Showing posts with label John Ford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Ford. Show all posts

Friday, March 14, 2025

The Iron Horse -- As Big as America Itself! -- March 14, 2025

Los Angeles Evening Express, 14-March-1925

Sid Grauman's Egyptian Theater, which is still open on Hollywood Boulevard, featured John Ford's The Iron Horse, which told the epic story of the building of the transcontinental railroad. 

There was a plethora of special objects and events going on all around and in the theater. In the forecourt, displays included the CP Huntington, Central Pacific Locomotive Number 1, which is beautifully displayed at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. There was also a stagecoach, a replica of Lincoln's log cabin, presumably his birthplace, and teepees erected by Arapahoe and Shoshone native Americans. 

Inside the theater, an elaborate prologue, a stage presentation, included Colonel Tim McCoy, "world's greatest authority on American Indians," who later became a movie star, an overture by the Grauman's Egyptian Orchestra, 30 members of the Arapahoe and Shoshone tribes, including "chiefs, squaws, papooses" performing "war dances" (excuse the racism), tableaux, a reenactment of the Golden Spike ceremony, a cast of 200 singers and dancers and an "Awe-inspiring surprise finish -- a thrill you will never forget during your life." 

Los Angeles Times, 22-March-1925

This article about Tim McCoy makes him sound condescending towards the Native Americans, but if  you read his memoir, Tim McCoy Remembers the West, you will see that he spoke very respectfully of the Native Americans he knew and worked with. "As Big as America Itself!"

Los Angeles Daily News, 29-March-1925


Monday, December 30, 2024

George O'Brien -- Enjoying a Happy New Year Thanks to William Fox and John Ford -- December 30, 2024

Variety, 31-December-1924

George O'Brien was a big, well-built guy who appeared in many films, especially Westerns. His father was a former San Francisco Chief of Police. Here he thanks studio head William Fox and director John Ford for giving him the opportunity to play the lead in an epic, The Iron Horse.

listal.com


Tuesday, November 26, 2024

The Iron Horse -- November 26, 2024

New York Daily News, 09-November-1924

The great success of Paramount's The Covered Wagon inspired Fox to make their own western epic. John Ford directed The Iron Horse, which told the story of the building of the transcontinental railroad. I find it a much better film than The Covered Wagon. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Tom Mix Starts Work on Fiftieth Picture -- June 19, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 07-June-1924

The article is a mite confusing. If I counted correctly, The Heart Buster was Tom's fifty-first starring feature for Fox. Before that, he appeared in shorts for Fox and a long series of shorts and a few features for the Selig Polyscope company.

Exhibitors Herald, 21-June-1924

Tom played a flying forest ranger in Eyes of the Forest, which was directed by Lambert Hillyer. Cupid's Round-up was Tom's first feature film for Fox, released in 1918. Edward LeSaint directed. Fox must have rereleased the movie. 

Davenport Daily Times, 28-June-1924

"When Tom Mix leaps from a horse to an airplane, you'll leap right out of your seat."

Davenport Daily Times, 28-June-1924

Tom in his aviator togs. 

Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, 28-June-1924

I like the wolf in this ad for North of Hudson Bay. John Ford directed. 

Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, 28-June-1924

Great Falls Tribune, 15-June-1924

"You've Seen -- TOM MIX -- in Trouble -- in Misery -- in Hot Water -- in Happiness. NOW SEE 'TOM MIX IN ARABIA'"

Photoplay, June, 1924

Exhibitors Herald, 14-June-1924

I was surprised to learn that Napier, New Zealand had a Mardi Gras carnival. Tom's hat wrote on a float in the parade. 

Exhibitors Herald, 14-June-1924

Tom Mix and heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey were major celebrities. Jack was in Hollywood to appear in a series of short films. 

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Tom Mix -- Thrills -- Heart Breaks -- Suspense -- Scenic Beauty -- November 9, 2023

Motion Picture News, 17-November-1922

I like the use of orange in this trade ad for North of Hudson Bay. John Ford directed. 

Film Daily, 07-November-1923

Single Shot Parker was a reissue of a 1917 Selig film, The Heart of Texas Ryan. EA Martin directed.

