A Spectacular Moment from Yolanda -- May 28, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Yolanda was another epic starring Marion Davies. 

Shreveport Times, 04-May-1924

William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions signed Fields to play a supporting role as a Red Coat Sergeant in Janice Meredith, a movie about America's Revolutionary War, which starred Hearst's inamorata, Marion Davies. Despite the statement that "This marks Mr. Fields' debut on the screen," Fields' film career had been paused since he made two short comedies in 1915. Janice Meredith was Fields' first feature film.

WC Fields -- Banana Oil -- May 16, 2024

Tacoma News Tribune, 09-May-1924

In the 1920s, "banana oil" was a synonym for "BS," "baloney" or "horse feathers." Here we see WC Fields made up as Professor Eustace McGargle in the Broadway musical Poppy. Fields was a widely proclaimed dispenser of banana oil.

Tacoma News Tribune, 09-May-1924

The item at the top is part of a full page ad announcing that Milt Gross' comic Banana Oil was going to start appearing daily in the Tacoma News Tribune. The ad includes endorsements from many popular entertainers. 

New York Daily News, 26-May-1924

Poppy was in its tenth month at the Apollo Theater. It would soon suspend operations for the summer. 

Mr. Battling Buttler was another popular musical. It starred Charlie Ruggles. In 1926, Buster Keaton starred in a silent adaption entitled "Battling Butler." Note that the musical spelled the name "Buttler" and the movie spelled it "Butler."

Shreveport Times, 04-May-1924

William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions signed Fields to play a supporting role as a Rec Coat Sergeant in Janice Meredith, a movie about America's Revolutionary War, which starred Hearst's inamorata, Marion Davies. Despite the statement that "This marks Mr. Fields' debut on the screen," Fields' film career had been paused since he made two short comedies in 1915. Janice Meredith was Fields' first feature film.

Marion Davies -- Twentieth Meets Fifteenth Century -- September 5, 2023

Cine-Mundial, September, 1923

I have never seen another photo of Marion Davies with her hair arrayed in this fashion. Her clothes look fairly modern. 

Motion Picture News, 01-September-1923

In August, Marion Davies left a wreath at the grave of Robert Fulton, promoter of the Clermont (officially the North River Steamboat), which is generally regarded as the first economically successful steamboat. Fulton was a character in her film Little Old New York.

Motion Picture News, 22-September-1923

Cosmopolitan built this set in their New York studio for Marion's next movie, Yolanda. 

Motion Picture News, 29-September-1923

Recently launched US Navy Zeppelin ZR-1, later called Shenandoah, sailed over the set of Yolanda. "Twentieth Meets Fifteenth Century."

One Big Picture a Week -- August 28, 2023

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions and Goldwyn Pictures joined forces to form Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan. Distinctive Pictures was a company that produced films with George Arliss and others. Goldwyn-Cosmopolitan used this large and expensive trade ad to promote its upcoming series of big pictures, to be released one a week. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

King Vidor directed Three Wise Fools. I like the armored car. The Spoilers was based on a novel by Rex Beach. It was set during the Alaska Gold Rush. It was filmed many times, and the highlight was always knock-down drag-out fight between Glennister and McNamara.

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

I don't know a thing about Enemies of Women except that it was based on a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, directed by Alan Crosland and starred Lionel Barrymore.  6 Days was based on another smutty book by Elinor Glyn. Someday I will write about a joke people made about her titles. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

The casually racist Green Goddess was based upon a stage play that George Arliss had played in for years. It was later remade as a talkie. It was a Distinctive Pictures production. The Eternal 3 was directed by Mickey Neilan. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

Clarence Badger was a short-legged omnivore with an incredibly strong bite. He directed Marie Prevost in Red Lights, a railroad story. The Steadfast Heart was a Distinctive Pictures production. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

The Magic Skin was based on a story by Honoré de Balzac. The Day of Faith was directed by Tod Browning.

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

In the Palace of the King was a melodrama. 

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923