Show Your Patrons Pershing in France -- July 9, 2018

Moving Picture World, 14-July-1918

The Universal Animated Weekly offered a special release On 13-June-1917, General John J Pershing arrived in France.  He was Commander of the AEF (American Expeditionary Force), which combined regular Army, National Guard and Marine units.

Moving Picture World, 14-July-1918

"Scenes of General's Greeting at Sea Port and in Paris Arouse Great Enthusiasm at Rialto."

Moving Picture World, 20-July-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. The first was Pershing's Crusaders. "Pershing's Crusaders was taken by the U.S. Signal Corps and Navy Photographers and the French General Staff."

The Only Picture Showing a Championship Title Change Hands -- July 7, 2018

Exhibitors' Herald, 04-February-1922

On 04-July-1919, heavyweight champion Jess Willard, the Pottawatomie Giant, defended his title against Jack Dempsey, the Manassa Mauler. The smaller Dempsey launched a blitzkrieg and knocked Willard down seven times in the first round. Willard kept getting up, but failed to leave his corner for the fourth round. Stories say that Dempsey knocked out Willard's teeth and broke his ribs, but they are not verified. Dempsey held the title for seven years.

Nearly three years after the fight, Clyde E Elliott Amusement Enterprises offered a film of the fight.  I doubt it was "The Only Picture Showing a Championship Title Change Hands."

New York World, 03-July-1919

Watch This Paper -- July 5, 2018

Moving Picture World, 20-July-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. The reissues were doing well; Essanay was releasing a third block of ten one-reel films.

Moving Picture World, 20-July-1918

At the same time, Anderson was planning to make a series of features.

Film Daily, 21-July-1918

"In a new series of Western five reel superproductions."

Happy Independence Day, 2018 -- July 4, 2018

www.lucywho.com

Happy Fourth of July to all.

Actress Leila Hyams had a short movie career, but was a popular model for publicity photos.

Big V Comedies Ignore Hot Weather -- July 3, 2018

Motion Picture News, 06-July-1918

Larry directed, wrote and starred in a comedy with the unlikely title of "Hindoos and Hazards."

Motion Picture News, 06-July-1918

"Semon had his company at Catalina all of the past week."

Motion Picture News, 13-July-1918

"One of these companies is headed by Lawrence Semon, the other by Earle Montgomery and Joe Rock, and they alternate on the Vitagraph program, a Semon comedy being presented one week and a Montgomery-Rock product the other... Although both Semon and the Montgomery-Rock combination go in solely for slapstick, there is a difference in the productions of the two. The former combines burlesque with his buffoonery, using legitimate productions oftentimes as the basis of his comedies, while Montgomery and Rock run more to acrobatics and hazardous stunts in putting over their laughs."

Motion Picture News, 20-July-1918

"Big V Comedy -- one part -- 'Bathing Beauties and Big Boobs,' featuring Lawrence Semon. Written and directed by Lawrence Semon." An even less-likely title than "Hindoos and Hazards."

Motion Picture News, 27-July-1918

"Larry Semon is creating thrill on house tops and building for his present laugh provoker."

Vitagraph's Daredevil Comedians -- July 1, 2018

Motion Picture News, 20-July-1918

Earle Montgomery and Joe Rock made a lot of short comedies for Vitagraph, but few survive. Joe Rock went on to produce comedies with Stan Laurel, and later the Ton of Fun movies. They

Thaumatrope -- June 30, 2018

From The Story of the Motion Picture: 65 B.C. to 1920 A.D. by Ben Jehudah Lubschez.

IN 1825 there appeared in England a half-penny toy called the "Thaumatrope." The early forms of moving picture apparatus, whether the simplest toys or the more serious machines, always had high-sounding and classic names. The Thaumatrope was merely a card with the picture of one object, like a bird, printed on the face; and another object, like a cage, printed on the back. Thru the center of the card was a string by means of the ends of which, the card would be whirled end for end, bringing the pictures of the two objects before the eye in quick succession and furnishing, thru the persistence of each image, the illusion of a composite of both; When one picture is a bird and the other a cage, the bird seemingly enters the cage. This toy proved so popular that a warm controversy arose as to who was the inventor. A Doctor Paris and a Doctor Finton each claimed the credit, Dr. Finton's claims now being more generally recognized, having in fact been substantiated.