Making "This is Francis X. Bushman"
In 1972, 13-year-old Lon Davis met 78-year-old former silent film star Beverly Bayne (ex-wife of early movie idol Francis X. Bushman), and an unlikely friendship ensued. Bayne was vitriolic on…
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Silent Film Idol Francis X. Bushman
Before Francis X. Bushman achieved fame as a silent movie star billed as "The Handsomest Man in the World", he had already won a measure of success as a nude…
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Folks, Facts & Fun from July 1931
News, Headlines, Entertainment & Trivia from July 1931: Two weddings and a song - Actor Stuart Erwin marries actress June Collyer; Singer Rudy Vallée records As Time Goes By, and…
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Famous Fathers - Alan Hale Sr. & Jr.
In honor of Father's Day, an homage to famous movie and television stars Alan Hale Senior and Alan Hale Junior - celebrity dads from the era of silent movies, classic…
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Mary Scott's Affair With D.W. Griffith
Pretty San Francisco socialite turned stage actress Mary Scott's' affair with famous movie director D. W. Griffiths during his "missing" years at the turn of the 20th century wasn't newsworthy…
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The Myth and Mystery of Thomas Ince
Filmmaker Thomas H. Ince died under mysterious circumstances shortly after his birthday party - attended by film industry luminaries including Charlie Chaplin, actresses Marion Davies, Margaret Livingston, Julanne Johnston, and…
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Jean, the Vitagraph Dog - First Dog Star
A rough tri-color collie named Jean became the first acclaimed movie dog star of silent films, courtesy of her owner/trainer Laurence Trimble, actress Florence Turner "The Vitagraph Girl", and the…
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When Every Day is April Fool's Day
Vintage cartoons, funny stuff (unintentional and otherwise), and an assortment of the odd and unusual from the land of filmdom. Baby Peggy Flies Her Pelican Caught on film for eternity,…
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Sunny Jim McKeen, Baby Snookums
Before Ziegfeld Follies comedy star Fanny Brice and "Baby Snooks", there was the 1904-1916 comic strip series The Newlyweds and Their Baby, created by cartoonist and actor George McManus. (Sunny…
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Folks, Facts, & Fun From March 1931
News Headlines, Entertainment & Trivia from February, 1931: Ann Harding stars in the classic movie East Lynne; Cab Calloway records Minnie the Moocher; Pearl S. Buck's Pulitzer Prize-winning best-seller The…
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