Films! Films! -- February 4, 2025

New York Clipper, 01-February-1908

The OT Crawford Film Exchange Company in Saint Louis said "We can rent you every feature and good film the world produces, PATHE's 'LIFE OF CHRIST,' 'PARSIFAL,' 'BEN-HUR' and 'TWO ORPHANS' rented reasonable." 

Life and Passion of the Christ was a 1903 motion picture that is considered the first feature length story film. "Parsifal" was probably the 1903 Edison movie directed by Edwin S Porter. "Ben-Hur" may have been the 1907 Kalem one-reeler. The Two Orphans was a popular play that DW Griffith later adapted as Orphans of the Storm. So far I haven't found a reference to a film adaptation made in 1908 or before.

The Onion Magnate's Revenge -- October 9, 2017

Moving Picture World, 20-October-2017

In his wonderful book The Silent Clowns, Walter Kerr suggested that Lloyd Hamilton was one of the great silent comics whose reputation has diminished. This is because many of the solo movies Hamilton made for Educational during the 1920s are lost. Perhaps this is also because he was not able to succeed as a star in feature films.

The Ham and Bud comedies, made with Bud Duncan, were rough and ready, but very popular.

Moving Picture World, 06-October-2017

 Reviews of "The Onion Magnate's Revenge" and "The Bathtub Bandit."  

Moving Picture World, 06-October-2017

The new series of Ham Comedies were getting good bookings.  

Moving Picture World, 06-October-2017

"The Famous Gloom Chasers." 

New "Ham" Comedies -- September 5, 2017

Moving Picture World, 29-September-2017

In his wonderful book The Silent Clowns, Walter Kerr suggested that Lloyd Hamilton was one of the great silent comics whose reputation has diminished. This is because many of the solo movies Hamilton made for Educational during the 1920s are lost. Perhaps this is also because he was not able to succeed as a star in feature films.

The Ham and Bud comedies, made with Bud Duncan, were rough and ready, but very popular.

Moving Picture World, 29-September-2017

 I like the titles.  "Politics at Pumpkin Center," "The Boot and the Loot" and "A Whirlwind of Whiskers."

Moving Picture World, 29-September-2017

Two more titles: "The Onion Magnate's Revenge" and "The Bath Tub Bandit."

Ham Comedies -- Nufsed -- March 15, 2017

Moving Picture World, 10-March-2017

In his wonderful book The Silent Clowns, Walter Kerr suggested that Lloyd Hamilton was one of the great silent comics whose reputation has diminished. This is because many of the solo movies Hamilton made for Educational during the 1920s are lost. Perhaps this is also because he was not able to succeed as a star in feature films.

The Ham and Bud comedies, made with Bud Duncan, were rough and ready, but very popular.
 

Moving Picture World, 10-March-2017

"Our 'HAM' comedies have taken a new lease on life.  For proof we point with price to Mr. Santell's first -- 'Efficiency Experts?'"

Moving Picture World, 10-March-2017

"Those funny fellers -- Ham and Bud, in every day life Lloyd V Hamilton and AE Duncan -- have been induced to affix their signatures to long-term contracts insuring their continued appearance in the 'Ham' comedies released by Kalem." 

My Program Would Not Be Complete Without Ham and Bud -- February 13, 2017

Moving Picture World, 24-February-1917

In his wonderful book The Silent Clowns, Walter Kerr suggested that Lloyd Hamilton was one of the great silent comics whose reputation has diminished. This is because many of the solo movies Hamilton made for Educational during the 1920s are lost. Perhaps this is also because he was not able to succeed as a star in feature films.

This ad for his earlier movies with Kalem quotes an exhibitor in Colony Kansas: "We believe the Ham Comedies have more real comedy that is clean and worth any one's time to watch than can be found in looking over a long list of so-called comedies." 

The item below recounts the story of two Ham and Bud films. 

Moving Picture World, 17-February-1917

"Ham," the Kalem Fun-Maker -- January 27, 2017

Moving Picture World, 06-January-1917

In his wonderful book The Silent Clowns, Walter Kerr suggested that Lloyd Hamilton was one of the great silent comics whose reputation has diminished. This is because many of the solo movies Hamilton made for Educational during the 1920s are lost. Perhaps this is also because he was not able to succeed as a star in feature films.

The Cream of Mirth Provokers -- November 12, 2014

Moving Picture News, 14-November-1914

In his wonderful book The Silent Clowns, Walter Kerr suggested that Lloyd Hamilton was one of the great silent comics whose reputation has diminished. This is because many of the solo movies Hamilton made for Educational during the 1920s are lost. Perhaps this is also because he was not able to succeed as a star in feature films.

This ad for his earlier movies with Kalem promises that their comedies would be without vulgarity.  Hamilton's Ham and Bud comedies, with Bud Dancan were actually very rough and very vulgar. 

Marshall "Mickey" Neilan, who had been an actor, became a director at Kalem.  By the later teens, he was considered an important director. 

Ripe Red Cherries and Adams California Fruit Gum -- May 28, 2014

With cherry season beginning, I thought this was appropriate.  Actress Ruth Roland was born in San Francisco.  She appeared on stage in New York, then worked for the Kalem company in New York and Los Angeles from 1909 to 1914.  She went on to appear in many early serials and produced many of her own movies.  This ad for Adams California Fruit Gum is from the September, 1919 Shadowland. 

The Hazards of Helen -- May 10, 2014

Happy National Train Day, everyone.  In honor of the day, here is an ad from the 05-December-1914 Moving Picture World for The Hazards of Helen, starring Helen Holmes.  The 119 episode Kalem series was not a movie serial, but a series of films about the adventures of Helen, a plucky lady who did more rescuing than getting rescued.  Most of the episodes took place around railroads.  Helen was often a station agent or a telegrapher. 

Helen Holmes and her husband, director JP McGowan, did the first 26 episodes, except for number 18, where Anna Q Nilsson took over when Helen got sick.  After Holmes and McGowan left, Elsie McLeod took over for episodes 27-49.  Then Rose Gibson changed her name to Helen and took over for the rest of the series. 

Episode 13, "Escape on the Fast Freight" is available on YouTube:

Today is also the 150th birthday of French film industry pioneer Léon Gaumont.  The Gaumont Film Company is one of the oldest in the world.