From Silents to Talkies to TV

[LouieD]

The Marx Bros. supposedly made a silent "in 1921 that was never released, and is believed to have been destroyed at the time" (quoth Wikipedia). Jumping over sound films into TV: Groucho of course had a well-known presence on TV; Harpo had his TV appearances; Chico's last appearance in show biz before his death was on a TV show playing cards. No TV for Zeppo, though.

Is there one shred of proof this 1921 "film" was ever made? Wikipedia, I don't truss it.

[odinthor]

The Marx Bros. supposedly made a silent "in 1921 that was never released, and is believed to have been destroyed at the time" (quoth Wikipedia). Jumping over sound films into TV: Groucho of course had a well-known presence on TV; Harpo had his TV appearances; Chico's last appearance in show biz before his death was on a TV show playing cards. No TV for Zeppo, though.

Is there one shred of proof this 1921 "film" was ever made? Wikipedia, I don't truss it.

No proof that I know of. It's probably in the same category as the assertion that Milton Berle was the messenger boy in Tillie's Punctured Romance.

Speaking of Berle, he does however qualify for our list, even aside from Tillie: He appeared, as Milton Berlinger, in 1920's Birthright, as well as uncredited in several other titles.

Lou Costello qualifies for our list as well.

[boblipton]

The reminds me that Moe Howard was a child actor for Vitagraph in the first decade of the 20th century.

Bob

[Richard M Roberts]

The Marx Bros. supposedly made a silent "in 1921 that was never released, and is believed to have been destroyed at the time" (quoth Wikipedia). Jumping over sound films into TV: Groucho of course had a well-known presence on TV; Harpo had his TV appearances; Chico's last appearance in show biz before his death was on a TV show playing cards. No TV for Zeppo, though.

Is there one shred of proof this 1921 "film" was ever made? Wikipedia, I don't truss it.

There's an ad and article about HUMOR RISK in MOTION PICTURE WORLD, and an existing cast and crew still. And it was actually released by Reelcraft in 1921, which is why there is actually a good chance that a copy might show up out there. Dick Smith directed it, and Jobyna Ralston is the leading lady. The only one who said it was never released and all copies were destroyed was Groucho, and he was certainly not known to take the truth over a good story. Yes, it definitely existed.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

[LouieD]

The Marx Bros. supposedly made a silent "in 1921 that was never released, and is believed to have been destroyed at the time" (quoth Wikipedia). Jumping over sound films into TV: Groucho of course had a well-known presence on TV; Harpo had his TV appearances; Chico's last appearance in show biz before his death was on a TV show playing cards. No TV for Zeppo, though.

Is there one shred of proof this 1921 "film" was ever made? Wikipedia, I don't truss it.

There's an ad and article about HUMOR RISK in MOTION PICTURE WORLD, and an existing cast and crew still. And it was actually released by Reelcraft in 1921, which is why there is actually a good chance that a copy might show up out there. Dick Smith directed it, and Jobyna Ralston is the leading lady. The only one who said it was never released and all copies were destroyed was Groucho, and he was certainly not known to take the truth over a good story. Yes, it definitely existed.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Great! Would love to see it turn up then. Thanks Richard, I just can't stand "rumors", either you have the info or you don't!

[odinthor]

Here's another: Hank Mann.

[Richard M Roberts]

Here's another: Hank Mann.

Heck, if you're doing comics, add Snub Pollard, Chester Conklin, and Jimmy Aubrey.

Technically, Laurel and Hardy Harold Lloyd, and Mack Sennett for they also made television appearances, but only as themselves.

Ed Wynn, Eddie Cantor, Spec O' Donnell, Bebe Daniels, Lupino Lane, Thurston Hall, Jackie Coogan, Ramon Navarro, Tim McCoy, Andy Devine, William Boyd, Robert Warwick, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi.

Thats just off the top of my head.



RICHARD M ROBERTS

[Rollo Treadway]

No TV for Zeppo, though.

As much of a holy grail for Marxists as Humor Risk would be the Feb. 18, 1957 edition of Tonight: America After Dark, which had an interview segment of all five brothers, including Zeppo and Gummo! This was done backstage at the theater where Chico was appearing in a play called "The 5th Season."

A couple of photos from the event:



Harpo evidently communicated with the interviewer in his traditional fashion. An acquaintance of mine states that kinescopes of Tonight shows from this period have turned up from time to time, so knock on wood.

Some more info on Humor Risk, including a fascinating cast photo with Jobyna Ralston:

http://www.marx-brothers.org/marxology/humorisk.htm

[LouieD]

Here's Mr. Brendel and Mr. Burr on the set of "Perry Mason", 1962.

[odinthor]

Cyril Ritchard edges in (his short On with the Dance of 1927 was silent).

Dolores del Rio.

[odinthor]

Sterling Holloway.

[sepiatone]

Cyril Ritchard edges in (his short On with the Dance of 1927 was silent).

Dolores del Rio.

He was also in Piccadilly with Anna May Wong, 1928.

[sepiatone]

No TV for Zeppo, though.

As much of a holy grail for Marxists as Humor Risk would be the Feb. 18, 1957 edition of Tonight: America After Dark, which had an interview segment of all five brothers, including Zeppo and Gummo! This was done backstage at the theater where Chico was appearing in a play called "The 5th Season."

A couple of photos from the event:



Harpo evidently communicated with the interviewer in his traditional fashion. An acquaintance of mine states that kinescopes of Tonight shows from this period have turned up from time to time, so knock on wood.

Some more info on Humor Risk, including a fascinating cast photo with Jobyna Ralston:

http://www.marx-brothers.org/marxology/humorisk.htm

Interesting that Chico, middle, looked great for a man approaching 80 I believe at the time. Zeppo second from left and about 15 years younger than Chico looks tired ,aged and haggard alas he was always the straight /handsome guy in the brothers skits.

[telical]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chico_Marx" target="_blank

Has his age at death as 74 in 1961. He would have
been around 70 in the photo.

[Jim Reid]

Interesting that Chico, middle, looked great for a man approaching 80 I believe at the time. Zeppo second from left and about 15 years younger than Chico looks tired ,aged and haggard alas he was always the straight /handsome guy in the brothers skits.

Being that Chico was appearing in a play at the time, it looks like he is the only one wearing makeup. That could have something to do with it.

[didi-5]

One of the current young actresses was interviewed in yesterday's UK press and claimed 'years ago, film stars never did television'. Which is absolute rubbish, as all the posts above confirm.

[Christopher Jacobs]

One of the current young actresses was interviewed in yesterday's UK press and claimed 'years ago, film stars never did television'. Which is absolute rubbish, as all the posts above confirm.

Well, there have always been some actors who just love to act and keep working, whatever opportunities are available. And there have been other actors who were reluctant to lower themselves from doing theatre to make movies, or from making movies to doing television. This attitude, however, seems to have been most prevalent in the first few years the newer, more "pop-culture" medium was catching on -- the 1900s to 1910s for movies and the 1940s and early 50s for television. Even today there are movie actors and TV actors, and while TV actors may work more steadily than movie actors, they're generally not as bankable on a movie poster unless they are the star of a mega-hit TV show. As someone who rarely pays the slightest attention to current TV programming, there are many actors whose names and faces I never know until they've made a movie or two.

[Robert Moulton]

There's an ad and article about HUMOR RISK in MOTION PICTURE WORLD, and an existing cast and crew still. And it was actually released by Reelcraft in 1921, which is why there is actually a good chance that a copy might show up out there. Dick Smith directed it, and Jobyna Ralston is the leading lady. The only one who said it was never released and all copies were destroyed was Groucho, and he was certainly not known to take the truth over a good story. Yes, it definitely existed.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Richard, Humor Risk was actually released? I've not heard confirmation of that before! Is there a review or ad somewhere?

[Richard M Roberts]

There's an ad and article about HUMOR RISK in MOTION PICTURE WORLD, and an existing cast and crew still. And it was actually released by Reelcraft in 1921, which is why there is actually a good chance that a copy might show up out there. Dick Smith directed it, and Jobyna Ralston is the leading lady. The only one who said it was never released and all copies were destroyed was Groucho, and he was certainly not known to take the truth over a good story. Yes, it definitely existed.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Richard, Humor Risk was actually released? I've not heard confirmation of that before! Is there a review or ad somewhere?

Re-read above paragraph a bit more carefully.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

[Robert Moulton]

Reading more carefully I'm concluding the ad for Humor Risk is in Moving Picture World. I know there is an article in the April 16, 1921 Moving Picture World, in what edition/page is there an ad?

The April 16 article uses the phrase 'have made their screen debut' but I wouldn't conclude definitively from that a release had happened. An ad would be harder evidence, can you provide the date of the ad?

[Richard M Roberts]

Reading more carefully I'm concluding the ad for Humor Risk is in Moving Picture World. I know there is an article in the April 16, 1921 Moving Picture World, in what edition/page is there an ad?

The April 16 article uses the phrase 'have made their screen debut' but I wouldn't conclude definitively from that a release had happened. An ad would be harder evidence, can you provide the date of the ad?

The film is listed in a Reelcraft Press Release as being part of one of their last released series in early 1922, I don't have it in front of me, but it is either the Royal or Sun-Lite Comedy Series, which were made up mostly of one or two-off pilot comedies that had been shot as much as five or six years earlier. Other films in these series included MARRIED TO ORDER with Charley Chase and Oliver Hardy, several Leon Errol short comedies including IN AT THE FINISH and NEARLY SPLICED, LUCKY DOG with Stan Laurel, and others. Those films have survived and were apparently released, so there is no reason not to believe that prints of HUMOR RISK got out there as well, even if Reelcraft went under soon after release of these comedies.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

[Robert Moulton]

Robert - Thanks so much for this information that is new to me!

If you ever get a chance I'd love to see a post of the ad, or even just publication date and the paper involved (Moving Picture World I'm assuming). If the latter then I'd try to locate a copy for myself.

[Robert Moulton]

Re Humor Risk, I did a little poking around on original production company, Caravel Comedies, and turned up an entry in the 'Motion picture studio directory and trade annual 1921'. Listing is:

Caravel Comedies, 130 West 46th St, N.Y.C.
Marx Bros.

Does that address mean anything to the experts out there?

Here's link to the annual, the Marx entry is on page 382:

http://archive.org/stream/motionpicture ... 2/mode/2up" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank"


Follow up, also see in the same annual on page 279: Art and Technical Director Y.C. Alley is also listed with a Caravel connection. In turn Y.C. Alley is listed in this 1906 Dramatic Mirror as having a Musical Comedy Company (Correspondence - Alabama):
http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2010 ... 200258.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank"