Lon Chaney -- A Thriller de Luxe -- March 15, 2025

Los Angeles Times, 11-March-1925

My fiancée, who is now my wife, and I used to go to San Francisco's Avenue Theater, on San Bruno Avenue, where Bob Vaughn accompanied silent movies on the Mighty Wurlitzer every Friday night.

Every year around Halloween, the Avenue showed The Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney. 

San Francisco Examiner, 26-October-1980

We went just about every year, so we probably attended this showing.

Indianapolis Times, 27-March-1925

Carl Laemmle, President of Universal, decided that the film should have its premiere at San Francisco's Curran Theater on Geary near Mason. The Curran now hosts mostly musical theater. I saw Pacific Overtures, Wicked and many others there.

A Merry Christmas to You All from Carl Laemmle -- December 24, 2023

Film Daily, 23-December-1923

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone. 

Carla Laemmle, president of Universal, wishes us all a Merry Christmas. I think the only movie of these presents that I have seen is The Merry Go Round. 

Century Comedies -- Just Look at the Divilish (sic) Light in Her Eye -- February 25, 2022

Motion Picture News, 25-February-1921

Baby Peggy had grown to become Century's biggest comedy star, even surpassing her old comrade Brownie the Century Wonder Dog. I don't know why the ad calls her look "divilish," unless the ad was written by one of Carl Laemmle's recently arrived nephews. Carl Laemmle, head of Universal, was known to give jobs to relatives. 

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1921

"Play Century Notes For Your Cash Register." "Century note" is slang for a one-hundred-dollar bill. This ad promotes Century Comedies' four series, starring Lee Moran, Harry Sweet, Baby Peggy and Brownie the Century Wonder-Dog.

Motion Picture News, 25-February-1921

Century boss Julius Stern, Carl Laemmle's brother-in-law, had plans to expand Century. He hired Henry (Pathé) Lehrman to produce "twelve super comedies." 

Moving Picture Weekly, 24-February-1922

"Join Hands With This Big Four."

Moving Picture Weekly, 11-February-1922

I like this photo of Brownie. 

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1921

"Rooted Deep in Laughter." I like Brownie's hat. 

Moving Picture Weekly, 18-February-1922

One series of Arrow Comedies starred Lee Moran's old partner, Eddie Lyons "that inimitable comedian."

Motion Picture News, 11-February-1921

Arrow offered 52 two-reelers a year. 

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1921

"The Funniest Fellow in Films." I know some people who would debate that. 

Motion Picture News, 04-February-1921

A San Francisco exhibiter says, "His Comedies Are Greatest Two Reelers on Market."

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1921

"Beauty and Brains." Dorothy Devore starred in Christie Comedies. Here she shows her versatility. 

Motion Picture News, 11-February-1921

As I mentioned last month, I don't remember reading about Folly Comedies. I always thought George Ovey did not look funny. Vernon Dent later worked with the Three Stooges.

Los Angeles Times, 01-February-1922

Snub Pollard and pretty Marie Mosquini starred in a series of comedies for Hal Roach. This item says they got engaged. I think she was already married. They never married each other, as far as I know. Anyway, they look happy.

Motion Picture News, 25-February-1921

Moving Picture Weekly, 04-February-1922

"Universal Short Stuff" included Century and Jewel Comedies. 

With Stanley in Africa -- January 30, 2022

Moving Picture Weekly, 28-January-1922

With Stanley in Africa was a Universal serial, which starred actor and athlete George Walsh, Raoul Walsh's brother. Walsh played British-American explorer Henry Morton Stanley who is best known for searching central Africa for missionary David Livingstone, who had not been heard from in six years. Note that the cover of this Universal publication calls it a "Universal Continued Feature" rather than as a serial. The film is probably lost.

Moving Picture Weekly, 21-January-1922

This ad calls the film a "chapter play," a common synonym for "serial." 

Moving Picture Weekly, 14-January-1922

Wear your wart-hog button and get in for free. 

Moving Picture Weekly, 14-January-1922

"Another Golden Universal Discovery." Please excuse the racist images. 

Moving Picture Weekly, 14-January-1922

"Carl Laemmle Presents George Walsh/Famous Athlete and Motion Feature Star in His First Appearance in Any Serial or Continued Feature..."

Exhibitors Herald, 07-January-1922

Ruth Roland, who was born in San Francisco, was one of the great Serial Queens. "She fights, she loves, she kisses, she thrills..."

Motion Picture News, 28-January-1922

Moving Picture Weekly, 14-February-1922

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. I like the image of Polo diving through the "4" in The Secret 4.

Moving Picture Weekly, 21-January-1922

"Universal's Cyclonic Chapter-Play."

Motion Picture News, 28-January-1922

It looks as if Polo was leaving or planning to leave Universal. 

Motion Picture News, 07-January-1922

Elinor Field played the Jungle Goddess in Selig's serial of the same name. "The Mightiest Animal-Jungle Chapter-Picture Ever Produced"

Exhibitors Herald, 28-January-1922

It looks as if poor Elinor Field is in a sticky situation. 

Motion Picture News, 14-January-1922

In a Series of Two-Round Uppercuts -- December 26, 2021

Motion Picture News, 24-December-1921

Happy Boxing Day. I know Boxing Day has nothing to do with pugilism, but this seemed like a great opportunity.

The Leather Pushers was a series of six short films (not a serial) released by Universal. Reginald Denny played a boxer. Darryl F Zanuck wrote the screenplays. Edward Laemmle, one of studio head Carl Laemmle's many nephews, was the director. 

Motion Picture News, 24-December-1921

Motion Picture News, 24-December-1921

Motion Picture News, 24-December-1921

Motion Picture News, 31-December-1921

Harry Carey -- That Greatest of All Western Character Players -- November 10, 2021

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

Harry Carey, a pioneering western star, played the lead in Universal's "first Superwestern," The Fox.

Motion Picture News, 12-November-1921

I like the vertical stripes in the lettering. This ad says that in Priscilla Dean's movie Conflict that "The Famous Ice-Scene from 'Way Down East' Scarcely Equals it." Way Down East was a current big hit.

Here we see Priscilla Dean in the big scene in Conflict. 

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

"Carl Laemmle offers you Three Sure Money-Getters of 1921."

Motion Picture News, 19-November-1921

The supporting cast of The Fox included 6-year-old Breezy Eason, who died when an auto hit him while he rode his bicycle. We saw some articles last month:

Big V Riot Squad: "Breezy Eason" Killed by Auto -- October 25, 2021 

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

Carl Laemmle Presents Von Stroheim's Master Picture -- January 13, 2021

 

Motion Picture News, 08-January-1921

Erich von Stroheim made controversial movies. The second movie that he directed was The Devil's Passkey for Universal.

Bemidji Daily Pioneer, 29-January-1921

Von Stroheim Again! -- November 9, 2020

 

Motion Picture News, 06-November-1920

Erich von Stroheim made controversial movies. The third movie that he directed was Foolish Wives for Universal. Universal publicized the cost of the elaborate sets built for the movie. This added to von Stroheim's reputation for obsession with details and extravagance. 

Motion Picture News, 13-November-1920

"2 1/2 Times as Much" must refer to the budget. 

Motion Picture News, 20-November-1920

"Here in a small part of Universal City, California you see a large part of Monte Carlo, Monaco."

Motion Picture News, 20-November-1920

"Costly Sets for Stroheim/'Foolish Wives' to Cost More Than Any Previous Universal." 

Motion Picture News, 27-November-1920

"Massive Villa Set in Stroheim Special."

Motion Picture News, 13-November-1920

Meanwhile, The Devil's Passkey, von Stroheim's second directorial effort, was in release. "Better than Blind Husbands," the first movie that he directed. 

Motion Picture News, 20-November-1920

"Carl Laemmle presents Von Stroheim's Master Picture."