Monday, June 30, 2014

Clara Bow #17 -- June 30, 2014


Red haired Clara Bow was probably the most popular silent actress after Mary Pickford.  In this item, she posed with her dog Duke, from the July, 1930 New Movie Magazine.  Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

Another image of Clara and Duke, from my other blog:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2013/09/clara-bow-8-september-29-2013.html

Sunday, June 29, 2014

International 500-Mile Auto Race -- June 29 2014


The Indianapolis Calcium Light Company offered states' rights to a film of the 1914 Indianapolis 500 auto race, which had been won by French driver René Thomas in a Delage.  "If you don't want your state, write for first run in your city." 

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Kleine War Pictures -- June 28, 2014


100 years ago today, Serbian nationalists assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to throne of Austria-Hungary, in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.  They also unintentionally murdered his wife Duchess Sophie.  Here is an article from the 29-August-1914 Motography about pioneering producer George Kleine's release of  some early war films.  One featured a "Review of the Austrian Army by Archduke Francis Ferdinand whose assassination caused the war..."  I wouldn't be surprised if most of the other films also came from before the war. 

Read an article about the assassination from the 29-June-1914 New York Tribune on my other blog:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2014/06/heir-to-austrian-throne-assassinated.html

Friday, June 27, 2014

Million Dollar Mystery -- June 27, 2014


The Million Dollar Mystery was a Thanhouser production made in association with the Chicago Tribune, which ran the weekly stories in printed form.  The 23-chapter serial starred Florence La Badie, a popular Thanhouser actress who died the next year in a car wreck.  Her leading man was James Cruze, who later became a director.  His most famous production was The Covered Wagon

The images are from the 20-June-1914 Moving Picture World.  Be sure to click on the images to see larger versions. 

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Eli Wallach, RIP -- June 26, 2014


Actor Eli Wallach died at age 98.  He was a pioneering method actor and a World War II veteran.  He performed in Tennessee Williams (Baby Doll), Arthur Miller (The Misfits), Joseph Conrad (Lord Jim) and Mario Puzo (The Godfather Part III), but people who heard about his passing talked about The Magnificent Seven and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.  They especially talk about Tuco in The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

They remember scenes like Tuco in the bubble bath.  The one armed man enters the room.  "I've been looking for you for 8 months. Whenever I should have had a gun in my right hand, I thought of you. Now I find you in exactly the position that suits me. I had lots of time to learn to shoot with my left."

Tuco shoots him with a gun he held in the bubbles.  "When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."

 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Ford Sterling's Funny Faces -- June 25, 2014


Ford Sterling was a circus clown who went on to become a popular comedian at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studio.  When he left Keystone, as virtually all of Sennett's stars did to seek more money, Sterling went to Universal with Fred J Balshofer, who had been a director for the New York Motion Picture Company.  They made many short comedies for the Sterling Motion Picture Company for release through Universal in 1914-1915 until Sterling left for greener pastures. 


Balshofer directed many silent movies and served as a studio executive for the rest of his career.  In the 1960s, he wrote One Reel a Week with Arthur C Miller.  I took that one out of the Main Library and read it. 

The elaborate ad for "The Crash" is from the 27-June-1914 Moving Picture World.  The ad for photos of "Ford Sterling's Funny Faces" is from the 13-June-1914 edition. 

Monday, June 23, 2014

The Horse in Motion - June 23, 2014

 
 

The Horse in Motion*
by George E. Waritig, Jr.

This article by George E Waritig, Jr discusses the early experiments of Eadweard Muybridge. A photo scan of this article is available from Making of America at Cornell University. An uncorrected text scan is available from the Library of Congress' American Memory site. I did some cleanup of the text scan. I made a few editorial comments in italics with my initials. Be sure to click on the images to see larger versions.  

