The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum will hold a two-day, 12-film, online tribute to Al Christie, a lesser known producer and director who has become more researched and celebrated as his films are rediscovered. Taking place online this Saturday a Sunday, March 20-21, the tribute features 12 short films directed or produced by Christie, a … [Read more…]
Billy Slade on right By Cassandra Geraghty @ayearofsilents William Sladen, better known as Billy Slade was a British Silent Film actor and Assistant Director who spent the majority of his film career making comedic short films at the Eagle Studios, later Norman Studios, in Jacksonville, FL. Billy was born in Manchester, U.K. in 1884 and, … [Read more…]
By Cassandra Geraghty @ayearofsilents Imagine walking down St. George Street in Downtown Saint Augustine and bumping into matinee idol Rudolph Valentino. If you were lucky enough to catch him at the cusp of greatness, filming 1920s “Stolen Moments” you would have seen the up and coming star just months before he catapulted to celebrity status. … [Read more…]
By Cassandra Geraghty @ayearofsilents It is nearly impossible to find information on actress Iris Hall except that she starred in two early “race films” – one of which has been lost. Born in Barbados in 1892, Iris and her family relocated to the United States when she was thirteen. She worked as a dancer, singer and … [Read more…]
By Cassandra Geraghty @ayearofsilents I’ve done my fair share of research on silent film stars but I hadn’t stumbled upon Anita Dickson Thompson Reynolds until recently, when the above picture caught my eye. There wasn’t much on the internet to learn about Anita but fortunately she had written her memoirs and they offered some insight … [Read more…]
By Cassandra Geraghty @ayearofsilents Noble Johnson was born Mark Johnson in Marshall, MI in 1881. While still young his family moved to Colorado Springs where his father was a well known horse trainer. While attending school there, Noble met and became friends with Lon Chaney and the two remained closed although never working together. He … [Read more…]
By Cassandra Geraghty @ayearofsilents At first glance, Louise Brooks is better known for her bobbed hair, than for her contribution to Silent Film. However, although she had a moderately short career, her striking looks and natural acting ability made a lasting impression on fashion and film today. Louise Brooks was born Mary Louise Brooks in … [Read more…]
By Cassandra Geraghty @ayearofsilents “The First Lady of Screen” came from humble beginnings but her exuberant personality destined her for stardom. Evelyn Preer was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1896 and moved to Chicago at two after the death of her father. She first began acting in high school with the “Lady American Minstrels”. Not … [Read more…]
By Barbara Wingo Gene Gauntier (born Eugenia Gauntier Liggett) began working in films for the Kalem Company in 1907. She acted in and wrote scenarios for numerous films, including the first motion picture version of Ben-Hur (1907), which was not only a great success, but also gave rise to a landmark United States Supreme Court … [Read more…]
By Mitch Hemann Just when the silent era was beginning to wind down, and “talkies” were about to become all the rage, William Wellman’s big budget war picture Wings (1927) flew into movie houses across the country, dazzling audiences wherever it landed. It is a stunning masterwork of cinema that is regarded even today as … [Read more…]