Larry Semon Special Comedies -- October 5, 2024

Film Daily, 26-October-1924

After his feature The Girl in the Limousine staggered in the box office, Larry started a series of two-reelers to be released by Educational. "Her Boy Friend" was the first of the "Larry Semon Special Comedies." Larry Semon and Noel Smith directed.

Film Daily, 14-October-1924

Scene From "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" -- October 21, 2014

Moving Picture World, 03-October-1914

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz. The company made some movies, but was not a financial success.  The cover of the 03-October-1914 features an image from their first movie, The Patchwork Girl of Oz. 

A Weird and Spectacular Modern Drama -- September 21, 2014

Moving Picture World, 19-December-1914

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz. The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. Looking to change their luck, they made a movie out of L Frank Baum's 1908 adventure novel, which had been published anonymously, The Last Egyptian.  It was done in the style of H Ryder Haggard.  Three of the five reels survive at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. 

Violet MacMillan With Oz -- August 20, 2014

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz. The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. Actress Violet MacMillan appeared in their first movie, The Patchwork Girl of Oz and some others. Here she appears on the cover of the 24-October-1914 Motography.

His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz -- July 23, 2014

Moving Picture World, 24-October-1914

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success.  Their third feature was His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz.  I don't know much about the movie. 

Oz Film Company's First Release -- June 18, 2014

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This item is from the 17-October-1914 edition of Motography.  It talks about the release of their first film, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, which "made a triumphant and initial bow to New York film-goers at the Strand theater during September's last week." 

A Delightfully Romantic Extravaganza -- May 18, 2014

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This item is from the 17-October-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  It is an appreciation of their first film, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, by the Reverend WH Jackson. 

"For several years we have had so much foolishness labeled 'Fun,' and so many coarse and vulgar absurdities called comical, that it is a welcome relief to see 'Comedy -- Without Vulgarity' and 'A Puch -- without brutality.'" 

If You Have Not Yet Booked Oz Features Do So at Once -- April 24, 2014

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This ad is from the 10-October-1914 edition of Moving Picture World. It refers to their first two movies, The Patchwork Girl of Oz and The Magic Cloak of Oz.  It claims that The Patchwork Girl had "Crowded Houses -- Playing to Standing Room Only -- At the Strand Theatre, New York City." 

I know The Last Egyptian, a non-Oz Baum story got produced.  I'm not sure about His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz. 

The Patchwork Girl of Oz -- March 23, 2014

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This review of their first feature, by W Stephen Bush is from the 03-October-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  The reviewer is fairly enthusiastic, with some reservations.  "The acting is fair, and some of the characters enter into their parts with a good deal of enjoyable enthusiasm." 

The other article in this clipping is about the arrival in Hollywood of William C deMille, brother of Cecil B DeMille.  William did not capitalize his "D."  William was an experienced and successful playwright.  He became a good director, although he never had the commercial success that his brother attained.  William was considered a more serious artist. 

Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

The Oz Film Co -- February 21, 2014

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This article by Clarke Irvine about its spacious studio is from the 04-July-1914 edition of Moving Picture World. 

Oz Film Manufacturing Company -- January 14, 2014

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This logo is a detail from a double page ad in the 29-September-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  The full ad is below.  It refers to their first two movies, The Patchwork Girl of Oz and The Magic Cloak of Oz.

I moved this series over from my other blog, The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion.  Here are the entries from this series on that blog.