Christmas, 2024-- December 25, 2024

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Merry Christmas, everyone. Peace on earth and goodwill to all my friends and relatives. We all need peace.

Actress Muriel Evans had a lovely voice. She appeared in movies with Charley Chase and Laurel and Hardy.

The Cutest Kiddie on the Screen -- November 28, 2021

Motion Picture News, 12-November-1921

After supporting Brownie, "The Most Wonderful Dog in the World," Baby Peggy began to be the star. "Grab this youngster if you want a hundred laughs -- that's a Century."

Motion Picture News, 12-November-1921

"Get Rich Quick Peggy" was her first release. Among her co-stars was "Teddy, the former Mack Sennett dog."

Motion Picture News, 26-November-1921

I am not sure I have ever seen a comedy with Harry Sweet. I think I have seen some of the movies that he directed. He died in a plane crash in 1933. 

Motion Picture News, 19-November-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. Bobby Vernon started as a juvenile comedian at Keystone, where he starred in several popular comedies with Gloria Swanson.

Motion Picture News, 26-November-1921

Moving Picture World, 12-November-1921

The Christie Company was getting ambitious, sending a crew to Hawaii to make a movie.

Moving Picture World, 19-November-1921

"A Barnyard Cavalier" was a Bobby Vernon movie which was to be released in 1922. The article emphasizes that Christie was putting greater effort into their productions.

Moving Picture World, 12-November-1921

Fox had six companies producing short comedies.

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

One company produced "The Happy Pest," a two-reel comedy starring Al St John, which may have been inspired by Harold Lloyd's thrill comedies.

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

Hal Roach produced a series of comedies starring Ernest Truex, who I thought was a minor league comic.

Motion Picture News, 12-November-1921

Hal Roach continued to be the nominal producer of Harold Lloyd's films, but Lloyd had become quite independent. This mentions that Lloyd's next film would be The White Feather. This was eventually released as Grandma's Boy. Jimmy Parrott appeared in comedies written by his brother, Charles Parrott (Charley Chase).

Moving Picture World, 05-November-1921

Snub Pollard continued to appear in one-reelers produced by Roach. 

Cine-Mundial, November, 1921

Roach produced movies with Harold Lloyd's brother Gaylord. Harold was funnier. 

Motion Picture News, 19-November-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 Jimmie Adams signed to play Ferdy.

Exhibitors Herald, 05-November-1921

Jimmie Adams signed to replace Harry McCoy as Ferdie.

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

Moving Picture World, 12-November-1921

Seattle Star, 05-November-1921

Jimmy Aubrey appeared in comedies for the Vitagraph. Which is scarier, his eyes or his moustache? 

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

At this point, Lloyd Hamilton, who had been the Ham of Ham and Bud, was starring in a series of Mermaid Comedies distributed by Educational Comedies.

This Rolling Stone Will Gather No Loss -- January 21, 2019

Moving Picture World, 11-January-1919

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 haven't seen him since August. Production has moved from King-Bee to the Bull's Eye studio.

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

"Pay Day at Bull's-Eye Studio."  Director Charles Parrott later became famous as comedian Charley Chase.  I don't know if Nat Spitzer is the same guy who later produced the famous exploitation film Ingagi.

Moving Picture World, 25-January-1919

Sol Lesser worked in Hollywood for many years as an independent producer.  He sold the Billy West comedies on the states rights basis.

Billy Minus Mustache -- June 27, 2018

Moving Picture World, 01-June-1918

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. When Chaplin moved on to First National distribution, Billy West was still making comedies for King-Bee. King-Bee often came up with some interesting ads, but I couldn't find any from June, 1918.

Moving Picture World, 01-June-1918

"Straight and Narrow" featured Oliver Hardy, future partner of Stan Laurel and Leo White, who had worked with Chaplin.

Moving Picture World, 01-June-1918

Two fans of Billy West named their son after him.

Moving Picture World, 01-June-1918

I like the reference below the item to a war-time Red Cross drive.

