Clayton Moore 100 -- September 14, 2014

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Actor Claytom Moore was born 100 years ago today, on 14-September-1914.  He performed in the circus, served as a model, In the late 1930s, he began appearing in movies.  During World War II, he served in the US Army Air Force, making training films. 

Moore starred in some features at Republic Studios and some serials, including Perils of Nyoka with Kay Aldridge, The Crimson Ghost with Linda Stirling, Adventures of Frank and Jesse James, as Jesse James, with Noell Neill, and Ghost of Zorro.

The Lone Ranger. created by writer Fran Striker, had appeared on radio since 1933 and had been the lead character in two Republic serials in 1938 and 1939.  In 1949, Striker was looking for someone to play the Long Ranger on a television series.  Trendle picked Moore to play the Lone Ranger, allegedly after seeing him in Ghost of Zorro. Moore modeled his voice on the voice of Brace Beemer who had played the role on the radio for several years. 

The series, which also featured Jay Silverheels as Tonto, was a success, but Moore got fired after the second season.  Moore returned for the fourth season and stayed till production stopped. 

New property owner Jack Wrather made two theatrical features with Moore and Silverheels, The Lone Ranger in 1956 and The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold in 1958.

Clayton Moore spent the rest of his life, with a short exception, making personal appearances as the Lone Ranger.  He always tried to behave in a way that would be a good example to young people.  He always wore his mask in public.   

In 1981, Jack Wrather made a movie called The Legend of the Lone Ranger, and sued to prevent Moore from portraying the Lone Ranger.  Moore started wearing sunglasses and countersued, winning the right to appear as the Lone Ranger.  The movie was a bomb, and the negative publicity from picking on a national icon made things worse. 

Clayton Moore died in 1999. 

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Stan Freberg produced the commercial in the 1960s.

Renfax Musical Motion Pictures -- September 13, 2014

Moving Picture World, 12-Septebmer-1914

The Renfax Film Company made one of the many early attempts at producing motion pictures with synchronized sound.  I haven't found many details yet, but they seem to have sold a device that would synchronize a motion picture projector with a phonograph.  I know from experience that this is very hard to do.  "Weekly rentals less than cost of single singer." 

Majestic Motion Picture Company -- September 12, 2014

Moving Picture World, November 21, 1914.

After finishing Birth of a Nation, DW Griffith and his stock company moved on to the Majestic Motion Picture Company, where he directed and produced shorts and short features for Mutual release.  This ad features his leading ladies, Blanche Sweet, Mae Marsh, Lillian Gish and Dorothy Gish, "Who appear Exclusively in Majestic Releases and 'Griffith' Specials." 

Matty in Pictures -- September 11, 2014

Moving Picture World, 26-September-1914

Christy Mathewson was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball. He won three games for the New York Giants in the 1905 World Series. He was widely considered the best human being in baseball. He served in the army during the First World War and was exposed to gas during a training exercise and developed tuberculosis. This led to his early death at the age of 45. He was a member of the first class of the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1914, Mathewson signed with Universal to do a series of movies.

I don't know how many got produced, and I doubt any still survive.

This item talks about his appearance in "Love and Baseball."  "Christy Mathewson has acquired more fame in the baseball world than any other player; he has established a reputation as the greatest pitcher the world has ever produced."

 

Robert Wise 100 -- September 10, 2014

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Happy 100th birthday to director Robert Wise.  I remember when he gave many interviews about working with Orson Welles on Citizen Kane.  He worked closely with producer Val Lewton at RKO. 

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One of my favorite Robert Wise movies is Somebody Up There Likes Me, where Paul Newman played Rocky Graziano:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-real-battle-of-1948-august-24-2014.html

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I don't care much for science fiction, but The Day the Earth Stood Still is a favorite. 

Broncho Billy -- September 9, 2014

Motography, 15-August-1914

"'Broncho Billy' In his wonderful western photoplays is drawing crowds everywhere.  His friends are millions and world wide.

"G.M. Anderson

"Is featured every Saturday in a 'Broncho Billy' release."

Essanay had studios in Chicago and Niles, California. 

Moving Picture World, 13-April-1912

The World's Wonder Spectacle -- September 8, 2014

Giovanni Pastrone's Italian feature Cabiria was a popular spectacle which influenced filmmakers all over the world, including DW Griffith. It was set during the Second Punic War. The image above shows locations where the story was set. The ad stresses that the movie was written by Italian author Gabriele D'Annunzio.