Silent Film Directors
Erich Von Stroheim Stronheim was an Austrian who had a long career in Silent Films in Hollywood beginning in 1915. His most famous work as a director is Greed, a detailed filming of the novel McTeague by Frank Norris. Stroheim originally edited a nine-hour version of the story, shot mostly at the locations as described [...]
Mystery Woman’s Mystery Death
The life of Virgina Rappe is almost clouded in as much mystery as her death. Rappe, who was born on July 7, 1895, was discovered sick in Silent Comedy star Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle’s vacation bedroom in San Francisco on September 5, 1921. four days later she died of an inflammation of the lining of the [...]
Best American Silent Movies
6. The Crowd – 1928 – King Vidor, Director Cast: Eleanor Boardman [Mary Sims], James Murray [John Sims], Bert Roach [Bert], Estelle Clark [Jane], Daniel G. Tomlinson [Jim], Dell Henderson [Dick], Lucy Beaumont [Mary’s mother], Freddie Burke Frederick [John Sims Jr.], Alice Mildred Puter [daughter]; Sidney Bracey [John’s supervisor], Johnny Downs [John Sims, age 12], [...]
Charlie Chaplin
The man who created one of the most recognizable characters in film history, Charlie Chaplin, was born in 1889 on April 16. Chaplin created his ‘Little Tramp’ character in 1914 and appeared in silent comedy shorts and later in feature films into the 1930′s. Chaplin’s parents were British Music Hall entertainers. Music Halls in England [...]
Silent Film Comedy Actor Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle
Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle was born on March 24, 1887 in Smith Center, Kansas, to Mollie and William Goodrich Arbuckle. His mother died in 1899 and his father abandoned him shortly afterwards. Arbuckle survived by doing odd jobs at a hotel in San Jose, California. He entered an amateur night contest where he caught the attention [...]
More on the Brothers Gibb and 1977-78
1978 can be called the year of the Brothers Gibb (The Bee Gees, brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin, or their younger brother Andy). In that year 25 weeks found a song either written or performed by one of the 4 brothers at the number one spot including 15 weeks in a row from February 4th [...]
The Director’s Mysterious Death
On the morning of February 2, 1922, the body of silent film director William Desmond Taylor was discovered at his home. The director had been killed by a shot in the back. In his pockets was his wallet with 78 dollars, a silver cigarette case and an ivory toothpick. A 2 caret diamond ring was [...]
The Life of Roscoe Arbuckle
For Christmas I am reprinting one of the most popular articles of the past year. Hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas and a Joyous and New Year. Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle was born on March 24, 1887 in Smith Center, Kansas, to Mollie and William Goodrich Arbuckle. His mother died in 1899 and his father [...]
80 Years of Mickey Mouse
The first Mickey Mouse sound cartoon was Steamboat Willie, released on November 18, 1928. Steamboat Willie, a parody of the Buster Keaton film Steamboat Bill Jr., is often listed as Mickey’s debut. This film was the first cartoon to feature Mickey Mouse that was widely distributed. Earlier in 1928 Disney produced two silent cartoons that [...]
Virginia Rappe
If it wasn’t for the people that were around her when she died on September 9, 1921 in San Francisco, the name and the person Virginia Rappe would just be a small fact in the course of history. However, Rappe died after attending a Labor Day party held by Hollywood Comic Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle. The [...]
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