Essanay Sweedie clip - Wallace Beery, Leo White

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Ed Watz
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Essanay Sweedie clip - Wallace Beery, Leo White

Postby Ed Watz » Fri May 15, 2020 5:07 am

A slightly longer clip from a 1932 Paramount Screen Souvenirs entry, of an untitled Essanay Sweedie comedy, with Frenchman Leo White wooing the "charming" Sweedie, Wallace Beery:

https://filmlibrary.shermangrinberg.com/?s=file=421885
"Of course he smiled -- just like you and me." -- Harold Goodwin, on Buster Keaton (1976)

Richard M Roberts
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Re: Essanay Sweedie clip - Wallace Beery, Leo White

Postby Richard M Roberts » Fri May 15, 2020 6:25 am

This is not, in fact, a "Sweedie" comedy, this is AT THE OLD MAID'S CALL, a split-reeler released by Essanay on December 24, 1913, in which Wally is playing Miss Muchmoney a rich old maid who is advertising for a beau in what may be his first female impersonation for the company.

Thanks for scouring the old Sherman Grinberg Library Ed, there should be a lot of interesting goodies in there.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

William Ferry
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Re: Essanay Sweedie clip - Wallace Beery, Leo White

Postby William Ferry » Fri May 15, 2020 9:24 am

Is the narrator for this series the same one who did a similar series around the same time for Vitaphone?

Ed Watz
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Re: Essanay Sweedie clip - Wallace Beery, Leo White

Postby Ed Watz » Fri May 15, 2020 11:23 am

Richard M Roberts wrote:This is not, in fact, a "Sweedie" comedy, this is AT THE OLD MAID'S CALL, a split-reeler released by Essanay on December 24, 1913, in which Wally is playing Miss Muchmoney a rich old maid who is advertising for a beau in what may be his first female impersonation for the company.

Thanks for scouring the old Sherman Grinberg Library Ed, there should be a lot of interesting goodies in there.

RICHARD M ROBERTS


Many thanks for the correction Richard, if the rest of the film kept up this tempo and high-energy level, it looks to have been a first-rate comedy. Beery is hysterical and it's nice to see Leo White cut loose with some wild high-kickin'.
"Of course he smiled -- just like you and me." -- Harold Goodwin, on Buster Keaton (1976)

Ed Watz
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Re: Essanay Sweedie clip - Wallace Beery, Leo White

Postby Ed Watz » Fri May 15, 2020 12:07 pm

William Ferry wrote:Is the narrator for this series the same one who did a similar series around the same time for Vitaphone?


Hi William, here's half of the answer - Leo Donnelly is the credited narrator on the Paramount shorts:
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"Of course he smiled -- just like you and me." -- Harold Goodwin, on Buster Keaton (1976)

Ed Watz
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Re: Essanay Sweedie clip - Wallace Beery, Leo White

Postby Ed Watz » Fri May 15, 2020 2:38 pm

William, I just returned from running some errands and checked Leo Donnelly's credits - he was a stage and vaudeville comedian turned Broadway confidante, and in the sound era did narration for shorts produced by Paramount, Vitaphone, Educational, and United, perhaps others as well. He died in 1935 after appearing in the Broadway version of "The Milky Way" (as the fight manager). He was injured in rehearsals when a staged knockout punch accidentally proved authentic. He insisted on opening with the show but was forced to withdraw soon afterwards.
"Of course he smiled -- just like you and me." -- Harold Goodwin, on Buster Keaton (1976)

William Ferry
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Re: Essanay Sweedie clip - Wallace Beery, Leo White

Postby William Ferry » Fri May 15, 2020 6:47 pm

Thanks, Ed! I really enjoyed his Vitaphone Movie Memories shorts, which are available as part of a Warner Archives set, Vitaphone Cavalcade Of Musical Comedy Shorts. Snarky, yes, but always good to see rare clips.


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