J Stuart Blackton 150 -- January 5, 2025

Paramount Press Book Collection, February-March, 1918

Pioneer movie producer J Stuart Blackton was born 150 years ago today, on 05-January-1875 in Sheffield, UK. With his vaudeville partner, Albert Smith, and William T Rock, an exhibitor, he founded the Vitagraph Company of America in 1897. Vitagraph produced many important movies including an early animated film, "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces," and several series of polite short comedies starring John Bunny, Mr and Mrs Sydney Drew, and a film intended to promote America's preparedness to go to war, The Battle Cry of Peace.

Humorous Phases of Funny Faces

John Bunny
Moving Picture Weekly, 23-May-1914

Moving Picture World, 04-September-1915

Sabatini's "The Sea Hawk" a Masterpiece -- August 29, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 12-July-1924

Frank Llloyd made an epic production based on Rafael Sabatini's novel The Sea Hawk. The 1924 movie, which starred Milton Sills and Enid Bennett, bears no relation other than its title to the 1940 The Sea Hawk with Errol Flynn.

Exhibitors Herald, 14-June-1924

San Francisco Bulletin, 30-August-1924

I like the design of this ad, especially the sail and the waves. 

San Francisco Bulletin, 30-August-1924

The San Francisco Bulletin's critic approved.

Exhibitors Herald, 23-August-1924

Meanwhile, Vitagraph was preparing an adaption of another pirate novel by Sabatini, Captain Blood.

The Almost Forgotten Studio of Hollywood -- Vitagraph -- July 9, 2024

Motion Picture Magazine, July, 1924

The Vitagraph Company of America was an important early film producer, but by 1924 its Hollywood studio was desolate. 

Semon Reissues Through Vitagraph -- May 2, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 24-May-1924

Despite or because of the recent divorce, Vitagraph put some time and money in to rereleasing ten of Larry Semon's one-reelers. They made new prints with new subtitles and issued new posters and a "special press sheet." We see above that all the titles were from the period when alliteration was popular.

Film Daily, 07-May-1924

Larry Semon -- Trouble Brewing -- March 1, 2023

Motion Picture News, 15-March-1924

Larry Semon started at Vitagraph in 1915. He started as a director and became a major comedy star. The relation turned acrimonious and "Trouble Brewing" was his last film for Vitagraph. Larry was going to move on to feature films. Larry and James D Davis co-directed. 

Larry Semon x 5 -- February 1, 2023

Brooklyn Chat, 09-February-1924

This ad for ten Loew's Theaters in Brooklyn has Larry Semon movies playing at five of them. 

Larry Semon -- Interprete de Las Comedias Vitagraph -- November 1, 2023

Cine-Mundial, November, 1923

Larry Semon's comedies were popular all over the world.

Motion Picture News, 17-November-1922

Only four comedies remained on Larry Semon's Vitagraph contract. 

Motion Picture News, 10-November-1922

Larry was making arrangements to start making comedies for Truart. 

One of The Most Ingenious of the Comedies Ever Produced by Larry Semon -- September 2, 2023

Motion Picture News, 15-September-1923

The Rex Theater in Eugene, Oregon used large cutouts to advertise The Girl of the Golden West. The cutout of Larry Semon, advertising a comedy short, is scary. 

Motion Picture News, 15-September-1923

Motion Picture News, 22-September-1923

"... declared by Vitagraph officials to be one of the most ingenious of the comedies ever produced by Larry Semon ..."

Larry Semon Comedy is Set for August Release -- August 3, 2023

Motion Picture News, 11-August-1923

Motion Picture News, 25-August-1923

Larry Semon was nearing the end of his long association with the Vitagraph. He owed them four two reelers. I thought it was interesting that Motion Picture News ran the same paragraph two weeks apart. At least they changed the title.

Motion Picture News, 11-August-1923

Larry Semon -- The Gown Shop -- July 2, 2023

Motion Picture News, 28-July-1923

"The Gown Shop" was one of Larry Semon's last four productions for his long-time studio, Vitagraph. 

The Snap-Shot Fiend -- June 2, 2023

New York Clipper, 04-August-1906

The Vitagraph Company of America, an important early film studio, advertised a wide selection of films at twelve cents a foot. "The Acrobatic Burglars" and "The Snap-Shot Fiend" sound like fun. Down in the fine print, we see that the "house of headliners" offered "Sherlock Holmes Baffled," "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman" and films of the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. 

Larry Semon -- The Midnight Cabaret -- June 1, 2023

Caldwell Tribune, 23-June-1923

Larry Semon was very big 100 years ago this month.

"The Midnight Cabaret" was "a real Broadway girl show transferred to the screen." The Huree Theater was in Caldwell, Idaho. 

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

After his long association with Vitagraph, which had been strained by Larry's excessive spending, he signed a million-dollar-a-year contract with Truart. The contract seems to have called for six feature films in that time. 

