Friday, January 7, 2011

Unidentified Films Identity Revealed

I toil at a job that in grinding and very, very tough.... okay, actually I have one of the coolest jobs in the world. As an example of that fact I spent much of the week between the holidays winding through unidentified nitrate film. For those of you that are not cinegoons that would be like spending a week in Bermuda lounging on the beach.... gee, maybe I could wind through nitrate on the beach!? So, anyhow, I was able to identify some things and those are highlighted below. The rest I was able to take some frame grabs and note other information. Those films will be featured on the Nitrate Film Interest Group's Flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nfig/.

MISS NOBODY (Federated, 1920) with Billie Rhodes.  One reel only of a feature.  Library of Congress had this cataloged as UNIDENTIFIED MISCELLANEOUS #27 [how about that for a helpful title!].

MISS NOBODY (Federated, 1920)

MISS NOBODY (Federated, 1920)

MISS NOBODY (Federated, 1920)
SUITOR'S COMPETITION (Pathe, 1909).  LC had it as UNIDENTIFIED CROMWELL NO02: MAUD'S SUITOR.

SUITOR'S COMPETITION (Pathe, 1909)

SUITOR'S COMPETITION (Pathe, 1909)


SUITOR'S COMPETITION (Pathe, 1909)

SUITOR'S COMPETITION (Pathe, 1909)
SUITOR'S COMPETITION (Pathe, 1909)






THE CAT'S WHISKERS (Universal-Bluebird, 1925) with Neely Edwards and Thelma Hill.  We had this as UNIDENTIFIED HANSEN NO02: UNIVERSAL COMEDY.

THE CAT'S WHISKERS (Universal-Bluebird, 1925)

THE CAT'S WHISKERS (Universal-Bluebird, 1925)

THE CAT'S WHISKERS (Universal-Bluebird, 1925)

THE CAT'S WHISKERS (Universal-Bluebird, 1925)


THE CAT'S WHISKERS (Universal-Bluebird, 1925)

THE CAT'S WHISKERS (Universal-Bluebird, 1925)
UNITED STATES SMITH (Gotham, 1928) with Eddie Gribbon.  The Library of Congress had this one cataloged as UNIDENTIED BLACKHAWK SERVICE COMEDY.  We only have one reel of the feature, seems to be around reel 2. 
UNITED STATES SMITH (Gotham, 1928)   

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Heinie and Louie update

Here is some more information concerning a post I made back in December. This comes from Steve Massa and was originally posted on the silentcomedymafia.com site:

Hi Rob
Just found some info to go along with your blog entry on the Mittenthal "Heinie & Louie" series where you mention that Walter Kendig (Louie) died in October of 1915 but the series sailed on.

The shorts continued until early 1917 so there could have been a number of Louie "replacements." Mittenthal and Pathe seems to have tried to keep the Q.T. on the whole thing as only Jimmy Aubrey is billed in the Pathe Bulletins from 1916 on. Anyway, I came across this entry in the 10/21/1916 Motion Picture News Studio Directory:

"Redmond, Elmer E., comedian; b. Pittsburgh, May 5, 1887; educ. Pittsburgh; stage career, vaud. 5 yrs. as "Redmond and Smith" and "Starkey and Redmond," also in stock and in prods. of "Just Like John, " "Get-Rich-Quick-Wallingford," "Searchlights," "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," "School Days," "Panhandle Pete," etc.; screen career, Solax, 1 yr. with Eclair as comedian and asst. director, Famous ("Spitfire," etc.), Pathe (Louie in "Heinie and Louie" comedies). Hght., 5 ft. 4 in., wght., 124; dark brown hair, brown eyes. Ad., Screen Club, N.Y.C."

Haven't found any other trace of info on Mr. Redmond yet, but will check at Library when I go to work tomorrow.
Steve

More Educational Pressbooks

Here are another batch of pressbooks, enjoy:

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Juvenile Comedies

While viewing an early Juvenile Comedy, ABOUT FACE (1924), a comment was made that the ones featuring "Big Boy" were much more enjoyable. Leaving that argument aside I give to you a few pressbooks of  "Big Boy" / Juvenile Comedies: