Charles Ray -- The Courtship of Myles Standish -- November 21, 2023

Motion Picture News, 10-November-1923

Thanksgiving is coming.

Speaking of Pilgrims, many years ago, I took a book about silent films out of the Richmond Branch Library. I think it was The Movies in the Age of Innocence by Edward Wagenknecht. The author spent many pages talking about Charles Ray, who was producing his own films for United Artists. Wagenknecht said that The Courtship of Myles Standish, the expensive, elaborate epic film, based on the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was a bomb on a Hiroshima scale, and that it ruined Charles Ray's career. At the time, I had never seen a movie with Charles Ray, but I think that the book prejudiced me. When I did see some of his movies later, I thought he was a pleasant actor.

Film Daily, 12-November-1923

Film Daily, 20-November-1923

Film Daily, 25-November-1923

Film Daily, 30-November-1923

Added 28-November-2023:

Photoplay, December, 1923

Larry Semon Penetrates Highbrow Armour -- November 2, 2022

Motion Picture News, 18-November-1922

Larry Semon was very big 100 years ago this month. "Larry Semon Penetrates Highbrow Armour"

Motion Picture News, 11-November-1922

Charles Ray was a big star, too, but I hardly ever mention him.

Larry Semon -- Vitagraph Offers a Riot -- September 2, 2022

New Bern Sun-Journal, 17-September-1922

Larry Semon was very big 100 years ago this month. It is interesting that New Bern, North Carolina had a theater called the Show Shop.

Washington Evening Star, 17-September-1922

This poorly reproduced image of Larry Semon reminds me of Joel Grey in Cabaret. I don't know what is going on in the photo of Charles Ray. 

Give Your Patrons the Time of Their Lives With Buster Keaton -- November 19, 2021

Moving Picture World, 12-November-1921

First National, having taken over distribution of Keaton's second season of silent short comedies, was promoting them heavily. "Oh! What a joy ride!" "The Boat" is one of the all-time absolute unquestionable best silent comedy shorts of all time.

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

"The Playhouse," the last picture released in Buster's first season, received equal billing with the feature on this bill. "A hilarious comedy." I still think the image, which we saw in another ad last month, does not do justice to Buster Keaton.

Washington Times, 15-November-1921

I like this blurb for "The Boat." "The King of Drollery at His Unsmiling Best in the Funniest Two-Reel Shriek Ever Show on a Screen." 

I noticed that I have mentioned Charles Ray in this blog only once. He was a big star who played naïve young men or country bumpkins in pictures that he produced, and sometimes directed, himself. His career was about to take a turn for the worse. 

Exhibitors Herald, 26-November-1921

"There's Gales of Laughter When the Waves Roll High."

Exhibitors Herald, 05-November-1921

"Sit Tight! Don't Rock the Boat!"

Charles Ray and His Staff -- July 31, 2020

Motion Picture News, 10-July-1920

Charles Ray was a big star at Paramount, in 1920 he began producing his own movies for First National Release.