Disney -- Famous Buys "Alice" Comedies -- June 26, 2024

Film Daily, 19-June-1924

Famous Players bought distribution rights for Walt Disney's Alice cartoons. Notice that the name "Disney" does not appear in the item. 

Hart Deal Off -- April 7, 2024

Motion Picture Magazine, April, 1924

This issue of Motion Picture Magazine carried a color portrait of William S Hart on its cover.

Film Daily, 06-April-1924

William S Hart and Famous Players had "come to the parting of the ways." This item said that Famous "did not enjoy the material that Hart used in his recent pictures."

Film Daily, 06-April-1924

This item, from the same issue of Film Daily says that Famous Players and Hart had been negotiating, but the deal fell through. 

San Francisco Bulletin, 25-April-1924

A McClure Newspaper Syndicate writer asked various celebrities about "When I was Twenty-One." William S Hart said "At the age of 21, I was an actor. My ambition was to endeavor to become a good one."  "Hart's statement as to what his position in life was at the age of 21, and what his hopes and ambitions were at that time is both laconic, as one would expect it to be from him, and decidedly to the point."

Photoplay, April, 1924

Some readers will remember that Dorothy Davenport's husband, actor Wallace Reid, had died suddenly on 18-January-1923, leaving her with two small children. Neighbor William S Hart visited on Christmas day to do "his best to make Christmas seem natural to little Bill and Betty Reid." That was a good deed. 

More about Dorothy Davenport:

Big V Riot Squad: Dorothy Davenport: Her Life and Career -- March 27, 2017

On New Year's Day, Hart attended the Rose Bowl Game, held for only the second time at the Rose Bowl, and saw Washington and Navy tie at 14-14. The game program was shaped like a football. 

Hart Through -- March 8, 2024

Photoplay, March, 1924

A nice portrait of William S Hart in costume for Wild Bill Hickok, his first film after returning to Paramount after a personal scandal.

Motion Picture News, 15-March-1924

Singer Jim McKee turned out to be his last movie for Paramount.

Film Daily, 05-March-1924

"Hart had experienced differences of some sort with Jesse L. Lasky." He was done at Paramount/Famous Players-Lasky. 

Film Daily, 14-March-1924

Hart travelled to New York to try for a reconciliation.

Hart and a friend went on vacation. "...he will no longer make pictures for Famous."

Motion Picture Magazine, March, 1924

Motion Picture Magazine gave a snarky review of Wild Bill Hickok. "We will have to catalog it as old-fashioned." 

Bill Hart is Back! -- January 13, 2024

Moving Picture World, 05-January-1924

William S Hart's career had been derailed when he was accused of fathering a woman's five-year-old child. Even though he wound up paying child support, he was allowed to return to the screen. Wild Bill Hickock was a success.

Omaha Bee, 10-January-1924

Notice that this ad does not mention the title of the movie. 

Motion Picture News, 26-January-1924

Hart's next film was Singer Jim McKee. William K Everson said it was pretty silly to cast William S Hart as a singing cowboy, especially in a silent film.

Motion Picture News, 12-January-1924

There were disagreements between Hart and Jesse L Lasky, heard of Famous Players-Lasky. 

Film Daily, 02-January-1924

Film Daily, 02-January-1924

Alfred Hitchcock -- Woman to Woman -- December 27, 2023

Film Daily, 28-December-1923

His name does not appear in the ad or in the credits, but Alfred Hitchcock was assistant director of Woman to Woman. When director Graham Cutts was away, Hitchcock directed some scenes. The American Company Famous Players-Lasky produced the film in Britain. The star was American Betty Compson. 

"'Fatty' Arbuckle No Longer Star of Famous Players Organization" -- October 5, 2021

Moving Picture World, 01-October-1921

"Enclosed in the Following Space Is Our Idea What Should Be Said by Everybody in the Moving Picture Business About the Arbuckle Case from Now Forth Until the Entire Matter is Settled." 

100 years ago last month, on 05-September-1921, actor Roscoe Arbuckle and some of his friends had a Labor Day party at San Francisco's Saint Francis Hotel. Guest Virginia Rappe, an actress, became sick and had to be hospitalized. On 09-September-1921, she died because of a ruptured bladder which became infected. Stories began to circulate that Arbuckle had assaulted Rappe. Tried for manslaughter three times, he was acquitted. Virginia Rappe was 26 when she died. Arbuckle's career was ruined. The newspapers sold a lot of copies. Many people who tried to defend Arbuckle said some nasty and unfounded things about Virginia Rappe.

Exhibitors Herald, 08-October-1921

A group of cowboys in Thermopolis, TX showed their disapproval of Roscoe by shooting up the local theater and setting the film on fire out in the street.

