Friday, April 13, 2018

Mix Tries to Be "Civilized" -- April 13, 2018

Moving Picture World, 20-April-1918

In Fox's Western Blood, Tom Mix led a group of cowboys who tried to put on dress suits and act civilized.  
Omaha Daily Bee, 18-April-1918
Western Blood played at Omaha, Nebraska's Empress Theater with four acts of vaudeville.  


Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Soldiers at Camp Sherman Get Good Shows -- Aprilo 11, 2018

Moving Picture World, 27-April-1918
When the US entered World War One, training camps sprung up all over the country.  Camp Sherman, near Chillicothe, Ohio, is still an active base. The new soldiers could spend some of their leisure time watching movies in a dedicated theater.

Monday, April 9, 2018

Nelson-Gans Fight Pictures -- April 9, 2018

Moving Picture World, 27-March-1910
Battling Nelson had won the lightweight title from Joe Gans on 04-July-1908 in Colma, south of San Francisco. This ad offers their next fight, on 09-Setptember1908. Nelson won by knockout in 45 rounds. Joe Gans, the Old Master, was African-American.

New York World, 10-September-1908

Saturday, April 7, 2018

5000 Theaters Play Broncho Billy -- April 7, 2018

Moving Picture World, 06-April-1918
Gilbert M Anderson, Broncho Billy, was the first western star. With George K Spoor, he had founded Essanay (S and A). In 1918, Essanay began rereleasing his one-reel westerns.

Moving Picture World, 06-April-1918
"The Broncho Billy dramas ... are reported to be doing an unprecedented business.  Already there has been a call for more prints."

The Snakeville Comedies mentioned above were produced at the same time and in the same locations, often around Niles, California.  They starred Augustus Carney as Alkali Ike, Harry Todd as Mustang Pete and Margaret Joslin as Sophie Clutts.

Moving Picture World, 20-April-1918
 There's that word "revivified" again.  "...they stack up splendidly with present-day stuff..."

Moving Picture World, 27-April-1918
George Kleine System distributed the movies.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

The Emperor of Magic, Zera Semon -- April 5, 2018

Owosso, Michigan Times, 12-December-1890
Magician, ventriloquist and puppeteer Zera Semon, father of silent movie comedian Larry Semon, toured the country for many years.  I think this is the first time I have seen an image of Zera.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Graumans Chinese -- Kirk Douglas -- April 3, 2018


In July, 2012 we paid a return visit to Hollywood and Grauman's Chinese Theater. Sid Grauman was a San Francisco showman who came to Los Angeles and built three major houses, the Million Dollar, the Egyptian, and the Chinese. The theater has hosted many film premieres, but is most famous for the hand and footprints (and hoofprints and nose prints and other types of prints) in the forecourt.

Actor Kirk Douglas left his hand and footprints in the forecourt on 01-November-1962. He is a passionate actor whose work I have always admired. (31)

Kirk Douglas turned 100 on 09-December-1916. He is still alive.

He grew up poor, but wanted to be an actor after he recited a poem in kindergarten. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with Betty Joan Perske, who later became

Lauren Bacall. She had a crush on him, but he probably felt that she was too young.

After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy and served until 1944, when he was discharged because of wounds. Lauren Bacall helped him move from Broadway plays to the movies.

He made many good movies, including Out of the Past, In Harm's Way and Paths of Glory. In his own productions like Spartacus, he helped to break the Hollywood blacklist. Dalton Trumbo received a credit under his own name.

www.listal.com

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Happy Easter, 2018 -- April 1, 2018

www.listal.com
Happy Easter, everyone.  Jean Parker appeared with Laurel and Hardy in The Flying Deuces.