Showing posts with label Harry McCoy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harry McCoy. Show all posts

Friday, May 31, 2024

Lloyd Hamilton -- His First Five Reel Comedy -- May 31, 2024

Film Daily, 29-May-1924

Lloyd Hamilton starred in a series of two-reel comedies released by Educational. Many are lost. I like the skunk.

Film Daily, 11-May-1924

Film Daily, 07-May-1924

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Some of us will remember that in 1923, Al Jolson signed a contract to star in a movie produced by DW Griffith. Jolson got cold feet and broke the contract. Albert L Grey was DW Griffith's brother, who worked on many of his films. Lloyd Hamilton replaced Jolson in the movie that was made, His Darker Self. I love Lloyd Hamilton, but the movie is revolting. We may be lucky that the feature length version is lost. The surviving two reeler is bad enough.

Larry Semon was also trying to move into feature films. 

Exhibitors Herald, 24-May-1924

Photoplay, May, 1924

Baby Peggy Montgomery had been Century's biggest comedy star. She moved on to starring in features for Universal. 

Exhibitors Herald, 10-May-1924

"Hit 'em Hard" is a century comedy starring Jack Earle and Harry McCoy. "Checking Out" starred Pal the Dog. 

Exhibitors Herald, 10-May-1924

"Pretty little Evelyn McCoy" appeared in the Century Follies series. 

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Christie Comedies emphasized situation comedy over slapstick. 

Exhibitors Herald, 24-May-1924

Film Daily, 21-May-1924

"A Christie Comedy of love among the cows."

Film Daily, 11-May-1924

"A Safe Bet That You'll Crack With Laughter."

Film Daily, 21-May-1924

"A Laugh a Day Keeps the Doctor Away."

Film Daily, 11-May-1924

"Sensible Nonsense, with plenty of hokum and laughs."

Exhibitors Herald, 10-May-1924

Exhibitors Herald, 10-May-1924Film Daily, 20-May-1924

Dorothy Devore's success in short comedies led Christie to put her in feature-length comedies. Hodkinson released Christie's features. 

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Film Daily, 07-May-1924

Film Daily, 14-May-1924

Film Daily, 21-May-1924

Film Daily, 28-May-1924


Monday, April 29, 2024

Baby Peggy -- The Biggest Little Star in Pictures -- April 29, 2024

Film Daily, 20-April-1924

"A true symbol of mother love is Baby Peggy, sweetest of motion picture stars. Through the devotion of her mother and the constant care of her father she has been developed into what she now is -- the most winning child in the world." Ironically, her father got her blacklisted after fighting with a producer, and her parents wasted the substantial fortune that she had earned. 

Film Daily, 11-April-1924

Captain January was a feature film based on Laura E Richards' 1891 novel of the same name. Shirley Temple later starred in a talkie version. 

Film Daily, 13-April-1924

Sol Lesser's Principal Pictures produced Captain January. Eddie Cline directed. 

Film Daily, 13-April-1924

Even though she had moved up to feature films, Baby Peggy continued to appear in short comedies for Century.

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

Pal the Century Wonder Dog had his own series. 

Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924

Pal was the hero of "Checking Out," playing with Harry Sweet. Noel Smith directed. 

Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

"Hit 'em Hard" starred Jack Earle (seven feet, six inches) and Harry McCoy (short). Robert Kerr directed. 

Motion Picture News, 26-April-1924

Buddy Messinger was a boy who had his own series. 

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

James Berry, an African-American young man, who had performed in two Century Comedies, was signed for a series. He was often billed as Bubbles Baker. 

Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924

Century announced a series of bathing girl comedies. Bathing girl comedies were very popular during the silent era.

Film Daily, 09-April-1924

Educational offered free ad mats for their short subjects. These could be run as stand-alone newspaper ads or inserted into larger ads.

Dorothy Devore was one of Christie's most popular stars. The title "Getting Gertie's Goat." was probably a satire of the play (later filmed twice) Getting Gertie's Garter. Christie's short comedies were distributed by Educational. 

Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924

Dorothy Devore's success in short comedies led Christie to put her in feature-length comedies. Hodkinson released Christie's features. 

Film Daily, 18-April-1924

Motion Picture News, 26-April-1924

"Dandy Lions" starred Neal Burns. Lions were popular around this time in silent comedies.

Motion Picture News, 05-April-1924

Bobby Vernon, who had appeared in short comedies for many years was rewarded with his own unit at Christie. 

Film Daily, 23-April-1924

Clyde Cook was an acrobatic comedian. He was born in Australia. 

Motion Picture News, 05-April-1924
Note his pose in the last frame. 

Film Daily, 04-April-1924

Jack White produced Mermaid Comedies with Lige Conley.

Motion Picture News, 12-April-1924

This looks like a fun one. 

Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924



Thursday, February 29, 2024

Century Comedies -- Consistently Good -- February 29, 2024

Motion Picture News, 02-February-1924

Baby Peggy Montgomery had been Century's biggest comedy star. She moved on to starring in features for Universal and Sol Lesser's Principal Pictures. Captain January was based on a book by Laura E Richards. Shirley Temple starred in another adaption. 

Motion Picture News, 02-February-1924

Motion Picture News, 02-February-1924

I hope the kids at New York's Hebrew Orphan Asylum enjoyed Baby Peggy's first feature, The Darling of New York. 

Motion Picture News, 23-February-1924

Century carried on with other comedy series. "A Barrel of Real Fun!"

Motion Picture News, 23-February-1924

Al Herman had just finished directing his thirtieth Century comedy for the Stern Brothers. 

Motion Picture News, 16-February-1924

Giant Jack Earle starred with Harry McCoy in Century's "Keep Going." Robert Kerr directed. 

Motion Picture News, 23-February-1924

Young Buddy Messinger starred in "Quit Kidding," directed by Al Herman.

Motion Picture News, 09-February-1924

Century Studio was at 6100 Sunset Boulevard, which is now a parking lot. At the corner of North Gower, it was near what is now Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles. 

Film Daily, 11-February-1924

I know almost nothing about Sherwood MacDonald and I know even less about Butterfly Comedies. I think this is the only time I have seen the word "filmbrand."

Motion Picture News, 23-February-1924

Christie Comedies: "Fast and Funny." "The Best Bet for a Balanced Program." "In the Front Line of Laughmakers." Lots of tag lines. 

Motion Picture News, 16-February-1924

Please excuse the racism. Jimmie Adams seems to have done a lot of blackface. William Beaudine directed "Aggravating Papa." 

Motion Picture News, 02-February-1924

Christie Comedies are "Crammed With Laughs and Action." Dorothy Devore was a popular Christie star. Scott Sidney directed "Stay Single." 

Film Daily, 25-February-1924

Film Daily, 08-February-1924

Al Christie was planning to make feature-length comedies."  

Film Daily, 25-February-1924

Dorothy Devore and Walter Hiers were going to star in the first Christie feature, Hold Your Breath. 

Motion Picture News, 23-February-1924


Film Daily, 08-February-1924

Camera, 02-February-1924

The Christie Studio was at 6101 Sunset at Gower. There is nothing remarkable there now.