Tag 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

Solved! – Buster Keaton’s 100 Year Old Three Ages Bungalow

Posted on January 19, 2024 by John Bengtson

Love triumphs over all. Buster Keaton’s first feature comedy Three Ages (1923) tells three tales of love, set in the Stone Age, the Roman Age, and the Present Age (i.e. 1923), where against all odds underdog Buster wins the girl … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Three Ages | Tagged , , , , , | 13 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

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

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

Keaton’s Short Fuse – Cops, Musso & Frank, and enduring Hollywood history

Posted on December 16, 2012 by John Bengtson

At one point during Buster Keaton’s most famous short film Cops (1922), Buster finds himself and his newly acquired horse-cart full of furniture in the middle of the annual Policeman’s Day Parade.  After politely tipping his hat in recognition to … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Cops, Hollywood Tour | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hollywood 1926 – The Big Picture and How the Pieces Fit

Posted on April 22, 2012 by John Bengtson

As much as I enjoy solving a movie location puzzle, and learning where a favorite scene was filmed, what I enjoy more is getting a sense of the context of how the movie was made.  I appreciate the craft that … Continue reading →

Posted in Chaplin Studio, Hollywood Tour, Keaton Studio, Lloyd Studio | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments