The Ill-Fated ZR-2 -- August 24, 2021

Exhibitors Herald, 10-September-1921

The US Navy arranged to buy British Zeppelin R-38 while it was under construction. The US renamed it ZR-2. While undergoing a test on 24-August-1921, the Zeppelin broke in two, and the forward portion burned and exploded. The whole wreck crashed into the Humber River. 44 members of the 49-man crew died. 17 American sailors were aboard and all but one died. After accepting the ship, the Americans were going to fly ZR-2 across the Atlantic.

Read a contemporary newspaper article on my other blog: https://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2021/08/seventeen-officers-and-men-of-united.html

The Zeppelin's Last Raid -- November 1, 2017

Moving Picture World, 24-November-1917

I used to read a lot about Thomas Ince in film history books.  He was known for having a big ego, even by Hollywood standards.  He deserved to be proud of his accomplishments as a writer, a director and a producer. The Zeppelin's Last Raid addressed a hot topic in 1917.

Moving Picture World, 24-November-1917

The plot of the film, which is probably lost, sounds a little far-fetched.  The captain of the Zeppelin is in love with a woman who belongs to an underground organization that wants to overthrow the Kaiser.

Moving Picture World, 24-November-1917

"The commander throws the 'Death Switch' which destroys the huge dirigible in mid air."  I would bet most Zeppelins didn't have Death Switches. Some guy would be trying to turn on the lights and throw the Death Switch instead. 

News of the Week February 20, 1915 -- February 20, 2015

The 20-February-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Ruins of the Town Hall at Union Hill, N. J.  Copyright 1915, by Pathe News."  A fire early in the morning of 31-January-1915 damaged the business district and destroyed the town hall.

"Cottages after the sand storm at Salisbury Beach, Mass.  Copyright 1915, by Pathe News."  I haven't found anything about this event. 

"Testing the barge in which President Wilson will lead the fleet through Panama Canal.  Copyright 1915 by Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  The United States planned to have a grand international naval pageant through the canal in March, in conjunction with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. 

"Italian earthquake victims being rushed to Rome.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  A massive earthquake hit Italy between Rome and Naples in January, 1915.  Some people saw it as a divine warning to stay out of the war. 

"Scene in the Krupp Gun Works at Essen, Germanay.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Friedrich Krupp AG made a nice profit from the war. 

"View of Yarmouth, England, after its bombardment by Zeppelins.  Copyright 1915 by Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  This may be from 19-January-1915, the first Zeppelin attack on British soil:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2015/01/zeppelin-throws-bombs-at-sandringham.html

News of the Week February 6, 1915 -- February 6, 2015

The 06-February-1915 Motography featured "News of the Week as Shown in Films," with items from current newsreels.

"Carrying wounded away after riot at Roosevelt, N. J.  Copyright 1915 by Pathe Daily News."  On 19-January-1915, police shot strikers at the American Agricultural Chemical Company.  They killed four and wounded ten others.

"French troops retreat from Ypres, Belgium.  Copyright, 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  Fighting took place around Ypres throughout the war. 

"Roads in Loum, Belgium, in awful condition because of rains. Copyright, 1915, by Pathe Daily News."  I don't know of a town called Loum in Belgium.  The European winters during World War One were some of the worst during the 20th Century. 

"Ready to stow a torpedo in the K-5, new U. S. submarine.  Copyright, 1915 by Hearst-Selig News Pictorial."  K-5 operated along the east coast the in the Caribbean until 1923. 

"Pres. Tenner, Gary Herman and Pres. Johnson, baseball kings.  Copyright, 1915, by Hearst-Selig News Pictorial." John K Tener was the president of the National League.  Garry Herrmann was president of the National Baseball Commission.  Ban Johnson was the president and founder of the American League.  The three men made up the National Commission, which ran baseball before the position of Commissioner was instituted in 1920. 

"The German Zeppelin 'Victoria Luise' in flight.  Copyright 1915 by Universal Animated Weekly."  LZ-11, Viktoria Luise was a pre-war passenger Zeppelin taken over by the German Army.  In my other blog, we saw Viktoria  Luise star in a 1912 movie:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2012/06/sky-monster-june-1-2012.html