Ben Model is a silent film SUPER-HERO. Now the subject of four posts at this site, Ben’s indie Undercrank Productions has released dozens of rare silent movies to home audiences. His latest Blu-ray production now for sale, Raymond Griffith: The Silk Hat Comedian, features two previously unavailable Griffith feature comedies Paths to Paradise (1925) and You’d Be Surprised (1926), along with a video essay by film author-historian Steve Massa.

Raymond Griffith – Lantern Media

As Ben and Steve explain, Raymond Griffith is one of the best-kept secrets of silent comedy. During a twenty-five year career he not only wrote, directed and produced movies, but was also the star of nine comedy features for Paramount. Because of the disappearance and unavailability of his work he’s been forgotten. Both films are presented in stunning, sparklingly clear 2K digital restorations of archival 35mm prints preserved by the Library of Congress accompanied with new theatre organ scores by Ben.

To keep things brief, this post will focus on one small detail from Paths to Paradise – the millionaire’s mansion is portrayed by the magnificent home at 56 Fremont Place (above), once rented for a year in 1918 by Mary Pickford, and in 1919 by Mary Miles Minter. You can read all about the home’s incredible history at 56 FREMONT PLACE. [Residential historian Duncan Maginnis is the author of the amazingly rich and fascinating series of historical blog posts about classic Los Angeles neighborhoods, including BERKELEY SQUARE; WESTMORELAND PLACE; WILSHIRE BOULEVARD; ADAMS BOULEVARD; WINDSOR SQUARE; ST. JAMES PARK; and the other homes at FREMONT PLACE. Duncan’s skillful research and wonderful writing have frequently been invaluable to studying silent film locations.]

Co-star Betty Compson and Raymond at 56 Fremont Place

I became aware of Fremont Place researching Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid (1921), as distraught single mother Edna Purviance abandons her new-born baby in a millionaire’s limousine across the street, at 55 Fremont Place. Perhaps Mary residing here put this location on Charlie’s radar. You can read all about these early The Kid scenes HERE, and can watch them on my YouTube video (screen grab below) HERE.

Edna Purviance in The Kid – Muhammad Ali would later own 55 Fremont Place

Movies inform and entertain. But each newly available silent film also offers greater insight into other films, and to the past.

Above, Betty and Raymond flee the mansion with stolen diamonds. Above right, 56 Fremont Place appears as Jean Harlow’s home in the 1933 feature Bombshell.

A more detailed glimpse, the 56 painted curb number appears during Raymond’s film, and above right with Edward Everett Horton during No Publicity (1927), another film Ben restored and made available for sale.

A wide view of 56 Fremont Place as it appears during The Red Kimono (1925), where many scenes were filmed at 53 Fremont Place – read more HERE.

In closing, two more views of the home. [Note – the Raymond frame grabs are razor sharp – please click to enlarge if they do not appear clearly on this main page.]

Aside from Ben Model’s duties as resident accompanist for MoMA in New York, the Library of Congress, and performing at silent screenings around the country, his indie Undercrank Productions has released well over 22 rare silent movie DVDs. I only became aware of the delightful Alice Howell comedies (Alice Howell Collection) (see my post HERE), the equally delightful Doug MacLean light comedies (The Douglas MacLean Collection) (see my post HERE), and the series short silent comedies starring character actor Edward Everett Horton (Edward Everett Horton: 8 Silent Comedies) (see my post HERE), because Ben had first tirelessly assembled, restored, scored, and released these essential early films to home video. More remarkably, Ben and Steve Massa host live-streamed silent film comedy shows The Silent Comedy Watch Party Sunday afternoons at 3pm EDT on YouTube.

Incredibly, this beautiful home still stands.