Exhibitors Herald, 01-October-1921

Exhibitors were opposed to showing films with Roscoe Arbuckle of Virginia Rappe. 

Exhibitors Herald, 08-October-1921

Exhibitors were urged to book other Famous Players-Lasky (Paramount) films to replace the cancelled Arbuckle films. 

Exhibitors Herald, 22-October-1921

Famous Players proclaimed that Roscoe was no longer one of their stars. He was not contracted to Paramount, but worked under a personal contract with Joe Schenk. "The public out here has about absolved him from anything but being the intended 'fall guy' for a 'shake down.'" No one told the cowboys. 

Albuquerque Morning Journal, 02-October-1921

Roscoe's estranged wife, Minta Durfee, came from New York to show her support. She brought along her mother. 

The Round Up -- October 3, 2020

 

Motion Picture News, 02-October-1920

100 years ago this month, Roscoe Arbuckle was appearing in The Round Up, a feature produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released by Paramount. 

Memphis News-Scimitar, 23-October-1920

Memphis News-Scimitar, 26-October-1920

The Miracle Man -- August 21, 2019

Moving Picture World, 02-August-1919

The Miracle Man, based on a novel by Frank L Packard and a play by George M Cohan, was the movie that made Lon Chaney a star. Notice that his name and image do not appear in the ad. "Lon Chaney, in an exceptional characterization will be remembered forever by every one who sees this film." He played the Frog, a contortionist who served as a shill for a faith healer. Sadly, the film is lost.

Moving Picture World, 09-August-1919

"...this photoplay with an amazing soul..."

Moving Picture World, 09-August-1919

"'MIRACLE MAN' LIKED BY SING SING

"Critical Audience at New York Penitentiary

"Approved of Crook Play — Competition Announced

"A PRINT of 'The Miracle Man,' which is scheduled for Paramount-Artcraft release in September, was taken to the Sing Sing penitentiary by a representative of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. As it is a crook play, the manner of its reception by an audience, which naturally would be supposed to know much about crime and the ways of criminals, was the subject of considerable speculation at the office of the corporation.

"How the picture was received by this critical audience is briefly described in the Famous Players-Lasky man's written report, submitted on his return to New York. He said :

"Officials Give Praise.

"'Edward V. Brophy, warden, and John P. Joyce, superintendent of industries, told me personally that 'The Miracle Man' was the most wonderful picture they had ever seen — and they have seen many. I also received oral praise from many of the inmates themselves. Louis Jacobs said: 'The picture carries a message that reaches the men without their knowing why. It isn't crammed down their throats like a preachment. That's why it made a hit with them.' I also had to talk with — - — — (naming one of the best known newspapermen in the United States who recently was convicted of a capital crime). He had read the book and seen the play. The picture, he said, was the best he had ever seen.'

Announce Competition.

"A contest was announced to the inmates of the institution in the name of President Adolph Zukor and the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. An offer was made of a first prize of $10, a second prize of $7 and a third prize of $5 for the three best compositions conveying the impressions made upon the writer by the picture. The judges will be George Blaisdell, editor of Moving Picture World; Joseph Dannenberg, editor of Wid's ; Lesley Mason, editor of Exhibitor's Trade Review; Robert E. Welch, managing editor of Motion Picture News, and Miss Louella O. Parsons, motion picture editor of the Sunday Telegraph.

"Sing Sing Critic Praises.

"Before the Famous Players-Lasky representative left the prison he was handed a copy of a review of "The Miracle Man," written by "F. M.":

"'So many photoplays have been called 'inspirational,' so many have had a message,' yet almost as many have failed to inspire or deliver the message. Never have we been more profoundly moved in viewing a picture or had our souls more deeply, or wholesomely, stirred than when, by a courtesy and thoughtfulness which we could not fully appreciate until after the last reel had been run, the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation permitted us to see, even before it could be seen elsewhere, this remarkable picture of George Loane Tucker's. Into it has been woven every feature that has made his other pictures the successes they were.

"'Never before have we seen a picture which we considered worthy of being compared to a great symphony, by a great composer, performed by a large and capable orchestra. In 'The Miracle Man,' as in the symphony, each tone and each accent have a definite meaning, all contributing to the final perfection of the masterpiece and all blended into one harmonious whole, no part of which would be complete without the other parts, though each part in itself may be 'a thing of beauty and a joy forever.'"

Moving Picture World, 16-August-1919

"Its fame will be spread by an endless chain."

Moving Picture World, 23-August-1919

A preview showing for the trade.

Moving Picture World, 30-August-1919

Famous Players-Lasky commissioned a song to promote The Miracle Man.