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Never a Penrod Like Ben Alexander! -- July 27, 2023

Motion Picture News, 07-July-1923

Indiana author Booth Tarkington was very 100 years ago, but I don't think people read his stories and novels much today.  When I was a kid, the only thing I knew about him was that he wrote the novel that Orson Welles used as the basis for The Magnificent Ambersons.  I was already in college when I learned that F Scott Fitzgerald was a great admirer of Tarkington.  Inspired by this, I went to the Anza Branch Library and took out Penrod: His Complete Story, a collection of stories about a boy who grows up.

In 1922, a movie based on Penrod, starring Wesley Barry and directed by Mickey Neilan, was a hit.

In 1923, First National released a sequel, Penrod and Sam, starring Ben Alexander. William Beaudine directed again. This would be the first of three adaptions. William Beaudine also directed the 1931 version. 

Motion Picture News, 28-July-1923

In 1908, Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson wrote a play called Cameo Kirby. It was filmed in 1914, and then John Ford directed a remake in 1923, starring John Gilbert. In 1930, it was remade as a talkie musical starring some guy I have never heard of. 



Thursday, June 8, 2023

Tom Mix -- Western Girls De Looks -- June 8, 2023

Motion Picture News, 30-June-1923

In the 1923-1924 season, the Fox Film Corporation celebrated "20 Years of Progress." John Ford directed Tom Mix in North of Hudson Bay. Dig that sweater. 

Motion Picture News, 30-June-1923

Soft Boiled looks unique; it may still survive. The leading lady was Billie Dove. John G Blystone directed.

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

Fox advertised a busy summer of films starring Tom Mix, Buck Jones and many others.

Motion Picture News, 23-June-1923

Tom Mix was working on an adaptation of Zane Grey's The Lone Star Ranger. A couple of years back, during Zane Grey Week, we saw that Tom Mix starred in adaptations of several Zane Grey novels:

Motion Picture News, 16-June-1923

Lambert Hillyer directed and Billie Dove was Tom's co-star.

Bismarck Tribune, 28-June-1923

"TOM MIX Says 'Catch My Smoke.'"

Motion Picture News, 30-June-1923

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

Meanwhile Paramount was also releasing a story based on a Zane Grey novel, To The Last Man. Richard Dix and Lois Wilson starred. Victor Fleming directed. 

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Tom Mix -- More Durned Action in "3 Jumps Ahead" Than You Ever Before Saw in Any Picture -- April 16, 2023

Casper Daily Tribune, 20-April-1923

Tom Mix, Tony and Alma Bennett starred in Three Jumps Ahead, which was directed by John Ford. 

Omaha Bee, 01-April-1923

One of the three jumps. Sarcasm.

Casper Daily Tribune, 19-April-1923

Some or all of these things are not true.

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Harry Carey -- Crashin' Thru to Golden Profits! -- April 15, 2023

Motion Picture News, 07-April-1923

Harry Carey was a pioneering cowboy star. I like the dynamism of this ad for Crashin' Thru. Val Paul directed. 

Motion Picture News, 28-April-1923

John Ford directed The Wallop in 1921. Frank Mayo had a long career but never became a star. John Ford directed him in Hitchin' Posts. Robert Thornby directed Archie Mayo in The Blazing Trail. 

Casper Daily Tribune, 19-April-1923

"Atta Boy, Harry!" Val Paul directed Good Men and True. That's an exciting image. 

Friday, March 10, 2023

Tom Mix -- Three Jumps Ahead -- March 10, 2023

Motion Picture News, 10-March-1923

Tom Mix was the greatest western star in silent films. The Stand Theater in Atlanta used this lobby display to promote Chasing the Moon. The moon with Tom's face was illuminated from the back with a flashing light. Chasing the Moon was a 1922 production directed by Eddie Sedgwick. 

Motion Picture News, 03-March-1923

Tom's next production would be Three Jumps Ahead, directed by John Ford. "'Tony,' the wonder horse of the screen, and Tom leap over a canyon twenty feet wide and ninety feet deep, in addition to other wild rides from steep mountain sides."

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Tom Mix -- A Thrilling Tale of a Two Fisted Knight of the Western Plains -- February 15, 2023

Motion Picture News, 10-February-1923

Tom Mix was the greatest western star in silent films. Romance Land does not sound like the title of a Tom Mix movie. I like the image of Tom Mix lassoing a theater crowd. Eddie Sedgwick directed.