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

"No more two-reelers and slapsticks, but five reel comedy dramas." Larry wanted to follow the same path as Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd. 

Film Daily, 06-June-1923

Vitagraph wanted to make it clear that Larry still owed them four comedies for the 1923-1924 season. 

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

Larry's last film for the 1922-1923 season, "The Midnight Cabaret," was ready to ship to theaters.

Motion Picture News, 16-June-1923

Some readers had the impression that Larry had already left Vitagraph. Vitagraph pointed out that He had already started work on the first of the 1923-1924 short films. 

Imperial Valley Press, 13-June-1921

Larry denied that he "was engaged or married to beautiful Colletta Ryan, star of the 'Passing Show.'"

Indianapolis Times, 11-June-1923

On the other hand, Colletta Ryan wished Harry would propose. 

Larry Semon -- Golf, A Travesty of the Popular Pastime -- April 4, 2023

Calgary Herald, 30-April-1923

Larry Semon was very big 100 years ago this month. I like the way the drawing is split into two panels. The big guy in the lower panel may be Oliver Hardy. who frequently served as Larry's foil. 

Calgary Herald, 30-April-1923

A detail from the ad above. 

Martin and Osa Johnson made documentaries about their adventures around the world.

Film Daily, 04-April-1923

The long relationship between Larry Semon and Vitagraph was nearing the end.

Perth Amboy Evening News, 30-April-1923

This all comedy bill included:

The Bank -- Charlie Chaplin -- Essanay -- 1915

Bumping Into Broadway -- Harold Lloyd -- Roach -- 1919

The Bakery -- Larry Semon -- Vitagraph -- 1921

Larry Semon is at Work Upon a New Comedy -- March 1, 2023

Motion Picture News, 31-March-1923

"Scenes from the Larry Semon comedy for Vitagraph, 'The Midnight Cabaret.'"

Motion Picture News, 24-March-1923

"...it is said that for lavish production it exceeds anything Semon has attempted." This sort of spending got him into trouble. 

Motion Picture News, 17-March-1923

"Scenes from the Larry Semon comedy 'The Barnyard,' Vitagraph."

The Year of the Rabbit -- January 22, 2023

Moving Picture Weekly, 23-May-1914

In honor of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, here is John Bunny.

John Bunny was a popular performer in early Vitagraph comedies like "A Cure for Pokeritis" (1912), "Hearts and Diamonds" (1914) and "The Pickwick Papers" (1913). He was born (on 21-September-1863) to play Mr Pickwick. Bunny died in 1915 and the world mourned.  Here is a detail from a Vitagraph ad in the 23-May-1914 Moving Picture World.  Be sure to click on the image to see the larger version.  Note his tooth.

Larry Semon Penetrates Highbrow Armour -- November 2, 2022

Motion Picture News, 18-November-1922

Larry Semon was very big 100 years ago this month. "Larry Semon Penetrates Highbrow Armour"

Motion Picture News, 11-November-1922

Charles Ray was a big star, too, but I hardly ever mention him.

Larry Semon -- Ridolini -- October 2, 2022

Selma Times-Journal, 08-October-1922

"When Larry Semon and his leading woman, Lucille Carlisle, get busy on a golf links there is more fun to the foot than most comedies contain in two reels." 

Selma Times-Journal, 08-October-1922

The big guy with the moustache may be Oliver Hardy. Note that the text in this caption is the same as that in the ad above, except that here they spelled "Lucille" correctly. Both items appeared on the same page.

Great Falls Tribune, 01-October-1922

During a festival in Milan, the people voted Larry Semon as their favorite comedian. The Italians called him "Ridolini." I have read reports that his movies are still shown on Italian television.

All High Class Amusement Enterprises -- September 3, 2022

New York Clipper, 28-March-1903

The American Vitagraph Company offered films and equipment suitable for "Summer Parks, Theaters and All High Class Amusement Enterprises."

Larry Semon -- Vitagraph Offers a Riot -- September 2, 2022

New Bern Sun-Journal, 17-September-1922

Larry Semon was very big 100 years ago this month. It is interesting that New Bern, North Carolina had a theater called the Show Shop.

Washington Evening Star, 17-September-1922

This poorly reproduced image of Larry Semon reminds me of Joel Grey in Cabaret. I don't know what is going on in the photo of Charles Ray. 

Larry Semon in Golf -- August 1, 2022

Moving Picture World, 26-August-1922

Vitagraph's comedian Larry Semon starred in "Golf." Golf comedies have always been popular. See Chaplin in "The Idle Class," Billy Bevan in "The Golf Nut," Buster Keaton in "Convict 13," Laurel and Hardy in "Should Married Men Go Home?," WC Fields in "The Golf Specialist" and "The Dentist," Charley Chase in "All Teed Up," the Three Stooges in "Three Little Beers," Jerry Lewis in The Caddy and Bill Murray in Caddyshack.