Tweet Looking For Mabel 2012

Twelfth International Domitor Conference
http://www.domitor.org/conf/conf-2012.html
June 18 -22 at University of Brighton, Brighton, UK

Thursday, June 21, 2012, Vicki Callahan “Simulation Platforms for Writing Film History: A Scalar Presentation on Mabel Normand and Cinematic Performance

When Mabel Normand came back to the States after her vacation in Europe; she was asked about an awkward moments that she might what to talk about and here is what she laughingly told us:
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/awkwardmoment1922.htm

There are 10 new pictures added to the 2012 Photo Album the easiest way to see them is the link to http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/apps/photos/recently-added
Mack Sennett – Dorothy Mackaill – Leatrice Joy – Lila Lee – Marion Davies – Mary Astor – Nazimova – Pauline Stake – Lillian Gash – Mabel Normand.

I put an article from 1913 Motion Picture World, that Looking for Mabel, which tells of a grand parade and party attended by Mabel Normand and Broncho Billy, here is the link
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/1913ballinsf.htm

Once again, the film historian, William M. Drew has written a post for his site which is really interesting, insightful and yes, a fun read with just tons of pictures.
It is all about April in 1912 – a month of special importance; Marta Eggerth was born and in 2012 and is celebrating her 100th birthday; Broncho Billy, arrived in the East Bay community of Niles, California a 100 years ago; the sinking of the Titanic on April 14-15, 1912 and April 16, 1912, the remarkable, Harriet Quimby, became the first female pilot to fly an airplane across the English Channel and more!
http://william-m-drew.webs.com/19122012.htm

MAY ALLISON on the covers of a few magazines: http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/mayallison.htm

Good news from a note came from Nancy Thomas, May 29, 2012..only Mabel Normand’s and William Desmond Taylor’s homes are parking lots…some things last…photos of Mary Miles Minter 1922 home
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/thegirlson7thstreet.htm

Marilyn Slater,

Two very nice drawings, but I didn't really recognize either as being Alice Joyce, or Anna Q. Nilsson?

I agree. The first drawing looks more like Evelyn Nesbit but I would agree with the Nilsson/Nesson drawing of a yound Anna around 1910 when she and Joyce were with Kalem.

Olive Thomas is a “Girl From Out Yonder.” It is a sweet love story…as Selznick told so well, you can read the whole thing in OFF TOPIC at Looking for Mabel.http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/outyonder.htm

I found a 1917 drawing done by Mon Randall of Dorothy Dalton, she was the first Mrs. Lew Cody…also I added a photo of Lew to the Mr. & Mrs. Cody of Lew staring in BEYOND VICTORY in 1931 (a talkie).
Dorothy Dalton
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=157300196
Lew Cody
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=157300496

There are a few 1913 photos of Mabel Normand in a grim, severe little suit and a big rimmed delightful hat at http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/1913mabelbyflerdany.htm

There is a new mysterious chapter revealed in the life of D. W. Griffith in William M. Drew’s new book
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/apps/blog/

Here is a link to the William M. Drew website:
http://william-m-drew.webs.com/newbookondwgriffith.htm“Mr. Griffith’s House with Closed Shutters – the Long-Buried Secret That Turned Lawrence Into D.W.” has been published by Mutoscope Books. Yes I designed the cover…

"A great discovery about a remarkable, unknown chapter in D. W. Griffith's early life. It is a genuine surprise as I never supposed there was anything more to find out about Griffith. Yet William M. Drew has uncovered high drama. I was riveted throughout by this amazing story, full of revelations."--Kevin Brownlow, Film Historian and Documentarian

Finally I uploaded the sheet music for “Sister of Rosie O’Grady” (Music So Beguiling is on the Navigation Bar at Looking for Mabel); right now there are 11 pieces but there maybe more out there waiting …so I guess what I am doing is asking do you have any other songs? The cover art is nice but I want the MUSIC!
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/musicsobeguiling.htm
There is also the “Mack & Mabel” musical and the Stevie Nicks “Poor Mabel Normand” song lyrics and a YouTube link…

I owe an enormous debt to William T Sherman for his Mabel Normand Source Book; the Mabel Normand Home Page <http://www.mn-hp.com/> ; his guidance and friendship and yes, his skill on the keyboard.
The collection is also available at SCRIBD:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/96928706/Mabel-Normand-Sheet-Music-c-1918-1926

You may already be familiar with the Photoplay Shopping Service, which were selling the fashion seen on screen directly to movie fans. After all it was not just behavior and attitudes which the public were emulating but of course, the clothing and accessories, they imitated. Here is the Summer 1926 ad for the service. Each issue of Photoplay showed what was new.

