John Held, Jr -- The Love Interest in Most Movies -- November 30, 2024

Miami Tribune, 06-November-1924

I found a Time-Life series of books about decades in the Anza Branch Library. The book about the 1920s was my favorite. I particularly liked the drawings done by John Held, Jr. He defined the appearance of flappers. This book was also where I learned about Clara Bow.

Richard Arlen 125 -- September 1, 2024

 

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Richard Arlen was born 125 years ago today, on 01-September-1899. An American, he volunteered to serve in the Royal Flying Corps during World War One.

Motion Picture Magazine, November, 1928

His most famous film was probably William Wellman's World War One epic, Wings. Arlen and Buddy Rogers starred with Clara Bow and Buddy Rogers.

I was able to introduce several people to silent movies in a great environment by taking them to the Friday night shows at San Francisco's Avenue Theater.  Several friends saw silent movies accompanied on the Mighty Wurlitzer by Bob Vaughn. Wings made a big hit with my high school friends.

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Island of Lost Souls is a fun movie. The "Panther Woman" was Kathleen Burke, who had won a contest to get the part. Charles Laughton bit off huge chunks of scenery.

During World War Two, Arlen was a US Army Air Force flight instructor.

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He was married to Jobyna Ralston from 1927 to 1945. 

Charles Boyer 125 -- August 28, 2024

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French actor Charles Boyer was born 125 years ago today, on 28-August-1899. He appeared in some interesting movies in France and the US, like Algiers, Gaslight and The Constant Nymph. His voice inspired the Warner Brothers cartoon character Pepe Le Pew. He was a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur. (31/DSC_0049.JPG)

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Motion Picture Herald, 22-October-1955

In July, 2012 we paid a return visit to Hollywood and Grauman's Chinese Theater. Sid Grauman was a San Francisco showman who came to Los Angeles and built three major houses, the Million Dollar, the Egyptian, and the Chinese. The theater has hosted many film premieres, but is most famous for the hand and footprints (and hoofprints and nose prints and other types of prints) in the forecourt. Charles Boyer left his hand and footprints in the forecourt on 24-July-1942.

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

"Oh! What a kick!"

Bessie Love is a Veteran Trouper -- August 27, 2024

Picture Play, August, 1924

I have always been fascinated by the career of actress Bessie Love. She was born in Texas. Her name was Juanita Horton. Her family moved to Los Angeles and she went to Los Angeles High School. Looking for work, she met director DW Griffith and got a small part in Intolerance. She appeared in movies with William S Hart and Douglas Fairbanks. She was a 1922 WAMPAS (Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers) Baby Star. She played many leading roles, most famously in The Lost World, but never broke through until the talkies came, when she starred in The Broadway Melody. Her career was hot again for a few years, but then tailed off. She continued to appear in small parts in movies until the early 1980s.

Exhibitors Herald, 30-August-1924

Bessie Love starred in Sundown, a western story mostly shot in Texas. Laurence Trimble and Harry O Hoyt directed.

Picture Play, August, 1924

Bessie Love sits at her typewriter.

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

Harry O Hoyt also directed The Lost World, an adaption of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. Willis O'Brien used stop-motion animation to bring the dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts to life.

Picture Play, August, 1924

Bessie Love "on location for 'All Day.'" I guess this is an alternative title for Dynamite Smith, which was set in Alaska. 

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

"The real thing!"

Marion Davies -- In the Days of 1776 -- August 26, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 16-August-1924

Marion Davies appeared in a string of successful movies.

Exhibitors Herald, 02-August-1924

Janice Meredith was an epic tale of the American Revolutionary War. Here we see the Battle of Trenton and Janice Meredith meeting George Washington, who was played by Joseph Kilgour.

Picture Play, August, 1924

Here we see Washington crossing the Deleware, the Battle of Trenton and Marian with her co-star Harrison Ford. This is not the contemporary Harrison Ford.

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

New York's Cosmopolitan Theater was specially decorated for the premiere of Janice Meredith.

Exhibitors Herald, 09-August-1924

San Francisco Bulletin, 30-August-1924

Note Gino Severi's eyebrows. 

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

"It's hundred proof!"

Volatile Little Clara Bow -- August 25, 2024

Picture Play, August, 1924

"Volatile little Clara Bow will be given a splendid chance in the leading feminine role of "Wine," a Universal special production."

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

Clara Bow -- A Jazz-Eyed Flapper -- July 21, 2024

Photoplay, July, 1924

Clara Bow's career was skyrocketing 100 years ago this month, in July 1924. "There is a wistfulness, an ingenuousness about Clara in this picture that is not of the flapper type."

Newark Leader, 25-July-1924

When I wrote about Clara appearing in Grit, I didn't remember that it was based on an unpublished short story by F Scott Fitzgerald.

Indianapolis Times, 26-July-1924

This ad for Daughters of Pleasure has a nice picture of star Marie Prevost, but Clara played an important role as her best friend. William Beaudine directed. BP Schulberg produced. 

