International Motion Picture Almanac

Harlett O'Dowd · Post by **Harlett O'Dowd** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:38 am

I guess this is the correct place to start this thread (moderators - feel free to relocate as necessary)

Question - is there any sort of pre-cursor to the International Motion Picture Almanac? My understanding is that the first volume of this series appeared in 1929. Was there any corresponding annual during some/most of the silent era which included short biographical entries on noted players, writers, directors, etc.?

Thanks in advance.

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:40 am

If I remember right, I have some books like this from the mid-20s from PHOTOPLAY....

greta de groat · Post by **greta de groat** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:11 am

There are several directory type publications, though i don't know how many continued throughout the era.

On my desk right now i have the Motion Picture Studio Directory 1919 edition which lists people by "type" and gives some professional and personal information and address. I notice this fun entry under "Actors, leads"

Di Valentina, Rodolfo; b. Italy 1895,; educ. Italian Military College; stage career, musical comedy for three seasons, dancing in vaud. with Bonnie Glass and Joan Sawyer; screen caree, Maxwell Productions; Universal ("The Big Little Person," "The Borrowed Duchess," "The Bright Idea"). Dances, rides, swims, hunts. Hght., 5,10; wght, 154; dark complexion, black hair and eyes. Home ad., 7364 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood. Studio ad., Universal City, Cal.)

Just saw a 1914 directory of west coast players with pictures and a little more info than that. I know there's at least another studio directory that went on for a couple years that i can check on when i get home.

There are also the ones aimed at fans like the Blue Book of the Screen and Stars of the Silent Photoplay that are now online at Silent.movies.org:
http://silent-movies.com/Profiles/

greta

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:24 am

I ones I have are mid-20s and filled with STUDIO bios (all inaccurate) about professional backgrounds, ages, height, etc... But they are fascinating to see who the studios thought were worth including.

Hal Erickson · Post by **Hal Erickson** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:15 pm

There are also the ones aimed at fans like the Blue Book of the Screen and Stars of the Silent Photoplay that are now online at Silent.movies.org:
http://silent-movies.com/Profiles/

greta[/quote]

The 1916 Theda Bara profile puts the lie to the standard story that she was being passed off as an exotic Egyptian in ALL her early biographies.

urbanora · Post by **urbanora** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 6:00 pm

Charles Donald Fox and Milton Silver (eds.), Who’s Who on the Screen (1920) is available on the Internet Archive

http://www.archive.org/details/whoswhoonscreen00foxc

as is William Allen Johnston (ed.), Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual (1921)

http://www.archive.org/details/motionpi ... 00johnrich

greta de groat · Post by **greta de groat** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:32 pm

There is also Film Catalog, published by Screen Library Service, Inc. It seems to be a casting directory and at least 1926 and 1927 were published.

The 1914 one of west coast players was :

Who's who in the film world : being biographies with photographic reproductions of prominent men and women who through their genius and untiring energy have contributed so greatly toward the upbuilding of the moving picture industry. Published in Los Angeles by Film World Pub. Co., 1914. Compiled by Fred C. Justice and Tom R. Smith

Here's another from the 30s.

The Cast. Published by in Hollywood by The Cast Ltd. Pub. Quarterly, Published in conjunction with the weekly publication, The Cast. Began in 1932

There was at least one fairly long running one: Studio directory of Motion picture news (1916-1917), which had been published as a section of Motion picture news. Followed by Title: Motion picture studio directory; , published 1918-1919. Followed by Motion picture studio directory and trade annual, published 1920-1923 (of which 1921 is online as previously mentioned)

Bob Birchard · Post by **Bob Birchard** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:45 am

Harlett O'Dowd wrote:I guess this is the correct place to start this thread (moderators - feel free to relocate as necessary)

Question - is there any sort of pre-cursor to the International Motion Picture Almanac? My understanding is that the first volume of this series appeared in 1929. Was there any corresponding annual during some/most of the silent era which included short biographical entries on noted players, writers, directors, etc.?

Thanks in advance.

"The Potion Picture Studio Directory," which others have mentioned, goes back to 1916. The First couple of issues were actually special issues of Motion Picture News magazine.

International Motion Picture Almanac

International Motion Picture Almanac

Re: International Motion Picture Almanac