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

Give Comedy a Chance! -- May 24, 2022

Motion Picture Classic, May, 1922

Baby Peggy Montgomery grew to become Century's biggest comedy star, even surpassing her old comrade Brownie the Century Wonder Dog. Universal released Century Comedies.

Moving Picture Weekly, 13-May-1922

The rest of the Century lineup included Brownie the Century Wonder Dog, Lee Moran, Charles Doherty, Harry Sweet and a new kid, Johnny K Fox. Johnny Fox's film career lasted until 1929.

Moving Picture Weekly, 27-May-1922

Moving Picture World, 06-May-1922

The Christie Film Company was a major producer of short comedies from 1911 to 1933. Al Christie was the director and Charles Christie ran the business. The Christies featured situation comedy more than the slapstick favored by Mack Sennett and Hal Roach.

Moving Picture World, 06-May-1922

Moving Picture World, 06-May-1922

Snub Pollard and others starred in one reelers for Hal Roach.

Moving Picture World, 06-May-1922

Australian Billy Bevan was Sennett's busiest star. 

Moving Picture World, 06-May-1922

Moving Picture World, 27-May-1922

Joe Martin was an every-day average orangutan who was frequently billed as a chimp. With his wife, Mrs Joe Martin, he starred in a series of short comedies for Universal-Jewel. Lee Moran had been a member of Lyons and Moran, with Eddy Lyons.

Moving Picture World, 20-May-1922

Lloyd Hamilton, who had been the Ham of Ham and Bud, starred in a series of Mermaid Comedies distributed by Educational Comedies. Most of them were destroyed in a vault fire.

Moving Picture World, 13-May-1922

Moving Picture World, 20-May-1922

Moving Picture World, 27-May-1922

Moving Picture World, 20-May-1922

Stan Laurel launched a new series of comedies. I like the image. 

Moving Picture World, 20-May-1922

"Laurel is not an imitator of Chaplin."

Century Comedies -- Just Look at the Divilish (sic) Light in Her Eye -- February 25, 2022

Motion Picture News, 25-February-1921

Baby Peggy had grown to become Century's biggest comedy star, even surpassing her old comrade Brownie the Century Wonder Dog. I don't know why the ad calls her look "divilish," unless the ad was written by one of Carl Laemmle's recently arrived nephews. Carl Laemmle, head of Universal, was known to give jobs to relatives. 

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1921

"Play Century Notes For Your Cash Register." "Century note" is slang for a one-hundred-dollar bill. This ad promotes Century Comedies' four series, starring Lee Moran, Harry Sweet, Baby Peggy and Brownie the Century Wonder-Dog.

Motion Picture News, 25-February-1921

Century boss Julius Stern, Carl Laemmle's brother-in-law, had plans to expand Century. He hired Henry (Pathé) Lehrman to produce "twelve super comedies." 

Moving Picture Weekly, 24-February-1922

"Join Hands With This Big Four."

Moving Picture Weekly, 11-February-1922

I like this photo of Brownie. 

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1921

"Rooted Deep in Laughter." I like Brownie's hat. 

Moving Picture Weekly, 18-February-1922

One series of Arrow Comedies starred Lee Moran's old partner, Eddie Lyons "that inimitable comedian."

Motion Picture News, 11-February-1921

Arrow offered 52 two-reelers a year. 

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1921

"The Funniest Fellow in Films." I know some people who would debate that. 

Motion Picture News, 04-February-1921

A San Francisco exhibiter says, "His Comedies Are Greatest Two Reelers on Market."

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1921

"Beauty and Brains." Dorothy Devore starred in Christie Comedies. Here she shows her versatility. 

Motion Picture News, 11-February-1921

As I mentioned last month, I don't remember reading about Folly Comedies. I always thought George Ovey did not look funny. Vernon Dent later worked with the Three Stooges.

Los Angeles Times, 01-February-1922

Snub Pollard and pretty Marie Mosquini starred in a series of comedies for Hal Roach. This item says they got engaged. I think she was already married. They never married each other, as far as I know. Anyway, they look happy.

Motion Picture News, 25-February-1921

Moving Picture Weekly, 04-February-1922

"Universal Short Stuff" included Century and Jewel Comedies.