Corral! Corral! Indians! -- November 24, 2024

Casper Daily Tribune, 28-November-1924

George N Fenin and William K Everson in their book The Western: from Silents to Cinerama said that The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, may have been the first epic western. Jesse Lasky gave Cruze liberty to shoot on location and spend money

Casper Daily Tribune, 28-November-1924

Once Again Bill Hits the Entertainment Target Dead Center -- June 17, 2024

Casper Daily Tribune, 03-June-1924

Casper, Wyoming's Rialto Theater ran some interesting illustrated ads. Clifford Smith directed William S Hart in Singer Jim McKee. This  turned out to be his last movie for Paramount. Historian William K Everson said it was pretty silly to cast William S Hart as a singing cowboy, especially in a silent film.

Casper Daily Tribune, 04-June-1924

I like this image of Big Bill smashing through a door. "When it comes to Western melodramas Hart's are trumps. And here again the two-gun king shoots straight to the heart!"

Casper Daily Tribune, 04-June-1924

I wonder if Bill's face is obscured on purpose. 

Casper Daily Tribune, 02-June-1924

Casper Daily Tribune, 05-June-1924

The Casper Daily Tribune approved of the movie.

Photoplay, June, 1924

Photoplay also approved.

Photoplay, June, 1924

Don't ask me.

Bill Hart is Back! -- January 13, 2024

Moving Picture World, 05-January-1924

William S Hart's career had been derailed when he was accused of fathering a woman's five-year-old child. Even though he wound up paying child support, he was allowed to return to the screen. Wild Bill Hickock was a success.

Omaha Bee, 10-January-1924

Notice that this ad does not mention the title of the movie. 

Motion Picture News, 26-January-1924

Hart's next film was Singer Jim McKee. William K Everson said it was pretty silly to cast William S Hart as a singing cowboy, especially in a silent film.

Motion Picture News, 12-January-1924

There were disagreements between Hart and Jesse L Lasky, heard of Famous Players-Lasky. 

Film Daily, 02-January-1924

Film Daily, 02-January-1924

Lincoln, Sheridan, Custer in Bill Hart Cast -- October 11, 2023

 

Motion Picture News, 13-October-1923

William S Hart's next movie to be released. would be a biography of Wild Bill Hickok, directed by Clifford Smith. Wyatt Earp was the historical consultant. This item says that characters included Abraham Lincoln, George A Custer and General Sheridan. Lincoln was not a character in the movie. 

Film Daily, 22-October-1923

Hart started work on his next film, Singer Jim McKee. William K Everson said it was pretty silly to cast William S Hart as a singing cowboy, especially in a silent film.

The Covered Wagon is the Most Colossal Achievement in All Motion Picture History -- February 26, 2023

 

Motion Picture News, 24-February-1923

George N Fenin and William K Everson in their book The Western: from Silents to Cinerama said that The Covered Wagon, directed by James Cruze, may have been the first epic western. Jesse Lasky gave Cruze liberty to shoot on location and spend money. Paramount promoted the film heavily, as we see in this two-page ad with color.

We have seen James Cruze as an actor in a large number of films for Thanhouser. 

Motion Picture News, 20-January-1923

"Facts About the Bigness of 'The Covered Wagon.'" It was Big:

• 3,000 actors spent three months on location, eighty miles from a railroad.
  
• Nine states were searched for locations.
  
• 1,000 Indians were brought from reservations hundreds of miles away, with their horses, tepees, and complete equipment.
  
• Eight truckloads of supplies a day had to be taken over the rough desert roads.
  
• Three hundred wagons were built. 40,000 square feet of canvas used to cover them.
  
• 100 oxen broken to the yoke.
  
• 3,000 costumes of the period made.
  
• Water backed up three miles for river scene ; dam broke and flooded camp, tearing down tents.
  
• 500 horses brought from Oregon for buffalo hunt scenes, which required particularly strong animals. 500 ordinaty horses also used.
  
• 500 buflaloes used in the hunt; the only large herd in existence.
  
• Nine square rniles of territory burned up for prairie fire scene.
  
• Seventy trees felled and transported eighty miles for building of ferries.
  
• Sixty wagons hauled material daily for six weeks to build replica of Fort Bridger.
  
• Mile-wide river forded by 300 wagons; men and animals had to swim; this was really dangerous, as bottom was quicksand.
  
• Every department of studio represented on location : wardrobe, property, scenario, publicity, film laboratory, construction, bookkeeping, auditing, stenographic and doctor's ofIice.
  
• Electric light plant built and light supplied to all tents.
  
• Complete commissary department employing several hundred fed the crowds. Mess tent held 1,000 at a time.
  

Motion Picture News, 13-January-1923

"A fortune has been spent in making this picture."

Motion Picture News, 06-January-1923