Motion Picture News, 03-February-1923

John Ford's first collaboration with Tom Mix was Three Jumps Ahead.

Motion Picture News, 03-February-1923

I don't think The Hostage got produced, or perhaps it was made under another name and another director. The only other film that Tom Mix made with John Ford was North of Hudson Bay.

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Harry Carey -- A Hewer of Homely Rhymes -- June 11, 2022

Moving Picture World, 03-June-1922

Cowboy star Harry Carey had recently signed with Robertson-Cole, along with a slew of other stars, including Ethel Clayton, Jane Novak, Mr and Mrs Carter De Haven and Helen Jerome Eddy.
Maui News, 03-June-1922

Harry Carey played a "hobo-poet" in Sundown Slim, which played in two theaters on Maui.

Carson City Appeal, 06-June-1922

John Ford directed Harry Carey in The Freeze Out. 

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Buck Jones -- The Greatest of All Western Character Portrayers -- February 15, 2022

Grand Forks Herald, 20-February-1922

I like the name of the Foto Theater in Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to the IMDB, The Big Punch and The Freeze-Out were both directed by John Ford.

San Diego News-Pilot, 02-February-1922


Seattle Star, 24-February-1922

Hoot Gibson was a contemporary of Tom Mix and Buck Jones. His movies tended to emphasize humor. I like the caricature.

Seattle Star, 23-February-1922


"HOOT" GIBSON

Meet Ed "Hoot" Gibson, rodeo champion cowboy motion picture star, auto race driver and all round good fellow.

By Daisy Henry

Edward ("Hoot") Gibson. popular Universal cowboy actor, is having the time of his life in Seattle this week. Gibson is just Ilke a great, big kid, and is forever doing things that will make other people happy. Every day this week at the Columbia, where he is appearing in person as well as in "Headin' West," a Western thriller, Gibson has played host to some local organization. Tuesday afternoon it was Mother Ryther's day, and the young star made friends with every child at the big home. He brought them all down to the show and treated them to choice candies. Wednesday Gibson entertained the war veterans and Thursday and Friday he has similar plans.

This is not Mr. Gibson's first visit to Seattle -- in fact, he has spent a good deal of his time here renewing his acquaintance with R. H. Gray, or "Bob," as Gibson affectionately calls him. Rob and Hoot became associated together in California when Gibson was a cowboy. Both went into pictures together In 1912, with "Broncho Billy" Anderson's Essanay company. Tiring of this life, the pals drifted up to Seattle and Gray went into the garage business, at 1413 Broadway. with his brother. P. Gray. "Hoot" worked for them as a mechanic for two years and here got his first touch of auto racing.

Then came the big Pendleton roundup of l9l4. The Gray brothers persuaded "Hoot" to enter the rodeo, and it was at this world's event that the young cowboy-mechanic won the world's championship as best all-around cowboy in relay, pony, roping, bareback and Roman riding, a title which he still holds.

Gibson came by the monicker "Hoot" several years ago, when, as a cowboy on the ranch, he was always the last to turn in. "Gibson, you're a regular night owl," said one of his pals, and from that day on the boys called him "Hoot."

Gibson's rise in the picture world has been rapid. He joined the Universal film company a few years ago and has appeared in Western features ever since. He was recently elevated to stardom.

Seattle Star, 11-May-1916

Olive Ryther was a Seattle lady who devoted her life to helping orphans and widows and anyone who was hungry. In 1885, she took in the four children of a neighbor who had died. She took care of the needy until she died in 1934. The Ryther Child Center now helps troubled kids and their families.

Motion Picture News, 25-February-1921

Guinn "Big Boy" Williams was a tall, muscular guy who had worked as a cowboy and played professional baseball. Will Rogers helped to get him into the movies and gave him the nickname. Big Boy had been an Army officer during World War One. He remained active during the talkie era.

Morning Tulsa Daily World, 25-February-1922


Art Acord was another contemporary of Mix and Jones, who appeared in many silent films, but did not make the transition to talkies. Tom Santschi (hard name to spell) had a long career, but mostly worked in small character parts after the mid-1920s.