From The Century; a popular quarterly / Volume 24, Issue 3, July 1882


THOSE CURIOUS in such matters were much interested, a few years ago, by the circulation of a few sets of photographs, taken at the private race-course of Governor Leland Stanford, of California, by Mr. Muybridge, a photographer of San Francisco. The consecutive positions of the legs in the stride of a running horse, as revealed by these photographs, seemed ludicrous and almost impossible. Indeed, it required the combination of the positions given by the reproduction of the pace in the zoetrope to convince the skeptical that the analysis of the movement was correct. The testimony of the zoetrope, and, later, of the zoepraxiscope, has silenced all skepticism, and one can no longer hesitate to concede the truth and simplicity of what, at first, seemed complicated and absurd. Since the first appearance of these photographs, the processes for securing them have been much improved, and Mr. Muybridge's public and private representations, here and abroad, have been received with the greatest favor. Meissonier, who has made a specialty of the action of the horse, is announced as an adherent of the new theory, and it is said that he has recently modified a painting in conformity with it.

While great credit is due to Mr. Muybridge for the ingenuity and skill with which he has applied his art to the production of these pictures, they would not have been taken, nor could the world have had the full benefit of them which it now receives, but for the intelligent liberality of Governor Stanford, who, at much cost and with no chance for pecuniary reward, has carried the investigation to great lengths, and who now presents its results in a large quarto volume, containing more than a hundred plates, which bear over a thousand figures of animals in motion. These illustrations are accompanied by an elaborate essay, in which Dr. Stillman explains their application to the locomotion of quadrupeds, of horses especially.
 
The method by which these photographs have been taken the result of years of experiments substantially as follows: At one side of the track is a long building arranged for photographic work, containing a battery of twenty-four cameras, all alike and standing one foot apart. On the other side of the track is a screen of white muslin and a footboard. The screen is marked with vertical and horizontal lines, and the foot-board bears numbers indicating separate intervals of one foot each. The instantaneous shutters of the cameras are operated by electricity, and their movement is governed by such powerful springs that the exposure is estimated to be about one five-thousandth of a second. The contact by which the shutters are sprung is made by the breaking of a thread drawn across the track at about the height of the horse's breast, there being one thread for each camera. In his flight through the air, therefore, he brings each of the twenty-four cameras to bear upon him at the moment when he passes in front of it, and that camera represents his position at that instant. The series of representations indicates the consecutive positions at each of the twenty-four feet covered by the instruments. In a series showing a horse trotting at speed the spokes of the sulky are shown as distinct lines quite to the felloe of the wheel, indicating an extremely short exposure. In a fast run, the tufts of the horse's tail, as it waves with his stride, are clearly marked. The distinctness of the silhouettes thus produced is well illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, showing a hound running with a stride of twenty-one feet. These and the other silhouettes illustrating this article are copied from heliotypes taken from the original photographs.
 
The illustrations 8 to 18, which follow, are not absolute reproductions; but in drawing them the greatest care was taken to preserve the outlines of the original. Their essential correspondence with the photographs of an animal running at speed show they may be taken as an unquestionable analysis of that gait. It is to be understood that the horse is at full speed, and that the illustrations here given represent alternate photographs of a series of twenty-four; that is, that they represent positions at intervals of two feet. The eleven cuts cover a trifle more than one stride, the supporting fore leg in the last being a little further to the rear than in the first. In Figure 8 the whole weight is borne by the left fore leg, the pastern of which is nearly horizontal, and which is nearly under the center of gravity. The hind feet are about twelve and fifteen inches from the ground, and the croup and withers are about two inches below the gauge line. Figure i8 shows this supporting foot just before leaving the ground. The extreme lengthening of the leg, by straightening the angles between the shoulder and the forearm, has raised the body about an inch nearer to the gauge line. The effect of that thrust, and of the straightening of the pastern, is continued after the foot leaves the ground, so that in Figure 9 the croup and shoulder have been thrown quite to the gauge line. In Figure 10, the horse being still off the ground, the croup has gone an inch above the line. It has hitherto been the general belief that when the horse descends from his bound he lands on one of his fore feet. Figure 11 shows that the right hind foot first reaches the ground, the other three feet being more that twelve inches above it. As this hind leg passes to the rear in Figure 12 the pastern is parallel with the ground, the left hind foot is preparing to take its position, and both fore feet are moving to the front. At the next position, Figure 13, both fore feet being still more than a foot from the ground, both hind feet are in firm contact with it. In Figure ii., the right hind foot is ten inches from the ground and far to the rear. The left hind foot is performing the functions of the right in Figure 12, and the right fore foot is on the ground. The leading fore leg is extended to its utmost in Figure 15. The two hind legs are extended, and the left fore leg is still four inches from the ground (Figure 16), when the right, the only one in contact, is nearly at the end of its stroke. In Figure 17, eighteen feet in advance of Figure 1, the left fore foot is still somewhat in advance of the position there shown. Figure 18, as above stated, finishes the stride, the leg, strongly extended to the rear, having started the upward propulsion that is to carry the horse through the air until his right hind leg reaches the ground.
 

