Category Archives: Hollywood History

Colleen Moore and Buster Keaton Reveal a “Lost” Hollywood Intersection

Posted on March 30, 2024 by John Bengtson

Hollywood was a small, undeveloped community during the early years of cinema. Cahuenga Blvd, now a major thoroughfare, once ran south for two blocks from Hollywood Blvd past Selma to where it ended at Sunset Blvd. Through traffic would then … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Day Dreams, Hollywood History, One Week | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Harold Lloyd, Dorothy Devore, Movie Pilot Frank Clarke – Stunt Birds of a Feather

Posted on March 2, 2024 by John Bengtson

Here’s more Hollywood history appearing in another little-known film, this time from a Columbia Studios Screen Snapshots newsreel. Above, Screen Snapshots captured pioneer Hollywood stunt pilot/actor Frank Clarke flying an airplane from the roof of the Los Angeles Railroad Building … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood History, Los Angeles Historic Core, Safety Last! | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Historic Hollywood Relics Found In “Lost” Films

Posted on February 4, 2024 by John Bengtson

This post presents bits and pieces of Hollywood history appearing in an assortment of little-known films, many unavailable for decades. I closely follow Dave Glass’s invaluable YouTube channel. You never know what brief scene from an obscure film will reveal … Continue reading →

Posted in Gale Henry, Hollywood History | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

The Keaton-Fairbanks Hollywood Fire Station

Posted on July 22, 2023 by John Bengtson

Buster Keaton filmed FIVE movies at the former Hollywood Fire/Police Station. Douglas Fairbanks was likely the first major star to film here, and so far as known the only star to film the now lost building from all sides. Teaser … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Doug Fairbanks, Gale Henry, Hollywood History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Wonderful Wanda Wiley … Who?

Posted on January 14, 2023 by John Bengtson

Wonderful Wanda Wiley was a spirited, athletic silent film comedienne, whose charm and girl-next-door appeal made her the female equivalent of Harold Lloyd’s “All-American Boy” (sometimes she even wore glasses). [Fun update – Wanda and Harold share the same April … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood History, Wanda Wiley | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Charlie Chaplin’s One A.M. Mystery

Posted on May 29, 2022 by John Bengtson

Charlie Chaplin’s 1916 Mutual comedy short One A.M. was unique in many ways. Charlie plays a drunken bon-vivant, returning home after a night on the town. Except for a brief exterior scene with his taxi driver Albert Austin, Charlie plays … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplin Studio, Charlie Chaplin, Hollywood History, Lyons and Moran | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

The Roaring Road – rare ‘new’ views of early Hollywood

Posted on October 23, 2021 by John Bengtson

Above, a rare time capsule glimpse looking east from Cahuenga toward the towering Taft Building at the SE corner of Hollywood and Vine, before the neighboring Broadway (B. H. Dyas) Building was built on the SW corner in 1928. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood History | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Silent Movie Day celebrates the Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley

Posted on October 9, 2021 by John Bengtson

On September 29, 2021, the inaugural National Silent Movie Day, Hollywood Heritage celebrated the Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley with this beautiful plaque. This story by the Hollywood Partnership provides a good overview of that special day. https://hollywoodpartnership.com/post/first-ever-national-silent-movie-day-comes-to-hollywood It was crowded by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplin - Keaton - Lloyd Alley, Hollywood History | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

Step by silent footstep – how the Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley was revealed

Posted on August 29, 2021 by John Bengtson

Step by silent footstep, clues from a dozen silent films collectively reveal a century-old secret, the humble Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley where three timeless comedies were made. This video has been upgraded with a beautiful score composed and performed by Jon C. … Continue reading →

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Hollywood Heritage Celebrates the Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley

Posted on August 14, 2021 by John Bengtson

Hollywood and “the movies” have been synonymous for over 100 years. Handprints in cement and the Walk of Fame honor stars from the past. But only now, thanks to the wonderful Hollywood Heritage organization, Hollywood celebrated its direct geographic connections … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplin - Keaton - Lloyd Alley, Hollywood History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Solved! Buster Keaton’s Mystery Colegrove Building

Posted on July 30, 2021 by John Bengtson

Buster Keaton was a pragmatic filmmaker, and it’s been fun discovering how often he would shoot simple scenes nearby, or even across the street from his small Hollywood studio once standing at 1025 Lillian Way. Appearing as both a receiving … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Hollywood History, The Goat | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Early Hollywood Visual Tour at HippFest 2021

Posted on March 16, 2021 by John Bengtson

Scotland’s HippFest Silent Film Festival starts tomorrow, Wednesday March 17 through Sunday March 21. Hosted virtually this year, the festival usually plays in Scotland’s oldest purpose-built cinema The Hippodrome in Bo’ness. The programs will be available through a new streaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood History | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Lens of History – Hollywood before the Chaplin Studio

Posted on January 23, 2021 by John Bengtson

Above, only part of a vast panoramic view looking south at Hollywood, circa 1906. Can you spot the future site of the Charlie Chaplin Studio, nearly straight ahead? The hill in the foreground would become in 1914 the site to … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplin Studio, Charlie Chaplin, Hollywood History | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Doug and Mary, Hedda and Jed, The Beverly Hillbillies Hollywood Appeal

Posted on November 21, 2020 by John Bengtson

What popular 1960s sitcom mentions Nita Naldi, twice, in the same episode? Where Douglas Fairbanks is scolded for pulling pranks, and a prescient plea is made to spare a classic-era movie studio from the wrecking ball? Psychologists say conjuring nostalgia … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Time Travel to 1919 Hollywood

Posted on September 7, 2020 by John Bengtson

Imagine when Hollywood was still a town, with stately homes, dirt roads, orchards, and scores of vacant lots. Vintage photos are compelling, but silent films are true time machines, placing you at the spot to see and breathe a slice … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplin - Keaton - Lloyd Alley, Hollywood History, Lyons and Moran | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Silent Hollywood’s Japanese Enclave

Posted on November 20, 2019 by John Bengtson

The great silent film comedians Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd filmed more frequently on the 1600 block of Cahuenga south of Hollywood Boulevard than at any other street in town. Keaton alone filmed scenes for eight different movies … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood History, Hollywood Tour, The Goat | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Alice Howell Early Hollywood Views

Posted on April 28, 2019 by John Bengtson

We all owe Ben Model a huge debt of gratitude for releasing his fantastic new Alice Howell Collection DVD, featuring 12 shorts starring the delightful (and mostly forgotten) comedienne, sourced from archival materials from the Library of Congress, BFI, DFI, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ben Model, Hollywood History | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Hollywood Heritage in Lois Weber’s Suspense

Posted on April 6, 2019 by John Bengtson

The beautiful new Kino Lorber Blu-ray release Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers is a revelation, a six-disc set featuring dozens of early films created by women, many unseen for decades. One highlight is Lois Weber‘s innovative and aptly titled home invasion thriller Suspense … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood History, Lois Weber | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Hollywood Snapshots – a 1922 Time Machine

Posted on February 10, 2019 by John Bengtson

Facing a public relations nightmare in 1922 over recent scandals, the film community produced Hollywood Snapshots, a promotional film portraying screen folk as wholesome to middle America. Presented online by the National Film Preservation Foundation, Snapshots captures remarkable images of … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood History, Hollywood Tour | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments