Charlie Chaplin is universally hailed as the greatest comedic talent in the history of motion pictures. And yet Chaplin's early efforts-which account for more than half of his total output-are often overlooked in favor of his later films. In 1914 Chaplin appeared in a total of 35 films for the Keystone Film Company; the following year he signed with the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, where he wrote, directed and starred in more than a dozen short comedies. Though the resulting pictures were frequently crude and erratic, they reveal the emergence of a formidable comic genius. Charlie Chaplin at Keystone and Essanay: Dawn of the Tramp is a film-by-film examination of this period in Chaplin's career, tracing the birth of his beloved "Tramp" character and his evolution as an actor and filmmaker. Also discussed are how these movies have been re-edited, recopied, reissued and retitled over the years, with a special section that matches pseudonym titles to their original source film. Charlie Chaplin at Keystone and Essanay: Dawn of the Tramp is a fascinating look at the first celluloid steps taken by this legendary laughmaker, and is a must for all Chaplin fans, old and new.

Charlie Chaplin at Keystone and Essanay: Dawn of the Tramp

Okuda, Ted

Maska, David

Humor & Entertainment

iUniverse

Columbia produced over 500 two-reel shorts from 1933 through 1958, with Hollywood's finest comics (the Three Stooges, Andy Clyde, Buster Keaton, Harry Langdon, Charley Chase, others). Fully illustrated with never-before-published photographs, the book chronicles the history of all, including interviews with the veterans. The filmography covers all of the 526 two-reelers: credits, date, synopsis.

The Columbia Comedy Shorts: Two-Reel Hollywood Film Comedies, 1933-1958 (McFarland Classics)

Watz, Edward

Reference

McFarland

Monogram Pictures Corporation, one of several famed "poverty row" studios, produced over 700 feature films-cheap, often inept, frequently forgettable, but so inexpensive profit was unavoidable. The Bowery Boys and Charlie Chan series were extremely popular. This, the first such reference book, corrects errors in other sources while giving movie titles, casts, credits, plot synopses, running times, release dates, alternate and remake titles.

The Monogram Checklist: The Films of Monogram Pictures Corporation, 1931-1952 (McFarland Classics S)

Dorothy Lee is best remembered for her screen appearances with the popular comedy team of Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey. She went from being a struggling vaudeville performer to the female vocalist in one of the most successful bands in the country to a star in the new-fangled "talking pictures" all within the span of a few short years. During the Great Depression, she lived a fairy-tale existence, rubbing shoulders with Hollywood luminaries and earning an income that most people could only dream of. She retired and balanced domestic life with charity work. And she saw, to her amazement, a revived interest in the movie career she had written off long ago. Based on years of conversations between the authors and Dorothy Lee, this book is an informative biography filled with revealing insights on navigating the studio system during Hollywood's Golden Age and the ephemeral nature of fame.

Dorothy Lee: The Life and Films of the Wheeler and Woolsey Girl

Biographies & Memoirs

Brotherton, Jamie

Arts & Literature

McFarland Company

Throughout the 1930s, 40s and 50s, several independent film production companies (referred to a "poverty row" studios) turned out hundreds of "B" movies--low-budget feature films that were specifically designed to play the bottom half of the double bills. This handy reference focuses on the output of three of these independents--Grand National (1936-1939), Producers Releasing Corporation (1939-1948), and Screen Guild/Lippert (1945-1955). Here are studio histories and details on all their output (title of movie, director, producer, writer, cast, plot, synopsis, running time, release date, and more). Films are covered chronologically by release date.

Grand National, Producers Releasing Corporation, and Screen Guild/Lippert: Complete Filmographies with Studio Histories

Movies

Using interviews with Jerry Lewis and many of his co-stars, this book analyzes his collaborative efforts with Dean Martin, his subsequent solo work, his writing and directorial careers, and later movies such as Hardly Working (1979) and The King of Comedy (1982). Comprehensive data are provided for each of the films, with cast and production credits, studio, release date, and running time. Lewis's own reflections on his work are included for many of the entries.

The Jerry Lewis Films: An Analytical Filmography of the Innovative Comic

Neibaur, James L.

At one time every station in Chicago—a maximum of five, until 1964–produced or aired some programming for children. From the late 1940’s through the early 1970’s, local television stations created a golden age of children’s television unique in American broadcasting. Though the shows often operated under strict budgetary constraints, these programs were rich in imagination, inventiveness, and devoted fans. Now, discover the back stories and details of this special era from the people who created, lived, and enjoyed it—producers, on-air personalities, and fans.

The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television

Mulqueen, Jack

Television

Southern Illinois University Press

Although the motion picture industry initially disparaged and feared television, by the late 1950s, studios saw the medium as a convenient dumping ground for thousands of films that had long been gathering dust in their vaults. As these films found their way to local TV stations, enterprising distributors grouped the titles by genre so programmers could showcase them accordingly. It was in this spirit that Chicago’s tradition of TV horror movie shows was born. Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows is the first comprehensive look at Chicago’s horror movie programs, from their inception in 1957 to the present.

Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows: From Shock Theatre to Svengoolie

Yurkiw, Mark

Columbia did 500+ two-reel shorts 1933-58, with Hollywood's finest comics: history, production discussion, critiques. (Three Stooges, Andy Clyde, Buster Keaton, Harry Langdon, Charley Chase, others.) Filmographies of all 526 two-reelers: credits, date, synopsis.

The Columbia Comedy Shorts: Two-Reel Hollywood Film Comedies, 1933-1958

McFarland Publishing

The Monogram Checklist: The Film of Monogram Pictures Corporation, 1931-1952

Business & Money

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Books by Okuda, Ted