Captain Kidd, Jr -- March 27, 2019

Moving Picture World, 29-March-1919

Mary Pickford was finishing her last contract with Artcraft for Famous Players-Lasky.  Soon she would independently produce four movies for First National distribution.  Then she would begin to release through the new United Artists.

James O'Neill Monte Cristo -- August 1, 2018

Alta California, 15-June-1884

Actor James O'Neill, father of playwright Eugene O'Neill, spent a significant portion of his career playing Edmond Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo.  O'Neill played the part over 6000 times between 1875 and the early Twentieth Century.  He grew sick of the role and felt that it stunted his growth as an actor, but the public demanded that he play the Count.

The ad above is for an 1884 week at San Francisco's California Theater.

Moving Picture World, 25-October-1913

In 1912, James O'Neill played the part in the first production of the Famous Players Film Company.  It was directed by Edwin S Porter.

From Chaos to Cliff -- December 8, 2015Ph

Photoplay, December, 1915

I don't know if this is the Famous Players studio on 26th street that is shown burned above.  The spot shown on 225th Street is not the Astoria Studios. 

A Big Man in a Big Man's Play -- September 29, 2014

Moving Picture World, 05-September-1914

Cecil B DeMille's first movie, The Squaw Man, was released in February, 1914: http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-squaw-man-100-february-23-2014.html

In the following months, DeMille kept busy.  In September, the Jesse L Lasky Feature Play Company released, through Paramount, an adaption of Owen Wister's novel The Virginian.  This has been a very popular movie subject.  Dustin Farnum also starred in The Squaw Man. 

Moving Picture World, 12-September-1914

The Squaw Man 100 -- February 23, 2014

Be sure to click on the images to see larger versions. 

100 years ago today, despite what it says in this ad from the 24-January-1914 Moving Picture World, The Squaw Man premiered.  This feature was the first production of the Jesse L Lasky Feature Play Company, and the first movie directed by famous director Cecil B DeMille.  As the ad says, DeMille had a co-director: "The six reels of quivering action and cyclonic climaxes are now being produced in the exact locale of the play by Cecil B. DeMille and Oscar Apfel."  The Jesse L Lasky Feature Play Company, a precursor to Paramount, had the humble slogan "But one production a month -- and that a masterpiece." 

This item, from the 31-January-1914 Moving Picture World, purports to show "one of the first 'stills' sent East from the Jesse L. Lasky studio at Hollywood, California." 

I like the design of this ad, from the 31-January-1914 Moving Picture World.  It offers states rights and world rights for the movie. 

This ad, from the 07-February-1914 Moving Picture World, touts:
-- America's Most Gripping Drama
-- The Stage's Most Popular Actor
-- The Best Cast Ever Assembled
-- Staged By Two Master Craftsmen
-- Produced by the World's Most Artistic Producer

"Every Detail Spells Class"

"The Pulsing Achievement of Dramatic Art."  From the 14-February-1914 Moving Picture World.  Note the lists of sold and still-unsold territories. 

One of the distributors from the previous ad, took its own ad in the same issue.  The William L Sherry Feature Film Company had secured the New York State rights to The Squaw Man and other production of the  Jesse L Lasky Feature Play Company, along with the Famous Players Film Company, another predecessor of Paramount. 

Louis Reeves Harrison wrote a review of the movie in the 21-February-1914 Moving Picture World.  I don't think DeMille would have appreciated this: "I have not seen Oscar Apfel's name made prominent in connection with this winner, but I recognize his handiwork without difficulty.  Cecil DeMille, I am told, put his heart and soul into making 'The Squaw Man' an unqualified success, but his unbounded enthusiasm could only act as a support to the unhampered skill and decided native ability of the active director." 

The same issue carried an ad saying that "Jesse L. Lasky presented Edward Milton Royle's thrilling western drama The Squaw Man with Dustin Farnum in the title role at the Long Acre Theatre last Tuesday before 1400 persons and the expressions of of the auditors as they left the theatre substantiated every word of praise we have lavished upon this superb production."

A two-page spread from the 07-March-1914 Moving Picture World shows that only four territories were still unsold.  It quotes critical praise from newspapers, magazines, including Louis Reeves Harrison's review from above, and Variety. 

The cover of the 28-March-1914 Moving Picture World featured The Squaw Man. 

An ad from the same edition talks about the Jesse L Lasky Feature Play Company's next production, Brewster's Millions, a story which has been remade many times.  DeMille remade The Squaw Man twice, once as a silent and once as a talkie.  It mentions that Brewster's Millions will be directed by DeMille ("Master Playwright, Director and Author of Numerous Dramatic Successes") and Apfel ("Acknowledged Peer of Directors and Genius of Innovators").