SilentComedyMafia.com

hello all, here it goes for my first question on this forum. It is about an event staged in front of the new Mack Sennett plant at Studio City filmed on March 11, 1928. I attach some pictures from this event as it was filmed for a Fox Movietone newsreel, because I'd like your help in identifying the people posing with the pie. I requested the newsreel from the Moving Image Research collections at U of South Carolina because I had hoped that some Sennett personnel was involved in the baking and the posing but I do not seem to recognize anyone. But of course, all of you incredibly knowledgeable people out there can give me a quick rundown on who's who in the following frame enlargements? Thank you very much! Hilde

Hi Hilde - In the middle scan the man in the suit and fedora hat looks like Billy Bevan, and the woman to his left holding his arm appears to be Carole Lombard.

Hello Hilde!
Steve M's eyes must be much better than mine, I can't see much of anything!
Would be great if you supplied larger scans.
But with much squinting and facial distortion, I agree with Steve about Billy Bevan.
I semi-agree about Carole Lombard but feel just as strong that it resembles Ruth Hiatt.
Most of the other girls have their heads down.
Maybe you can post the actual film when you get it and we'll name them all!

SteveR

StevO's right - it does look it could be Ruth Hiatt too. Only a sharper image will clear it up!

hello Steve & Steve,
These are screen shots of the actual film that I received, maybe not digitized in the best resolution since it is only a reference copy. I will attach slightly different poses, maybe you'll have a better view here. Thanks already for the positive ID on Billy Bevan, I suspected as much but wasn't sure. The girl with the long blonde curles in the first picture with the unbaked pie seems to be the most prominently featured person, any ideas there? Thanks again! Hilde

The blonde second from the right is Thelma Hill. I think the blonde next to Bevan is Ruth Hiatt as well.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

In this larger image I agree that it's Ruth Hiatt. But now the woman on the left of her with the hat and dark coat looks like Dot Farley.

Steve Massa wrote:In this larger image I agree that it's Ruth Hiatt. But now the woman on the left of her with the hat and dark coat looks like Dot Farley.

Yeah, I thought she looked like Dot Farley as well, which is possible. Dot had worked for Sennett on and off in the late 20's, notably in THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

Hello Richard and StevO, yes, it does look like Dot Farley to me as well.
And Richard, it does look like Thelma Hill altho I've never seen her as a blonde that I can remember.
Wait! Maybe it's during her Toots and Casper series (?).
The girl just to our right of Thelma now looks like Carmelita Geraghty.
Still can't tell who the girl between Bevan and Thelma is.
And I don't know who the younger blonde girl at the pie is.
If you have the time and energy to post more, Hilde, be our guest. Thank you!

SteveR

Yeah, I third the motion on Thelma Hill and Carmelita Geraghty on the right.