 
 
 
 
 
The deductions from these few illustrations cannot be adequately set forth within these limits. The most curious of them, anatomically, relates to the fact that the horses withers are much further from the gauge line when one of his fore legs is almost directly under him (Figure 15) than when that leg is extended to the utmost, and when the other feet are in the air (Figure i8), the whole body being strongly thrown upward, as if by the force with which this one leg is extended. This thrust -- which shows a wonderful flexibility and strength of the whole mechanism, from the top of the shoulder to the toe -- involves the action of muscles whose relations to this movement Dr. Stillman explains in his notes. Another deduction which it seems difficult to avoid is this: Not only are the fore legs of a horse something more than mere supporters of his weight between successive thrusts of the hind-quarters: they are themselves most effective in propelling the body forward. Dr. Stillman even says:
 
 "It will be apparent * * * that each limb is required to support the body and act as a propeller in turn, and that the anterior one does more than its share of both offices." (The italics are mine.)
 
Nevertheless, it will need more than the photographs and diagrams shown in this book, and the reasoning with which the proposition is advanced, to convert to full belief in this theory one who has watched from a coach-box the tremendous action of the dorsal muscles of a pulling horse. If there is a weak point in the reasoning, it may, perhaps, lie in the fact that due consideration is not given to the effect upon the horizontal momentum of the body of the dirt-throwing movement of the fore foot as it passes over the toe -- an effect somewhat akin to that produced by a match on a billiard-table in making a ball "hop."
 
Looking at these illustrations as a series, the first impression of absurdity must be inevitable; but, as I have had occasion to learn through the perfect reproduction of a graceful and vigorous stride, on placing them in the zoetrope and there studying their combinations at low speed, they lose, in time, their extravagant appearance, and are easily associated in the mind with the natural action of a rapidly moving horse. To what extent they may be useful in modifying the pictorial representation of animals in motion it is not easy to determine. This part of the subject will have consideration further on.
 
The numerous illustrations given of walking, trotting, cantering, running, and pacing are all most instructive and suggestive, none of them more so than the series 19 to 30, showing a leaping horse. These twelve figures are selected from a series of forty-eight, which begin twenty-one feet before a hurdle three feet and six inches high, and terminate twenty-one feet beyond it. The selected figures begin sixteen feet in advance and terminate nineteen feet beyond. As the horse approaches the leap he slackens his speed, puts one fore leg far in advance, throws his weight upon that leg, and advances his hind legs (19), which pass the position of the supporting fore foot, and strike the ground about two feet in advance of it (20); as the fore leg is about leaving the ground it gives an upward thrust for the rise to the leap (21), a simultaneous spring from the hind legs carrying the animal into the air and over the hurdle (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27), until he lands on his fore legs differently advanced (28), and gathers himself (29), ready to begin a fresh stride (30). The distance covered by the leap shown in the illustration between the last position on the ground of the hind feet and the landing with the fore feet is about twenty-seven feet. It has been asserted that when a horse lands from a high leap he touches the ground with his fore feet, and makes another step forward, with them both, before his hind feet come to the ground. Muybridge's illustrations of leaping all show that the horse lands on one fore foot, the other taking its position immediately afterward, a little in advance. The quickness of the movement has probably misled observers to the idea that both feet take first one position and then the other. The illustrations 31 to 37 show an unpremeditated standing leap. The horse baulked at the hurdle, and was forced over it with great difficulty. It seems hard to believe that, having forced himself into the position shown in 34 he could, with his legs thus extended, spring to the position in 35. The positions of the rider in 36 and 37 indicate a general disturbance of forces which, to one who has made a standing leap for which he was unprepared, will seem very truthful.
 


