William S Hart -- Dry Those Tears Fans, Pinto's All Right -- August 8, 2025

Washington Times, 01-August-1925

Fritz was William S Hart's pinto pony. His home and ranch are now the William S. Hart Regional Park. Hart's first picture for United Artists would be Tumbleweeds. This was his last starring feature. 

DRY THOSE TEARS

FANS, PINTO’S

ALL RIGHT

Many personal inquiries and letters received by William S. Hart in respect to the Pinto pony, whose innumerable friends are anxious to know where and how he is, and what he is doing.

The Pinto, be it known, is luxuriating at Bill Hart’s Newhall ranch and once a week, invariably, his master visits him with carrots and sugar and caresses, which the pony accepts with all the dignity of a king, nosing out the other horses and refusing to leave Bill alone until certain the sugar supply is exhausted.

Meanwhile Elizabeth, the giant mule which Bill Hart acquired some years ago during the making of a picture, is almost as insistent as the Pinto.

Wonderful fields in which to graze, plenty of fodder, weekly gifts of special delicacies dear to the equine heart -- and best of all a sight of their beloved master -- this is the condition in which Bill Hart’s horses and other stock exist. And Bill, on his periodic visits, is Just as nappy to see the animals as they are to see him.

So, to all his friends In the world of men, the Pinto sends his kind regards and best wishes.

Hart is now preparing to start his first production for United Artists release and in this picture many horses, including the Pinto, will appear.

Alaska Daily Empire, 06-November-1922

Here's Old Hard-Ridin', Two Gun Bill Hart -- April 24, 2025

Fromberg News-Herald, 23-April-1925

I like the layout.

Orlando Sentinel, 05-April-1925

Having broken with Paramount, Hart joined forces with United Artists. 

William S Hart -- He'll Have Something to Remember His Dad By -- March 6, 2025

Glasco Sun, 26-March-1925

I like the image in this item about William S Hart's Singer Jim McKee. It describes how the film was shot in the Sierras.

Casper Daily Tribune, 22-March-1925

The Patriot, a 1916 film directed by Hart himself, was rereleased in 1925.

Casper Daily Tribune, 22-March-1925

Photoplay, March, 1925

Last month we saw a photo of two-year-old William S Hart, Jr. His father neglected him, but did buy him a pair of silver inlaid Colt .45s for Christmas. "When he grows up, he'll have something to remember his dad by." I found that sad. 

Two-Gun Bill Jr. Himself -- February 7, 2025

New Britain Herald, 02-February-1925

William S Hart Jr was a cute kid. Sadly, his father did not pay him a great deal of personal attention.

Daily Worker, 21-February-1925

The Daily Worker suggested that William S Hart might be a good candidate for the king of Albania. 

This was not a desirable position. In early 1925, Albania replaced the regency, which had ruled the country since Prince Wilhelm fled the country in 1914, with a republic. The new republic lasted until 1928, when it was replaced by a constitutional monarchy. Dictator President Zogu became King Zog. Zog left the country in 1939 when Italy invaded and annexed Albania. He did not get his throne back when the Communists took over after the war. 

William S Hart -- Really Rotten -- January 6, 2025

Moving Picture World, 31-January-1925

I have heard that Singer Jim McKee, William S Hart's last film for Paramount, was poorly received. I don't think I saw anything as bad as this report from Sam Brooks of the Liberty Theater in Hailey, Idaho. "I had seen so many bad reports." "The poorest thing they had ever seen." "If I had known just how really rotten it was..." "No audience appeal." 

William S Hart -- A Triumphant Return for the Daddy of Western Thrillers -- December 5, 2024

Salisbury Post, 03-December-1923

I thought it was interesting that this ad does not mention the title of the William S Hart movie coming to the Iris in Salisbury, Marland. I'm guessing, because of the reference to his first film since his retirement, that it was Wild Bill Hickok. 

Kane Republican, 26-December-1924

Singer Jim McKee was a silent singing cowboy movie. Note the note in the image. "Singer Jim McKee strikes just the right note in Westerns." Kane is a town in Pennsylvania.

William S Hart With His Famous Pinto Pony -- November 5, 2024

San Pedro News-Pilot, 01-November-1924

William S Hart starred in Truthful Tulliver back in 1917, but many of his movies were revived. I like his side eye in the image. 

Danville Register and Bee, 01-November-1924

Wild Bill Hickok was Hart's penultimate film for Paramount. It came after he temporarily retired for three years because when he was accused of fathering a woman's five-year-old child.

Tyrone Daily Herald, 01-November-1924

Singer Jim McKee, his last film for Paramount, was not a success. I find it hard to picture Bill Hart as a singing cowboy.

Bill Hart Entered Pictures Ten Years Ago at $75 a Week -- September 17, 2024

Photoplay, September, 1924

I like William S Hart's hat. 