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Moving Picture World, 08-June-1918

Billy West's new leading lady was Myrtle Lind. "Playmates" also featured "Director Charles Parrott (later known as Charley Chase), who makes his debut as an actor in King-Bee Comedies, portraying a dope fiend."

Moving Picture World, 15-June-1918

Billy chose not to wear his Chaplin mustache for "Playmates," where he and Oliver Hardy played young children, in a large-scaled set, just as Hardy did in 1930 with Stan Laurel and without his mustache in "Brats."  King-Bee was making Billy West dolls that exhibitors could give away to their audiences.  I would like to see one of those.

Moving Picture World, 22-June-1918

Charles Parrott, who later starred in comedies as Charlie Chase, and Billy West planned to cooperate on a musical.  Parrott would write the lyrics and West would compose the music.

Moving Picture World, 22-June-1918

"Beauty in Distress" was to feature lots of pretty girls.

Moving Picture World, 22-June-1918

This item describes the special set for "Playmates," which would make Billy West and Oliver Hardy look like small children.

Moving Picture World, 29-June-1918

In its first year, King-Bee produced a Billy West comedy every two weeks.

The Funniest Ever Released -- April 23, 2018

Moving Picture World, 06-A;pril-1918

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. When Chaplin moved on to First National distribution, Billy West was still making comedies for King-Bee. King-Bee created some interesting ads.

Moving Picture World, 06-A;pril-1918

Billy West appeared with Oliver Hardy and Ethel Burton in "The Soldier," directed by Arvid E Gillstrom.

Moving Picture World, 06-A;pril-1918

Charles Parrott became Billy West's new director.  When Parrott became a movie comedian, he took the name Charley Chase.

Moving Picture World, 06-A;pril-1918

King-Bee claimed that Billy West comedies were playing in 80 per cent of theaters in the New York/New Jersey area.

Moving Picture World, 06-A;pril-1918

King-Bee's planned feature film was indefinitely delayed.

Moving Picture World, 13-A;pril-1918

King-Bee celebrated its first anniversary.

Moving Picture World, 20-A;pril-1918

New director Charles Parrott was to host the first anniversary celebration.

Moving Picture World, 27-A;pril-1918

A photo of Charles Parrott.

Lassie Lou Ahern, RIP -- February 20, 2018

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Lassie Lou Ahearn, who appeared in many Hal Roach movies as a child, has died.  She appeared in some Our Gang movies, but I don't think she was a member of the gang.  Her credits are usually listed as "Little girl in the attic" or "Circus performer."  In any event, she appeared in at least two movies with Will Rogers and Charley Chase.

Be Your Age -- November 3, 2017

Film Daily, 01-November-1926

"Be Your Age" starred Charley Chase and Gladys Hulette with Oliver hardy.  Charley Chase was a dependable star of short subject produced by Hal Roach.  The movie was directed by Leo McCarey, who later became a major director of Hollywood features like Duck Soup, The Awful Truth and Going My Way.

A note at the bottom of this ad says that this ad is a cornerblock provided to theaters to use in newspaper advertising.

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 Gladys Hulette.

Forgotten Sweeties -- July 25, 2017

Film Daily, 28-April-1927

"Forgotten Sweeties" starred Charley Chase and Anita Garvin with Jimmy Finlayson.  Charley Chase was a dependable star of short subject produced by Hal Roach.  The movie was directed by Charley's brother Jimmy Parrott. 

A note at the bottom of this ad says that it is a cornerblock provided to theaters to use in newspaper advertising.

Bigger and Better Blondes -- March 5, 2017

Film Daily, 09-May-1927

"Bigger and Better Blondes" starred Charley Chase and Jean Arthur.  Charley Chase was a dependable star of short subject produced by Hal Roach. 

A note at the bottom of this ad says that it is a cornerblock provided to theaters to use in newspaper advertising.

Dog Shy -- July 12, 2016

Film Daily, 27-March-1926

In 1926, Charley Chase appeared in "Dog Shy," a two reeler produced by Hal Roach.  Charley's leading lady was Mildred June.

Film Daily, 25-April-1926