The illustrations thus far given serve to show the method adopted to indicate the consecutive positions in the measured movements of the horse and of other animals. Their value is very much enhanced by the later series, where five views are given of each of many positions in different gaits. The cameras for this purpose were arranged so as to take one broadside view and four quartering views, looking, for example, to the right shoulder, the left shoulder, the right quarter, and the left quarter, the contact for each being made by the breaking of a single thread struck by the horse when he came into the focus. Figures 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 show one picture of each of five series. These are not immediate reproductions of the photographs, but the drawings from which they are taken were accurately made on enlargements of the photographs. They are pictures of the same horse leaping, but are parts of five different leaps. In the approach (38), the horse is in the position next preceding that shown in Figure 19. In 39 he is in that shown in Figure 21; in 40 in the position shown in Figure 23; in 41 in the position shown in Figure 27; and in 42 in the position succeeding that shown in Figure 28. Corresponding representations of a leaping horse are not recalled as appearing in Leech's and other illustrations; that they are, however, entirely true to nature must be at once recognized by any one who, bearing them in mind, will watch the actual leaping of a well-trained horse.
 
 
The truth to nature of most of the illustrations given in the work under consideration, while it cannot be questioned, must be considered with reference to the fact that the horses under examination were nearly all highly bred animals, mainly thorough-bred race-horses. The photographs would necessarily show some modification, if representing horses in common use and of less graceful and vigorous conformation. But, modified as they may be, they can never by any ordinary process be reconciled with the conventional horse of the artist, ancient or modern. The horse in full gallop is almost invariably shown either, as in racing plates, extended to the utmost, or with an equal and uniform disposition of the limbs, as shown in Figure 43, which is a fair example of the representation of a strong and regular gallop. Not one of the series of cuts Nos. 8 to 18 gives, by itself, an idea of great speed. Figure 44, however, corresponding with Figure 18, has a strong headlong movement, and may easily be imagined to be a picture of a horse running at great speed. It becomes now a curious and not unimportant question to discuss whether or not artists should abandon their old method of representing the galloping horse, and show him always in some one of his actual positions.
 
 
Dr. Stiliman is very strongly of the opinion that they should do so. Perhaps, after all, it resolves itself into a question as to whether an artist whose purpose it is to represent things as they seem, is justified in adapting his methods to the limitations of the human vision, or whether he should show things exactly as they are, and appeal only to human reason. Dr. Stillman says: "It seems to many unaccountable that the horse, whose movements are so open, should play such a leger-de-pied as to deceive all eyes and give rise to controversies as. earnest as did the colors of the chameleon in the fable." But Dr. Stillman seems, himself, to account satisfactorily for what he suggests as unaccountable. He says:
 
"It is difficult at a glance to conceive how the eye could be so deceived; but a little consideration of the physiology of that organ will teach us that no dependence can be placed on it to interpret the motion of an object moving irregularly, even at a comparatively slow rate of speed.
 