Millville Daily, 01-September-1924

Wild Bill Hickok was Hart's penultimate film for Paramount. The Grand Theater in Millville, New Jersey paired it with "5 Good Acts Vaudeville 5." 

Selma Times-Journal, 01-September-1924

Singer Jim McKee was not a success. I find it hard to picture Bill Hart as a singing cowboy. 

Alexandria Gazette, 13-September-1924

Hart wrote a series of stories for young people about Injun and Whitey, "The Golden West Boys."

 

Bill Hart in Wolf Lowry -- August 6, 2024

Seattle Star, 26-August-1917

I couldn't find any interesting William S Hart items from this month 100 years ago, so I dipped back further and found this item from 1917. I like the silhouettes. William S Hart starred in and directed Wolf Lowry. 

Hart's career at Paramount was over in 1924, and he would make only one more movie. Thomas H Ince produced.

William S Hart -- The Glorious Fourth -- July 6, 2024

Middlesboro Daily News, 02-July-1924

I hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July. 

William S Hart's Wild Bill Hickok was the Independence Day attraction at Middlesboro's Manring and Brownie Theaters. 

Middlesboro Daily News, 03-July-1924

"Bill Hart is Back!" With a rifle. "Bill Hart's here again to welcome his old friends and make new ones." With a rifle. 

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! -- May 8, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

Paramount asked exhibitors to "Play BIG Spring Pictures!" They starred Thomas Meighan, Gloria Swanson, Pola Negri and William S Hart. 

Exhibitors Herald, 03-May-1924

In a detail from the ad above, we see that this part of the item promotes Hart's movie Wild Bill Hickok. 

Hart Deal Off -- April 7, 2024

Motion Picture Magazine, April, 1924

This issue of Motion Picture Magazine carried a color portrait of William S Hart on its cover.

Film Daily, 06-April-1924

William S Hart and Famous Players had "come to the parting of the ways." This item said that Famous "did not enjoy the material that Hart used in his recent pictures."

Film Daily, 06-April-1924

This item, from the same issue of Film Daily says that Famous Players and Hart had been negotiating, but the deal fell through. 

San Francisco Bulletin, 25-April-1924

A McClure Newspaper Syndicate writer asked various celebrities about "When I was Twenty-One." William S Hart said "At the age of 21, I was an actor. My ambition was to endeavor to become a good one."  "Hart's statement as to what his position in life was at the age of 21, and what his hopes and ambitions were at that time is both laconic, as one would expect it to be from him, and decidedly to the point."

Photoplay, April, 1924

Some readers will remember that Dorothy Davenport's husband, actor Wallace Reid, had died suddenly on 18-January-1923, leaving her with two small children. Neighbor William S Hart visited on Christmas day to do "his best to make Christmas seem natural to little Bill and Betty Reid." That was a good deed. 

More about Dorothy Davenport:

Big V Riot Squad: Dorothy Davenport: Her Life and Career -- March 27, 2017

On New Year's Day, Hart attended the Rose Bowl Game, held for only the second time at the Rose Bowl, and saw Washington and Navy tie at 14-14. The game program was shaped like a football. 

For Colored Only -- March 29, 2024

Atlanta Constitution, 11-March-1924

Atlanta's Paramount Theater "(For colored only)" was showing a William S Hart movie. 

Baltimore Sun, 16-March-1924

In January, we saw that Reol Productions, makers of race films, had been taken over by Progress Pictures. Emil Offerman, who had been head of Reol, was suing former employer Robertson-Cole over breach of contract. 

Motion Picture News, 15-March-1924

I was interested to see that African-Americans in Topeka, Kansas  protested DW Griffith's hateful epic The Birth of a Nation. I was shocked to see that they boycotted a local African American-owned newspaper which ran an advertisement for the showing. I haven't found the ad yet.

Hart Through -- March 8, 2024

Photoplay, March, 1924

A nice portrait of William S Hart in costume for Wild Bill Hickok, his first film after returning to Paramount after a personal scandal.

Motion Picture News, 15-March-1924

Singer Jim McKee turned out to be his last movie for Paramount.

Film Daily, 05-March-1924

"Hart had experienced differences of some sort with Jesse L. Lasky." He was done at Paramount/Famous Players-Lasky. 

Film Daily, 14-March-1924

Hart travelled to New York to try for a reconciliation.

Hart and a friend went on vacation. "...he will no longer make pictures for Famous."

Motion Picture Magazine, March, 1924

Motion Picture Magazine gave a snarky review of Wild Bill Hickok. "We will have to catalog it as old-fashioned." 

William S Hart and his Famous Pinto Pony -- February 17, 2023

Motion Picture News, 23-February-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.

Manager WF Brock of the Strand Theater in Knoxville heralded Hart's return with this lobby display.