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Hello Ed! The stone is fully readable here— makes reference to his First World War service, but no date of birth given: https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/WILLIAMGERALDFRANEY/CA5604A Many thanks, Ian! I just found his draft registration card and lo and behold, Billy was born in 1889! The question remains: ...

I received notice that my Blu-Ray was shipped on 9/12 so folks in the states should be receiving their copy sooner than expected.

I noticed that the IMDB has Billy Franey’s birthdate listed as June 23, 1889. If this is true, it would make him 10 months older than Edgar Kennedy, who portrayed his son-in-law in many of the “Average Man” shorts. While it’s certainly possible, keep in mind that Franey wore almost no makeup in thes...

No Ed, it was Charlie Tarbox's Film Classics Exchange that had the second reel only (all that is known to exist) available in a beautiful print reduced from 35mm (I've got one). It does have a pretty wild storm sequence for it's finale. RICHARD M ROBERTS Thanks Richard for that info. A little sidel...

Thanks Richard - after watching TEDDY AT THE THROTTLE ad infinitum, WHOSE BABY? was a refreshingly new look at a Gloria and Bobby Sennett comedy. With all the hype over SUNSET BOULEVARD one couldn’t escape the image of a fiftysomething Swanson anywhere you looked on YouTube. Seeing Gloria here, part...

A rare starring role for Max Davidson in this 1927 Columbia feature, courtesy of Joseph Blough and the Library of Congress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-5FH27a7kU Rob, I remember what a hit this was at Slapsticon 2007, Max really put it over - as he always did. Foolishly I tried translating th...

Congratulations Dave, on surpassing Snub's goal in barely a week! With 22 days left, who knows where the total might end up... No doubt this will also be a fine tribute to the underrated, wonderful Marie Mosquini as well. Here’s looking forward to another fabulous Silent Comedian homage from D&D...

That's a still from the cancelled in pre-production Universal picture ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET SPARTACUS. "Officer---he's Spartacus"----Lou Costello RICHARD M ROBERTS “This -- I must tell -- to Caligula...” --Joe Sawyer Bud & Lou might've made a funny movie set in ancient Rome. Imagin...

These episodes were restored by Jeff Joseph (SabuCat) and digitally upgraded to high resolution. Seven filmed episodes from the 1951 series and two episodes of Buster’s live kinescope series from 1950, one of which has not been seen in 75 years. Extras include a restored kine of THIS IS YOUR LIFE BU...

One of the better entries from a time when Edgar Kennedy’s series was fluctuating wildly between gag comedies and mild situational humor. And there’s no Florence Lake, although sometimes that can be a good thing. But the byplay between Edgar and Billy Franey is priceless. Unfortunately, the person w...