leading role. 

Film Daily, 08-July-1923

After Jolson bailed out, Griffith was working on his historical epic, America. I suspect I will be writing quite a lot about that movie.

Grifith Deal With Jolson -- June 6, 2023

Motion Picture News, 29-June-1923

According to this item, director DW Griffith "saw the possibilities of a blackface star when he found the role of the Negro retainer in "One Exciting Night" attracted the sympathy and admiration of audiences all over the country." The best known blackface performer in the country was hyper talented, hyperactive Al Jolson. 

Film Daily, 01-June-1923

"The story will probably be one of the series of Southern tales that Griffith intends making."

Film Daily, 04-June-1923

Meanwhile, Griffith managed the re-release of his first feature-length (almost) movie and his last for the Biograph, Judith of Bethulia.

The World's Greatest Box Office Attraction -- December 30, 2020

 

Motion Picture News, 25-December-1920

Al Jolson wishes everyone a typically subdued happy new year.

A Happy New Year 'N Everything to Everybody Everywhere -- December 29, 2018

Variety, 27-December-1918

Al Jolson wishes everyone a typically subdued happy new year.