Tag Archives: Silent Comedies

The Little Tramp’s Screen Debut – Charlie Chaplin’s Kid Autos – They Were What ?!?

Posted on March 11, 2023 by John Bengtson

My latest YouTube video presents Charlie Chaplin’s screen debut of “The Little Tramp,” while explaining what exactly were “kid auto races.” Below, a few scenes from the video, and further below, my original post about the film from 2011. Inducted … Continue reading →

Posted in Charlie Chaplin, Venice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 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

Harold Lloyd’s “Hot Water” “Happy Days” Home

Posted on September 3, 2022 by John Bengtson

Harold’s home stands on two different blocks and TV’s Happy Days Cunningham home appears nearby. So many new locales from Hot Water (1924) were found and shared by eagle-eyed reader Zebra 3, a self-described film location hobbyist, who shares what … Continue reading →

Posted in Harold Lloyd, Hot Water | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Ben Model presents Edward Everett Horton: 8 Silent Comedies

Posted on November 6, 2021 by John Bengtson

With now this third post, let me repeat, musician Ben Model is a silent film SUPER-HERO. Aside from his duties as resident accompanist for MoMA in New York, the Library of Congress, and performing at silent screenings around the country, … Continue reading →

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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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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

CHASE! A Tribute to the Keystone Cops

Posted on August 29, 2020 by John Bengtson

CHASE! A Tribute to the Keystone Cops, honors these still universally recognized icons of silent comedy with an anthology of entertaining and informative essays assembled and edited by Lon & Debra Davis. Historian Sam Gill provides the foreword, joined by … Continue reading →

Posted in Keystone Studio, Trolleys | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Caught on Camera – Buster Keaton’s The Cameraman in New York

Posted on June 20, 2020 by John Bengtson

The Criterion Collection’s stunning new Blu-ray release of Buster Keaton’s The Cameraman and Spite Marriage is loaded with bonus special features, including a new documentary Time Travelers I had the privilege of making with historian Marc Wanamaker and Oscar-nominated director … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Manhattan, The Cameraman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Arbuckle and Keaton Filmed in Culver City Years Before Laurel and Hardy

Posted on May 23, 2020 by John Bengtson

Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard filmed comedies for producer Hal Roach at the Bradbury Mansion Rolin Studio, on Court Hill in downtown Los Angeles, for years before Roach opened his new studio in Culver City in 1920. (Read how they … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Culver City, Laurel and Hardy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Buster Keaton – More Backlot Scenes From Our Hospitality

Posted on April 26, 2020 by John Bengtson

Buster Keaton’s modest studio made it necessary for him to film many famous scenes at other studios with larger backlots. His pursuit through an archway by an army of police at the climax of Cops (1922) was filmed at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Our Hospitality | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Keaton’s The Cameraman on the Santa Monica Pier

Posted on March 28, 2020 by John Bengtson

For their first date in The Cameraman (1928) Buster Keaton and Marceline Day strip down and go swimming in a public pool, because, why not? As reported in my book Silent Echoes, their natatorium adventure was filmed inside the Venice … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, The Cameraman, Venice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Buster, Harold, and Stymie at the Venice Pier

Posted on March 1, 2020 by John Bengtson

A prior post explains Buster Keaton and Orson Welles crossed paths filming in Venice, California. But what about Buster and Our Gang superstar Stymie Beard? Above Buster in The High Sign (1920) and Orson directing A Touch of Evil (1958). … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Venice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mary Pickford, the Talmadge Sisters, and Buster Keaton at the Brunton Studio

Posted on February 15, 2020 by John Bengtson

The Hoodlum (1919), Mary Pickford’s second independent production, followed her triumphant debut self-production Daddy Long Legs (1919). DDL brims with so much Los Angeles history and locations it took two lengthy posts to cover them all, HERE and HERE, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, Mary Pickford | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Keaton’s Missing Scene and Cameraman Tricks

Posted on February 1, 2020 by John Bengtson

Early in The Cameraman (1928) neophyte newsreel photographer Buster Keaton submits his double-exposed mistake-filled audition movie footage to the M-G-M Newsreel General Offices in ‘New York,’ resulting in a complete disaster. At left, Buster watches in horror as his double-exposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton, The Cameraman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Silent Comedy’s Crazy Corner

Posted on January 18, 2020 by John Bengtson

Quick – what are some essential elements for a silent comedy? A park bench? An angry cop? A banana peel? If you think about it, one absolutely essential geographic element is the humble street corner. It doesn’t matter what the … Continue reading →

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Early Thrill Comedies – Who Was First?

Posted on September 27, 2019 by John Bengtson

Thrill comedies featuring a star hanging from the side of a tall building have long been a staple of silent films. The photo at left from Play Ball (1925) eloquently explains the brilliant technique with a single image. Starting with … Continue reading →

Posted in Los Angeles Historic Core | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Office – Film Noir – and Harold Lloyd

Posted on June 19, 2019 by John Bengtson

What do the television show The Office, the 1950 film noir drama Edge of Doom, and Harold Lloyd’s final silent comedy Speedy (1928) have in common?  They all filmed scenes looking southwest down Witmer Street towards the front of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Noir, Harold Lloyd, Speedy, The Office, TV Shows | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 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

Harold Lloyd’s The Kid Brother Was Close to Home

Posted on March 24, 2019 by John Bengtson

It’s time to celebrate the wonderful new Blu-ray release of Harold Lloyd’s classic comedy The Kid Brother by the Criterion Collection. Considered by many to be Lloyd’s masterpiece, this release is simply stunning, a beautiful clear crisp print, a choice … Continue reading →

Posted in Harold Lloyd | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Buster’s Paramount Backlot Plunge

Posted on March 21, 2019 by John Bengtson

I’m pleased to update this post to announce that the 2019 San Francisco Silent Film Festival will conclude Sunday May 5, with a 8:00 pm screening of Buster Keaton’s second feature comedy Our Hospitality (1923), to be accompanied by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Buster Keaton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments