Thursday, August 9, 2018

Robert Aldrich 100 -- August 9, 2018

www.listal.com
Director Robert Aldrich was born 100 years ago today, on 09-August-1918.  I can't tell you how many times I have seen some of his movies.

www.listal.com
www.listal.com

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Why America Will Win -- August 7, 2018

Moving Picture World, 31-August-1918
The United States joined the First World War in April, 1917. Learning from the British, the United States put its propaganda efforts into the hands of one organization, the Committee on Public Information, also called the Creel Committee, after its chairman, George Creel. The Creel Committee produced a few features. America's Answer was "The Second United States Official War Picture."

Moving Picture World, 10-August-1918
The "Official War Review" was a series of weekly one-reelers created by the Creel Committee.

Moving Picture World, 17-August-1918
"The Great Drive Starts."

Moving Picture World, 24-August-1918
"Over There and Over Here."

Moving Picture World, 31-August-1918
"Seeing the War -- at Home."

Moving Picture World, 10-August-1918
Why America Will Win was a feature-length dramatic biography of General John J (Black Jack) Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF).

Moving Picture World, 17-August-1918
"The Picture of the Hour."

Moving Picture World, 24-August-1918
"Based on the Family Records of Gen. John J. Pershing."

Moving Picture World, 31-August-1918
"Trained Investigators spent month gathering intimate details of the career of General Pershing for the massive Willian Fox Production."

Moving Picture World, 31-August-1918
Meanwhile, back in Italy, the Italian armies were fighting the Austro-Hungarian and German armies.  The battlefields high in the Alps were terrible.

Moving Picture World, 31-August-1918
"The first films to show a whole battle."


Sunday, August 5, 2018

Rialto Theatre Had to Call Out The Police! -- August 5, 2018

Film Daily, 15-May-1923
Millicent Hearst, wife of publisher William Randolph Hearst, founded the New York Free Milk Fund for Babies in 1921. On 12-May-1923, sportswriters Damon Runyon and Bill Farnsworth promoted a boxing fundraiser at Madison Square Garden.

Former heavyweight champion Jess Willard, the Pottawatomie Giant, defeated Floyd Johnson, the Auburn Bulldog, by TKO in the 11th.  Heavyweight contender Luis Ángel Firpo, the Wild Bull of the Pampas, defeated Jack McAuliffe by KO in the third.

Washington Times, 13-May-1923




Friday, August 3, 2018

Big V Special Comedies -- August 3, 2018

Motion Picture News, 24-August-1918
100 years ago this month, in August, 1918, Larry Semon was "the Producer and Principal Laugh-Getter In Some of the Vitagraph Big V Comedies."  That is not a bad photo of Larry.

Motion Picture News, 03-August-1918
"Big V comedy, one part, 'Dunces and Dangers,' featuring Lawrence Semon.  Written and directed by Lawrence Semon."  He loved alliteration.

Motion Picture News, 03-August-1918
This item hints at the extravagance that later caused Larry much trouble.

Motion Picture News, 17-August-1918
"Expressions of satisfaction already have begun to reach the Vitagraph home office on its decision to release Big V Comedies as two-reel features, beginning the week of September 16 ... Mr Semon, who was for several years cartoonist on the New York Evening Sun, writes all his own comedies and directs them, in adddition to playing the leading role in each."

Motion Picture News, 17-August-1918
"Larry Semon has just completed a Big V Comedy which is 'different' by way of its being made entirely in exterior scenes."

Motion Picture News, 24-August-1918
Motion Picture News, 31-August-1918
"Vitagraph's new series of two-reel feature comedies, the first of which will be released on September 16, will bear the brand name of 'Big V Special Comedies,' to distinguish them from the single-reel 'Big V Comedies' which the company has been issued for more than two years past."

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Mary Carlisle, RIP -- August 1, 2018

www.listal.com
Actress Mary Carlisle, the last surviving WAMPAS Baby Star, died at the age of 104.  She was married to the same guy from 1942 until he died in 2007.  She retired from acting soon after they were married.

www.listal.com



James O'Neill Monte Cristo -- August 1, 2018

Alta California, 15-June-1884
Actor James O'Neill, father of playwright Eugene O'Neill, spent a significant portion of his career playing Edmond Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo.  O'Neill played the part over 6000 times between 1875 and the early Twentieth Century.  He grew sick of the role and felt that it stunted his growth as an actor, but the public demanded that he play the Count.

The ad above is for an 1884 week at San Francisco's California Theater.

Moving Picture World, 25-October-1913


In 1912, James O'Neill played the part in the first production of the Famous Players Film Company.  It was directed by Edwin S Porter.