"It has been shown that the retina of the eye is capable of receiving a distinct image of an object in almost inconceivably short space of time, as that of the flash of an electric spark or a millionth part of a second, and that the impression remains for the space of a third to a seventh of a second, according to the experiments of D'Arcy and Plateau; and the mind is incapable of distinguishing between the first impression and the last made during that space of time, and the images run together and are confused. A familiar illustration of this phenomenon is furnished by the spokes of a wheel in motion; yet these spokes will appear stationary if, revolving in the dark, they are suddenly illuminated by an electric flash; or if the end of a stick be ignited, and moved rapidly, a continuous line of fire will appear. Here there is a continuous line of impressions made upon the retina, and so conveyed to the mind ... The reader may ask why it is that the artists of all time, with the full accord of all men and our own eyes confirm the tradition -- represent the horse in galloping as extending his feet to the utmost as seen in all the pictures of horses racing. My answer is this: We now know that it is not true that a horse ever did put himself in the position portrayed by the best artists; and the explanation that I have to offer is, that in the gallop the horse always moves his feet alternately, and to the same extent; at the limit of extension there is a change of direction given to them, and their image dwells longer upon the retina, and the impressions are more lasting than of the intermediate and more rapid movements which the mind is unable to distinguish any more than the order in which they are made."
 
This looks like an unconscious undermining of the whole structure that he has labored to erect.
 
If a painting showed four horses harnessed to a coach, each of them in certain of the intermediate positions that instantaneous photography shows to be true, they would look as though they were dangling their legs at a stand-still. Whatever position might be given to a trotting horse in a picture intended to show great speed, its effect would be lost if he were shown as harnessed to a sulky of which the spokes of the wheel were visible, as we are told that they become when illuminated in the dark by an electric flash. We need the confused whirl of the wheels to complete the impression.
 
A somewhat curious illustration of the difference between what is and what seems to be, is given by the quarter-second hand on a racing time-piece. Watching this hand we see it jump to the quarters and stop, and watching its consecutive movement, we see its sweep around the center. If, however, three of the positions are covered, -- that is, if we cover a little more than the lower half of the dial, -- the effect produced on the eye is that of a needle darting straight out from the center to the top, and darting straight back again. The sweep is entirely undetected. The same principle, perhaps, holds good with a running horse, at least so far as any given position of the legs is concerned. The only position in which it is possible to see the fore feet or the hind feet is when they are extended to the utmost, that is, when they come to a stop. A painting or a statue can show only position; it cannot show movement. The fault in the artistic representation of the gallop seems to me to be inherent. The gait is not a position at all, but ceaseless motion. It is, indeed, to be questioned whether the strongest impression produced on the eye is derived from the extension of the limbs in the full strides, or from the vigor with which they are gathered after extension. On the racetrack, or in the use of the zoetrope, it is the rapid flexion of the legs which most attracts my attention, and the absence of which, from the impression given by a picture, seems to me to mark its greatest limitations. If this line of reasoning is correct, it is not so much a question whether the artist shall reproduce the positions of Muybridge's photographs, as whether he shall attempt to paint a galloping horse at all, since he cannot indicate the action, which is the essence of the gallop.
 
Dr. Stiliman thinks "there is too much capital invested in works of art all over the civilized world to permit the innovation without a protest, and ridicule is the cheapest argument that can be employed in controversy, for it does not require truth for its foundation, and but a low order of talent for its display."

The foregoing remarks as to the influence which these revelations may or may not have on the painting and sculpture of the future have been made in no spirit of protest -- the farthest possible from a spirit of ridicule. Surely, too, this question will be settled entirely without reference to the influence of invested capital. It may be that, as our ideas become trained to the analysis of quadrupedal movement, we shall accept the new light in its fullness; but let us not, in our enthusiasm over a new discovery, and in our devotion to a purely theoretical truth, lose sight of the limitations which must always surround every attempt to represent action by passive objects and lines.

George E. Waritig, Jr.

* "The Horse in Motion, as Shown by Instantaneous Photography, with a Study Of Animal Mechanics. Founded on anatomy and the revelations of the camera. In which is demonstrated the theory of quadrupedal locomotion. By J. D. B Stiliman, A. M., M. D. Executed and published under the auspices of Leland Stanford." Boston: James R. Osgood and Co. 1882.


