Fred Thomson and His Wonderful Horse Silver King -- April 11, 2024

Motion Picture News, 26-April-1924

Fred Thomson (no relation) had a diverse career. While attending the Princeton Theological Seminary, he earned the Amateur Athletic Union's All-Around Champion trophy in 1910, 1911 and 1913. After being ordained as a Presbyterian minister, he joined the Army and served as a chaplain during World War One. He went into the movie business after he married director and screenwriter Frances Marion. In time, he became a major western star. Sadly, he died of tetanus in 1928.

FBO announced plans to release six movies starring Thomson. Number One was The Mask of Lopez. Number Three was Galloping Gallagher (great title). Number Two must have been North of Nevada, but I haven't found an ad that calls it Number Two. 

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

Silver King is a good name for a cowboy star's horse. 

Photoplay, April, 1924

"Boyish, lovable, with a sense of humor. Hoot Gibson, whose pictures are consistently good." That is a nice description of Old Hoot. 

Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924

Forty-Horse Hawkins is a good title. Eddie Sedgewick directed. Hoot winds up in New York City. We see him driving a cab in the middle image. 

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

Universal purchased a western novel for Hoot's next production. I was surprised to learn that they kept the title: The Ridin' Kid from Powder River. 

Photoplay, April, 1924

Art Acord and Hoot Gibson were friends. 

Film Daily, 28-April-1924

You might expect that "Buddy Roosevelt" was not this actor's real name. Kenneth Sanderson had a long career as an actor and a stuntman. He starred in a series of silent westerns and played small parts in many talkies. 

Film Daily, 29-April-1924

And you might question whether this guy's real name was Buffalo Bill, Jr. Jay Wilsey starred in a series of silent and early sound westerns. 

Photoplay, April, 1924

Jack Hoxie was a real cowboy and rodeo performer who became a star in the early 1920s.

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

Universal must have liked his work. They gave him a five-year contract.

Stockton Daily Evening Record, 30-April-1924

Stockton Daily Evening Record, 30-April-1924

Film Daily, 13-April-1924

I thought it was interesting that an outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in Southern California wreaked havoc on production schedules. 

The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln --February 12, 2024

Motion Picture News, 01-September-1923

Today would have been Abraham Lincoln's 215th birthday. Brothers Al and Ray Rockett produced The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln in 1922. Frances Marion wrote the script, Phil Rosen directed and George A Billings played Abraham Lincoln. It was an elaborate production. 

Motion Picture News, 01-September-1923

Hoot Gibson -- Mile-a-Minute Action That You'll Never Forget! -- January 20, 2024

Motion Picture News, 12-January-1924

Cowboy star Hoot Gibson did not always play a cowboy. He played a fireman in Hook and Ladder, directed by Eddie Sedgwick. 

Motion Picture News, 19-January-1924

Seattle Star, 23-January-1924

Casper Daily Tribune, 27-January-1924

Motion Picture News, 12-January-1924

Photoplay, January, 1924

Fred Thomson (no relation) had a diverse career. While attending the Princeton Theological Seminary, he earned the Amateur Athletic Union's All-Around Champion trophy in 1910, 1911 and 1913. After being ordained as a Presbyterian minister, he joined the Army and served as a chaplain during World War One. He went into the movie business after he married director and screenwriter Frances Marion. In time, he became a major western star. Sadly, he died of Tetanus in 1928.

Film Daily, 09-January-1924

Action/Thrills/Suspense/Stunts/Romance -- November 12, 2023

Film Daily, 04-November-1923

Fred Thomson (no relation) had a diverse career. While attending the Princeton Theological Seminary, he earned the Amateur Athletic Union's All-Around Champion trophy in 1910, 1911 and 1913. After being ordained as a Presbyterian minister, he joined the Army and served as a chaplain during World War One. He went into the movie business after he married director and screenwriter Frances Marion. In time, he became a major western star. Sadly, he died of Tetanus in 1928. 

I was surprised to see the name Monogram. This Monogram apparently had no relation to the famous B-movie studio of the 1930s.

Motion Picture News, 03-November-1923

Motion Picture News, 10-November-1923

Hoot Gibson's new film, Hook and Ladder, included scenes taken on a cattle train and in the Los Angeles stockyards. I would like to see that. 

Motion Picture News, 03-November-1923

Leo Maloney starred in a series of two-reel Range Rider westerns, which he co-directed with Ford Beebe.

Fred Thomson World's Champion Athlete -- June 11, 2023

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

The Eagle's Talons and In the Days of Daniel Boone were Universal serials. Fred Thomson, star of The Eagle's Talons had a diverse career. While attending the Princeton Theological Seminary, he earned the Amateur Athletic Union's All-Around Champion trophy in 1910, 1911 and 1913. After being ordained as a Presbyterian minister, he joined the Army and served as a chaplain during World War One. He went into the movie business after he married director and screenwriter Frances Marion. In time, he became a major western star. Sadly, he died of Tetanus in 1928.

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

William Duncan played in, wrote and directed many serials and other westerns. Jack Mower continued to work until the 1960s, but played small parts after the silent era. Eileen Sedgwick starred in many serials. Her brother Eddie Sedgwick directed many westerns and also most of Buster Keaton's silent two-reelers. Jack Hoxie was a real cowboy and rodeo performer who became a big star in the early 1920s.

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

Priscilla Dean starred in many serials. Hoot Gibson was one of my favorite western stars.

Film Daily, 03-June-1923

Leo Maloney directed several movies with Hoot Gibson, but he also starred in a series of two-reel Range Rider westerns, which he co-directed with Ford Beebe.

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

Motion Picture News, 16-June-1923

Life of Lincoln Now in Production -- February 12, 2023

Moving Picture World, 14-October-1922

Today would have been Abraham Lincoln's 213th birthday. Brothers Al and Ray Rockett produced The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln in 1922. Frances Marion wrote the script. Phil Rosen directed and George A Billings played Abraham Lincoln.

Motion Picture News, 14-October-1922

Douglas Fairbanks -- The Mark of Zorro -- January 25, 2021

Motion Picture News, 15-January-1921

100 years ago this month, Douglas Fairbanks was enjoying a big hit with The Mark of Zorro. 

Motion Picture News, 08-January-1921

Both Fairbanks and his wife, Mary Pickford were releasing through United Artists. The Love Light was directed by Frances Marion. 

East Oregonian, 18-January-1921

The movie played three days at the Alta Theater in Pendleton, Oregon.