Rex the Marvelous Stallion in The Devil Horse -- February 17, 2026

In honor of the beginning of Chinese New Year, the Year of the Fire Horse, here is Rex, King of the Wild Horses, starring in The Devil Horse.  Rex was a big stallion who appeared in features produced by Hal Roach and serials for Mascot. 

The Old Corral (http://www.b-westerns.com/) has some nice stories about Rex and links where you can download some of his movies. 

The ad is from the 06-June-1926 Film Daily.

Today is also Mardi Gras and the beginning of Ramadan.

Best Desmond Serial Ever Made! -- January 30, 2025

Universal Weekly, 10-January-1925

The Riddle Rider (great title) was a movie serial produced by Universal. William Desmond and Eileen Sedgwick starred and William Craft directed. 

The Riddle Rider --November 27, 2024

Universal Weekly, 22-November-1922

The Riddle Rider (great title) was a movie serial produced by Universal. William Desmond and Eileen Sedgwick starred and William Craft directed. I like the illustration.

Fred Thomson World's Champion Athlete -- June 11, 2023

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

The Eagle's Talons and In the Days of Daniel Boone were Universal serials. Fred Thomson, star of The Eagle's Talons had a diverse career. While attending the Princeton Theological Seminary, he earned the Amateur Athletic Union's All-Around Champion trophy in 1910, 1911 and 1913. After being ordained as a Presbyterian minister, he joined the Army and served as a chaplain during World War One. He went into the movie business after he married director and screenwriter Frances Marion. In time, he became a major western star. Sadly, he died of Tetanus in 1928.

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

William Duncan played in, wrote and directed many serials and other westerns. Jack Mower continued to work until the 1960s, but played small parts after the silent era. Eileen Sedgwick starred in many serials. Her brother Eddie Sedgwick directed many westerns and also most of Buster Keaton's silent two-reelers. Jack Hoxie was a real cowboy and rodeo performer who became a big star in the early 1920s.

Motion Picture News, 09-June-1923

Priscilla Dean starred in many serials. Hoot Gibson was one of my favorite western stars.

Film Daily, 03-June-1923

Leo Maloney directed several movies with Hoot Gibson, but he also starred in a series of two-reel Range Rider westerns, which he co-directed with Ford Beebe.

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

Motion Picture News, 02-June-1923

Motion Picture News, 16-June-1923

Blackhawk Bulletin 229 -- Batman -- September 23, 2022

Blackhawk Bulletin 229, October 1972

I was an avid reader of the Blackhawk Bulletin, even though I rarely had enough money to buy any movies from Blackhawk Films. I would have loved to get this edited version of the original Batman movie serial. Nowadays we can get the whole thing on dvd. 

Learn more about the serial here:

Big V Riot Squad: Batman vs Doctor Daka -- June 1, 2014

I was excited to learn that scans of many issues were available at the HMH Foundation Moving Image Archives at USC:
USC HMH Foundation Moving Image Archive » Blackhawk Films’ Catalogs (uschefnerarchive.com)

Movie Serials -- The Leap That Will Startle the World -- April 29, 2022

Moving Picture World, 08-April-1922

Charles Hutchison wrote, directed, acted and performed stunts in many Pathé serials (Pathéserials). "At a speed of 50 miles per hour he jumps his motorcycle from a ferryslip to the ferryboat yards away." This reminds me of an old San Francisco story whose punchline was "Yumpin' yimeny, what a yump."

Moving Picture World, 22-April-1922

Moving Picture World, 29-April-1922

Looks exciting.

Moving Picture World, 01-April-1922

"Polo's First Independent Serial!" Eddie Polo was a popular serial star. He started out as a trapeze artist in a circus. He appeared in many serials in the US and then went to Germany, where he starred in action films. He later worked as a makeup artist.

Moving Picture World, 01-April-1922

This serial must have a good-sized costume budget.

Moving Picture World, 08-April-1922

Moving Picture Weekly, 01-April-1922

Harry Myers, who had recently starred in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, played the lead in Universal's serial adaption of The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Noble Johnson played Man Friday.

Moving Picture Weekly, 08-April-1922

Note that the cast included Spottiswoode Aitken. I have always liked his name. 

Moving Picture Weekly, 15-April-1922

Moving Picture World, 29-April-1922

Universal's Perils of the Yukon starred Big Bill Desmond. 

The Year of the Tiger -- February 19, 2022

Moving Picture World, 05-April-1919

In honor of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Tiger, here is a trade ad for The Trail of the Tiger, starring serial queen Ruth Roland.

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade is tonight. The parade has taken place since the 1860s.

Col. Selig's Serial Masterpiece -- December 27, 2021

Motion Picture News, 31-December-1921

Serial star Charles Hutchison sends his best wishes. Hutchison wrote, directed, acted and performed stunts in many Pathé serials (Pathéserials). He was especially good at motorcycle stunts.

Motion Picture News, 03-December-1921

Ruth Roland, who was born in San Francisco, was one of the great Serial Queens.

Motion Picture News, 17-December-1921

Motion Picture News, 03-December-1921

Elinor Field played the Jungle Goddess in Selig's serial of the same name. "Col. Selig's Serial Masterpiece."

Motion Picture News, 26-November-1921

Ben Wilson and Neva Gerber were a popular team in serials. The Mysterious Pearl is probably lost.

Motion Picture News, 10-December-1921

Motion Picture News, 24-December-1921

Motion Picture News, 26-November-1921

Motion Picture News, 10-December-1921

Motion Picture News, 26-November-1921

"Hurricane Hutch" Popular -- November 30, 2021

Exhibitors Herald, 26-November-1921

Charles Hutchison wrote, directed, acted and performed stunts in many Pathé serials (Pathéserials). He was especially good at motorcycle stunts. Hurricane Hutch was directed by George B Seitz. It featured Warner Oland, who appeared in many silent serials. Another version of Stunt No. 33 has Hutch and his leading lady going over a waterfall in a canoe.

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

Motion Picture News, 05-November-1921

Big old Elmo Lincoln had been the first person to play Tarzan, in a 1918 movie. In 1921, he was in a serial, The Adventures of Tarzan. I like the leopard. 

Moving Picture World, 26-November-1921

Elinor Field played the Jungle Goddess in Selig's serial of the same name. 

Motion Picture News, 26-November-1921

It took Selig a while to announce the serial's name. 

Motion Picture News, 12-November-1921

Ruth Roland, who was born in San Francisco, was one of the great Serial Queens. 

Moving Picture World, 19-November-1921

The Thrill-a-Minute Stunt King -- December 28, 2021

 

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

It occurred to me recently that I have not posted enough items about movie serials. Charles Hutchison wrote, directed, acted and performed stunts in many Pathé serials (Pathéserials). He was especially good at motorcycle stunts. Hurricane Hutch was directed by George B Seitz. It featured Warner Oland, who appeared in many silent serials. 

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

"The Thrill-a-Minute Stunt King."

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

"Jam 'Em in on Polo Nights." Eddie Polo was a popular serial star. He started out as a trapeze artist in a circus. He appeared in many serials in the US and then went to Germany, where he starred in action films. He later worked as a makeup artist.

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Moving Picture World, 17-September-1921

The Vanishing Dagger was advertised as "The Mighty Sea to Sea" serial. 

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

Elmo Lincoln, who had a huge chest, played a dual role in The Flaming Disk. He played a Secret Service agent, Elmo Gray, and his brother, Jim Gray, a thief. Lincoln was the first person to play Tarzan in a movie.

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

"Universal's Newest Serial Wonder." Robert F Hill directed. 

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

"Thills of Almost Unbelievable Daring."

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

The Dragon's Net is billed as "The only serial ever filmed in China, Japan and the Philippines." With a big dollop of anti-Asian racism. Many silent serials starred women. Marie Walcamp was a major star in the early 1920s. Her career faded when serials went into decline and she killed herself in 1936. 

Moving Picture World, 17-September-1921

"Starring Marie Walcamp, the Woman Who Knows No Fear." 

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

"Four countries -- Two continents."