Indianapolis Times, 28-July-1924

"But the honors of the production go to Clara Bow as the jazz-eyed flapper."

Kansas City Star, 13-July-1924

Clara was the leading lady in Poisoned Paradise, a story about gamblers. "Robert W Service's famous novel of the exciting present-day life in Paris and Monte Carlo, that is banned by the police of those cities, because it tells too much!" Louis Gasnier directed.

Kansas City Star, 13-July-1924

"The story is laid in Monte Carlo, where Mr Service now resides, and deals so frankly with gambling conditions in that resort that the book has been prohibited publication in the principality of Monaco."

Tacoma Daily Ledger, 08-July-1924

There was some controversy about Clara winking in a scene with her love interest, Kenneth Harlan. She always did it well.

Clara Bow Will Play an Important Part -- May 24, 2024

Photoplay, May 1924

Clara Bow's career was skyrocketing 100 years ago today, in May 1924. Photoplay showed Clara Bow, sitting on the bed in her pajamas, reading Black Oxen, California writer Gertrude Atherton's controversial novel about a woman who recovers her youth through gland therapy. Clara had an important supporting role was in the 1923 Frank Lloyd film adapted from the book. The female star was Corinne Griffith, but Clara as "the flapperish Janet" made a big impression. "Frank Lloyd failed to find his ideal society flapper until he made more than fifty screen tests of well known flapper types." The quotes are from last month's post: Big V Riot Squad: Clara Bow -- The Ideal Society Flapper -- April 26, 2024.

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Clara played Orchid McGonigle in Grit, a crime drama which is considered to be lost. 

Film Daily, 04-May-1924

Clara Bow -- The Ideal Society Flapper -- April 26, 2024

New Britain Herald, 18-April-1924

Clara Bow's career was skyrocketing 100 years ago today, in April 1924. "On Road to Fame in Films?" If that referred to Clara, it would not have had a question mark. It referred to the stiff-looking guy she is posing with, Draper Daugherty. I have never heard of him, and I can't find anything about him in the Internet Movie Database. His father was Attorney General under Harding and Coolidge. The star of Helen's Babies was Baby Peggy, a popular child actress. 

Washington Evening Star, 18-April-1924

Visalia Daily Times, 09-April-1924

Clara's breakthrough role was in Black Oxen, a 1923 Frank Lloyd film. The female star was Corinne Griffith, but Clara as "the flapperish Janet" made a big impression. "Frank Lloyd failed to find his ideal society flapper until he made more than fifty screen tests of well known flapper types." 

Indianapolis Times, 03-April-1924

Maytime was another 1923 movie, which was based on the Sigmund Romberg musical. Clara was the top-billed actress. The Whipping Boss is an interesting title. A whipping boss was the one in charge of discipline for chain gangs and other convict labor applications. I have not yet figured out "The Sensational Talbert Case." 

Daily Kennebec Journal, 05-April-1924

The Daring Years was another 1923 film. It starred Mildred Harris, Charlie Chaplin's first wife. 

Ventnor News, 09-April-1924

Clara's films were so ubiquitous that two of her movies were showing at the same time in Ventnor City, New Jersey. 

I was happy to learn that Taylor Swift's just-released album The Tortured Poets Department (The apostrophe was omitted on purpose) includes "Clara Bow," a song about Clara and other women in show business. I look forward to hearing it. 

Grit With Clara Bow -- March 26, 2024

Film Daily, 02-March-1924

I love Clara Bow, but I am shocked and amazed by her hair in this ad. 

Happy Saint Valentine's Day -- February 14, 2024

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Happy Saint Valentine's Day, everyone.

Red haired Clara Bow was probably the most popular silent actress after Mary Pickford.

It's a Whale of a Picture -- September 26, 2023

Helena Daily Independent, 06-September-1922

Down to the Sea in Ships was a popular movie about whaling. Clara Bow had a small part, but received much attention.

Majestic Theater, Memphis -- July 17, 2023

Motion Picture News, 21-July-1923

The Majestic Theater in Memphis, Tennessee used an elaborate display to promote Down to the Sea in Ships, a whaling movie directed by Elmer Clifton. I like the whale above the ticket booth. 

In Down to the Sea in Ships, Clara Bow made her first big impression in a movie. It led to Clara being named a WAMPAS Baby Star.

Johnson City Tennessee Daily Staff, 29-October-1922

On 04-July-1923, in the tiny town of Selby, Nebraska, heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey defeated challenger Tommy Gibbons in a 15-round decision. No one expected Gibbons to avoid a knockout. Read a contemporary newspaper article on my other blog:

http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2023/07/dempsey-vs-gibbons-100-years-july-4-2023.html

Independence Day, 2021 -- July 4, 2021

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Happy Independence Day, everyone. Clara Bow holds a giant firecracker. Red haired Clara Bow was probably the most popular silent actress after Mary Pickford.

Clara Bow -- Halloween, 2019 -- October 31, 2019

Happy Halloween, everyone. Red haired Clara Bow was probably the most popular silent actress after Mary Pickford.

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