A fantastic Laura LaPlante swimsuit and other fashions found in Photoplay Shopper Service 1926 ad at Looking for Mabel at:

http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/photoplayshopperservice.htm

The fashions of movies stars were sometimes “HOMEMADE” by dressmakers but would have thought that Marion Davis, made things for Norma Talmadge, well there is a picture to prove it! at the bottom of the page about the Photoplay Shopping Service
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/photoplayshopperservice.htm

There are 1,427 photos in the Photo Gallery at Looking for Mabel plus other pictures in posts but the ones in the Gallery are for you to download. I just added a few new images from 1920, the easiest way to see what is new is at Recently Added :
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/apps/photos/recently-added

I read WHEN SILENCE WAS GOLDEN: Pre-talkie Comedy Beyond Charlie Chaplin (Legendary Laughter Series) by Rob Foster. There is a post in Mabel’s Log at Looking for Mabel:
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/apps/blog/" target="_blank"

announcing publication of…

The Lure of a Land by the Sea
Venice Vignettes
by
Delores Hanney

“Venice, California sits here, at the far left side of the continent, the spot just before one falls off the edge.” With these words Delores Hanney launches into her brief, breezy histories about this town, famed chiefly for its high oddball factor that renders it a popular Southern California attraction second only to Disneyland at drawing visitors in vast swarms.

Venice has been mutating since the beginning, when Abbot Kinney’s dream community of class and culture was reorganized into something less lofty. As diverse as a rhinoceros from a Ruben sandwich or a rainbow, the stars that flitted across its stage have included – in addition to Kinney – tiger-tamer Mabel Stark, Sarah Bernhardt, Mabel Normand, Roscoe & Minta Arbuckle, Mack Sennett, Chaplin, etc., building sandcastles, dancing, swimming, playing, and making movies. They are part of the stories of Venice and so many more Venetians; you never heard of but you will find in The Lure of a Land by the Sea.

Hanney brings to her historytellings the zeal of an old-time California gold miner; indeed, her narratives shine like little gold nuggets gathered up together in a swell sprightly style. The book also includes a golden foreword in the form of a jaunty Venice memory piece written by William Carroll.

It’s the ultimate beach read this summer and it is only $10!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Lure-Land-Sea-Vignettes/dp/1468155598/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Get it at Amazon.com

Minerva Courtney was an impersonator of Charlie Chaplin in 1915 at the Province Theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba; she had a 12 piece orchestra. It is Off Topic but…
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/minervacourtney.htm

“PEST” – “Le Petit Demon du Village” poster at Looking-for-Mabel, It is remarkable and makes me just a little sad but the posters of some of Mabel Normand’s films are all we have left and some of her films and posters have been saved only outside the US.
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/pestposter.htm

Look what I just won! Back to the Woods (Goldwyn 1918) as soon as I can I will add it to Looking for Mabel. There is some information at
http://www.looking-for-mabel.webs.com/backtothewoods.htm

I have uploaded the story of William Desmond Taylor's life, which was published in the Movie Weekly in a series of weekly articles, if you have not read the whole thing and have the time (it is rather long) remember as you read it, this was done hastily with just the material that was known at the time, some 90 years ago, this was just the stories told of his life and what WDT told his friends; This is the man his friends believed him to be; we know more now, thanks to the works of historians like the brilliant work done by the magnificent Bruce Long; it is not a factorial treatment but just The Colorful and Romantic Story of William Desmond Taylors Remarkable Life

http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/movieweeklywdt.htm

1922 Movie Weekly William D Taylor

wdt link pix.jpg (31.95 KiB) Viewed 693 times

In 1915 Luther Burbank visited Mabel Normand and they talked of roses, of course...

http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/burbankvisittomabel.htm

Lew (Lewis) Cody started in the movie in 1915. I will begin to add information about his career on the stage before he had his car shipped to California and before he became the man that Mabel Normand married in 1926.http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/lewcodychronology.htm

Lew Cody coming to work in California

1915 Lewis J Cody.jpg (49.4 KiB) Viewed 649 times

Mabel came home to California to make Mickey after making films at Fort Lee with Roscoe… Photoplay printed some pictures of her in the July 1916 issue.

http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/191607photoplay.htm

Mabel Normand at home found in Photoplay July 1916

1916 07 Photoplay pix page 52 LFM.jpg (62.09 KiB) Viewed 640 times

A couple of the 1915/1916 Photoplayers’ Weekly advertisements listing Mabel Normand

http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/photoplayersads.htm

Photoplayers' Weekly July 21, 1915

1915 07 28 Eliason ad.jpg (69.27 KiB) Viewed 632 times

MOTION PICTURE CLASSIC; February 1920, LEWIS CODY, “He Vamp” http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/cody20motionpicclas.htm

Lew Cody a HE VAMP

Lew in car.jpg (176.32 KiB) Viewed 625 times

A picture of the Keaton family, which was given to Lew Cody the day before the release of his “The Crusader” talkie. What fun, I bet there is a great back-story to the photo.

There is a picture of the wonderful black t-shirt that Tom Meyers sent me at Looking for Mabel. It was 100 years ago that the history of filmmaking was changed when Mack Sennett troupe left Fort Lee for Southern California.
http://looking-for-mabel.webs.com/ftleegift.htm

100 years of Keystone (1912-2012)

T fr FT LEE 03.jpg (120.25 KiB) Viewed 593 times