Sunday, June 22, 2014

All Experts Have Gone Nuts! -- June 22, 2014

Motion Picture Daily, 24-July-1931

In 1931, Mickey Walker, the Toy Bulldog, gave up the middleweight championship to fight as a heavyweight.  On 22-July-1931 in Brooklyn, he fought Jack Sharkey, the Boston Gob, who would later be heavyweight champion.  Walker, who had also been welterweight champ, was regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time.  Sharkey was a good fighter at times, but was never consistent.  The Toy Bulldog fought the Boston Gob to a 15 round draw. 

Note that the movie is said to be the "First All-Talking Fight Picture."  If that's true, I'm surprised it took until 1931.  "Most Intensely Discussed Event in Sporting History."  Sure.  "New York State Only."  The interstate transportation of fight films was illegal from 1912 until 1940. 


Friday, June 20, 2014

Mutoscope #4 -- June 20, 2014


The Mutoscope is a hand-cranked entertainment machine that works like a giant flipbook. I tried to build a device like it, but always had trouble getting it to work.
I photographed Charlie Chaplin and Mabel Normand on a Mutoscope card in the Penny Arcade at Disneyland in July, 2010.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Grauman's Chinese #39 -- June 19, 2014

(31/DSC_0054.JPG)

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.

Versatile actor and inventor of the telephone, Don Ameche, left his undated hand and footprints in the forecourt.  I have always loved his work with Frances Langford playing The Bickersons on the radio.  The poster is from the wonderful site www.lucywho.com.   

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Oz Film Company's First Release -- June 18, 2014


The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This item is from the 17-October-1914 edition of Motography.  It talks about the release of their first film, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, which "made a triumphant and initial bow to New York film-goers at the Strand theater during September's last week." 

Monday, June 16, 2014

Carla Laemmle, RIP -- June 16, 2014


Carla Laemmle, the niece of Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle has passed on at the age of 104.  She was one of the few living people who had acted in a silent movie during the silent era.  She danced in The Phantom of the Opera and had small parts in movies like The Broadway Melody and Dracula.  Silent film fans who met her said she was always gracious. 

People always said that Carl Laemmle hired lots of relatives to work at Universal, so he was called "Uncle Carl."  Carla was someone who could call him that because he really was her Uncle Carl. 

The image of Uncle Carl is from the 28-February-1926 Film Daily.  It celebrates Universal's 20th anniversary.  I'm not sure how that works since Universal started in 1912 and predecessor IMP started in 1908-1909.  As far as I can tell from a cursory glance at the interesting issue, 1906 is when he entered the industry. 

Sunday, June 15, 2014

The Old Man -- June 15, 2014


Happy Fathers' Day to all my fellow fathers. I miss my dad and my father-in-law.
Darren McGavin's "Old Man" in Jean Shepherd's A Christmas Story is one of my favorite movie dads.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Flag Day -- Marion Davies -- June 14, 2014


Happy Flag Day, everyone. 

For a long time, the movies of Marion Davies were hard to find, and people got her mixed up with the character Susan Alexander in Citizen Kane. Actually, Davies was a talented actress. I have enjoyed all the movies in which I have seen her. Here she poses with a flag in a photo I assume was taken during World War One. 

Friday, June 13, 2014

Ruby Dee, RIP -- June 13, 2014


I was sad to learn that actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee has died.  I remember watching and reading her and her husband Ossie Davis for most of my life.  She played Rachel Robinson in The Jackie Robinson Story.  She finally got an Oscar nomination in 2007.  She belonged to CORE in the 1960s. 

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Pauline Pulls People -- She's a Gold Mine -- June 12, 2014


The Perils of Pauline was a big hit in 1914.  The 20 chapter serial was not the first movie serial, but it was one of the big ones.  It starred Pearl White, the first serial queen.  The Eclectic Film Company distributed Pathé movies in the United States. 

The film exists only in a mutilated form, based on a copy exported to France.  The subtitles has been translated into French, then translated back into English. 

The ad is from the 20-June-1914 Moving Picture World.  Click on the images to see a larger version.

On the other side of the page is an Eclectic ad for the movie about the 1913-1914 Giants-White Sox world tour which I recently wrote about:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/06/giants-white-sox-world-tour-june-8-2014.html


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Tom Mix Meets the Beatles -- June 11, 2014


Peter Blake and Jann Haworth designed the album cover for the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, inspired by a drawing by Paul McCartney. Among the celebrities in the collage is Tom Mix. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

The Most Sensational, Thrilling, Gripping, Red Blood Stories Ever Filmed -- June 10, 2014


Actor Hobart Bosworth admired Jack London's writing and formed a company to produce movies based on London's stories and novels.  The first production was The Sea Wolf.  The productions "are undoubtedly the most sensational, thrilling, gripping, red blood stories ever filmed."  Paramount released most of the movies. 

The ad is from the 13-June-1914 Moving Picture World

Jack London
Hobart Bosworth (www.listal.com)

Monday, June 9, 2014

War With Huerta -- June 9, 2014


The Magnet Film Releasing Company had two films about the Mexican Revolution.  War With Huerta, "An Exclusive and Original Moving Picture...by Special Arrangements with HUERTA, 'The Man of the Hour." 

Francisco Madero, a democrat who fought for social justice, was a leader of the revolution, who was elected President after hated dictator Porfirio Diaz resigned and fled in 1911.  In February, 1913, General Victoriano Huerta led a military coup.  Madero was deposed and then assassinated.  I think I remember more than one movie where the characters would say Huerta's name then spit.  The only movie I could find in a quick Google search was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.  I believe there are others. 
Rather than the Man of the Hour, Huerta was, like Kerensky in Russia, the man of five minutes. 

Huerta was President for a while until he was forced to resign and go into exile in the United States.  He later went to jail because he conspired with the Germans to get back into office. 

Uncle Sam in Mexico was a drama about US Marines invading Vera Cruz. 

The ads are from the 13-June-1914 Moving Picture World

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Giants-White Sox World Tour -- June 8, 2014


During the 1913-1914 offseason, the National League Champion New York Giants, led by manager John McGraw, toured the world with members of the Chicago White Sox, led by manager Jimmy Callahan. The Giants roster included Christy Mathewson, Jim Thorpe and Turkey Mike Donlin. 

As seen in the list above, they visited and played exhibition games in, among other places, Japan, Hong Kong, Manilla, Shanghai, Australia, Ceylon, Egypt, Naples and Rome. 

In 1914, the Eclectic Film Company released a movie about the tour.  "The BUG rides the brake beams and stows away to get to the game but he is at every one."  A bug was a name for an enthusiastic fan.  The BUG was played by director Frank McGlynn, Sr. 

I don't know if this film still exists, but I found a British Pathé newsreel item showing King George V meeting the players and watching a game.  The date range in the title, 1915-1919, must be off.  I am very grateful that British Pathé has chosen to put a huge number of items out for people to see on YouTube. 


Ten years later, in 1924, the Giants and the White Sox made an offseason tour of Europe.  Here is a British Pathé newsreel item on their arrival at Liverpool and a game played before the Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, parents of the current monarch.  Note the similarities to the 1913 shots of the royal meeting the players and watching the game. 

Friday, June 6, 2014

Sebastiani Theater -- June 6, 2014


I took this photo of the Sebastiani Theatre, on the plaza in the town of Sonoma, on 28-July-2011.  The theater opened in 1934. 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Bessie Love #18 -- June 5, 2014


I have always been fascinated by the career of actress Bessie Love.  She was born in Texas.  Her name was Juanita Horton.  Her family moved to Los Angeles and she went to Los Angeles High School.  Looking for work, she met director  DW Griffith and got a small part in Intolerance.  She appeared in movies with William S Hart and Douglas Fairbanks.  She was a 1922 WAMPAS (Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers) Baby Star.  She played many leading roles, most famously in The Lost World, but never broke through until the talkies came, when she starred in The Broadway Melody.  Her career was hot again for a few years, but then tailed off.  She continued to appear in small parts in movies until the early 1980s.

The image is from the July, 1930 New Movie Magazine