|
Crooner (film)
''Crooner'' is a 1932 American pre-Code musical drama film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring David Manners along with Ann Dvorak and Ken Murray. It concerns the abrupt rise and fall of a popular crooner, Teddy Taylor. A print is held by the Library of Congress. Plot Teddy Taylor is the leader of Ted Taylor's Collegians. One night, his usual singer can't sing. He decides to try out singing. However, his voice can't be heard over the band. A dancer stops and jokes with him by handing him a megaphone. Taylor sings through it, and he is heard. The ladies are enamored with his soft voice while the men are disgusted. Taylor becomes a big star over night, but his ego becomes inflated. Things come to a head when Taylor loses his temper and punches a heckler in the audience, who he didn't realize was a cripple. Shunned, he loses his girlfriend, his band, his fame, and his dignity. In the final scene, as a drunk and unhappy Peter Sturgis, who promoted Teddy Taylor into a singing star ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Manners
David Joseph Manners (born Rauff de Ryther Duan Acklom; April 30, 1900 – December 23, 1998) was a Canadian-American actor who plays John Harker in Tod Browning's 1931 horror classic ''Dracula'', which stars Bela Lugosi in the title role.Pace, Eric (1999)"David Manners, 98; Menaced on Screen by Lugosi" obituary, ''The New York Times'', January 3, 1999. Last retrieved August 21, 2017. The following year, Manners portrayed the archaeologist Frank Whemple in ''The Mummy'', another pre-Code thriller by Universal Pictures. Early life Manners (originally Rauff Acklom) was born in Canada at 108 Tower Road in Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 30, 1900. He was the son of British parents, Lilian Manners and writer George Moreby Acklom, as well as being the nephew of Cecil Ryther Acklom, a senior officer in the United Kingdom's Royal Navy.Norris, John (2000)"The Life and Films of David Manners" biography of David Manners (1900-1998) at "The David Manners Website". Last retrieved August 21 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1926 to 1977. He made over 70 feature films and recorded more than 1,600 songs. His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed, such as Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Dick Haymes, Elvis Presley, and John Lennon. ''Yank'' magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive", ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII. In 1948, ''Music Digest'' estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bert Moorhouse
Bert Moorhouse (sometimes incorrectly billed as Bert Moorehouse) (November 20, 1894 – January 26, 1954) was an American character actor whose career began at the very tail end of the silent era, and lasted through the mid-1950s. Biography Born Herbert Green Moorhouse in Chicago, Illinois in 1894, he would enter the film industry in 1928 with featured roles in two FBO productions: ''Rough Ridin' Red'', and the Hugh Trevor vehicle '' Hey Rube!'' He would appear in either featured or small roles in over 130 films during his 26-year career, as well as more than 200 other pictures in which he appeared as an extra. In 1954 he had small roles in three films, the last of which to be premiered was ''Dangerous Mission'', which starred Victor Mature, Piper Laurie, William Bendix, and Vincent Price. All three of these films were released posthumously. Moorhouse was suffering from a severe illness, and on January 26 he committed suicide, via a gunshot wound to the head. He was buried w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leo White
Leo White (November 10, 1882 – September 20, 1948), Leo Weiss, was a German-born British-American film and stage actor who appeared as a character actor in many Charlie Chaplin films. Biography Born in Germany, White grew up in England where he began his stage career. He was brought to the United States under the aegis of Daniel Frohman, a Broadway producer. He started his film career in 1911 and in 1913 moved to the Essanay Studios. In 1915, he began appearing in Chaplin's comedies and continued through Chaplin's Mutual Film comedies. His last appearance in a Chaplin film was a small role in ''The Great Dictator'', released in 1940. White also acted in and directed '' Triple Trouble'' (1918), Essanay's last Chaplin release. Chaplin himself acknowledged ''Triple Trouble'' in his autobiography but did not actually participate in its production. (White filmed new scenes around existing footage of Chaplin.) White typically played dapper, continental villains or noblemen in film ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Bailey (actor)
William Norton Bailey (born Gardner Warren Reineck; September 26, 1886 – November 8, 1962) was an American actor and director. Personal life William Norton Bailey was born Gardner Warren Reineck on 26 September 1886 in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents, Rebecca Gardener Phillips and Jesse P. Reineck, his father was a Western Union telegraph operator. The family moved around the country based on Jesse’s work. The Reineck’s divorced after 1900 when Jesse was arrested, along with five other telegraph operators, for defrauding American Express. William's mother settled the family for a number of years in Milwaukee. Bailey was married on 1917 in Philadelphia to Mary Cannon, an actress who worked under the professional names of Polly Vann and Mary/Polly Bailey. They had no children. After their marriage, William, his new wife, and his mother moved to New York City where he was a director at Vitagraph Studios. After her death in 1952, he married a second time to Mrs. Aletha Hamilton ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dennis O'Keefe
Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vanes Flanagan, Jr., March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor and writer. Early years Born in Fort Madison, Iowa, O'Keefe was the son of Edward Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan, Irish vaudevillians working in the United States. As a small child, he joined his parents' act and later wrote skits for the stage. He attended the University of Southern California but left midway through his sophomore year after his father died. Career O'Keefe continued his father's vaudeville act for several years after the father's death. He started in films as an extra in 1931 and appeared in numerous films under the name Bud Flanagan. After a small but impressive role in '' Saratoga'' (1937), Clark Gable recommended O'Keefe to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which signed him to a contract in 1937 and renamed him Dennis O'Keefe. His film roles were bigger after that, starting with '' The Bad Man of Brimstone'' (1938) opposite Wallace Beery, and the lead rol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Donald Novis
Donald George Novis (3 March 1906 – 23 July 1966) was an English-born American actor and tenor. Early life Novis was born on 3 March 1906 in Hastings, Sussex to Frederick George Novis and Charlotte Morris.California County Marriages, 1850-1952, online database, FamilySearch.org Shortly after his birth, Novis and his family emigrated to Canada, where they eventually settled in Chapleau, Ontario. On 8 November 1908, the family entered the United States through Detroit on their way to Los Angeles. Novis was educated at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Pasadena High School and Whittier College. He was a soloist in two churches, and he sang on radio station KPSN. Atwater Kent contest In 1928, Novis won the national Atwater Kent Foundation singing competition after having won a preliminary regional contest that included contestants from nine western states. The victory in the second national Radio Audition earned $5,000 cash and a two-year university scholarship for Novis. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harry Stubbs (actor)
Harry Oakes Stubbs (December 7, 1874 – May 9, 1950) was an English-born American character actor, who appeared both on Broadway and in films. He was born on December 7, 1874 in Southampton, Hampshire, England. Stubbs immigrated from England at the age of 16, and made his first Broadway appearance at the age of 31 in ''The Bad Samaritan'', which had a short run of fifteen performances in September 1905 at the Garden Theatre. The Internet Broadway Database (IBDB) has him appearing in only eight plays over the next 23 years, the last of which was 1928's ''The Big Fight'' which had a month run at the Majestic Theatre in September/October 1928. In 1929, he would move to Hollywood and begin his film career, which spanned the first fifteen years of the sound era of the industry; he would appear in over 50 films during that time. At the beginning of his career in the movies, he would have several leading roles, as in his first film, ''Alibi'', but for the most part he was relegate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Harron
John Harron (March 31, 1903 – November 24, 1939) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 160 films between 1918 and 1940. Born in New York, New York, he was the brother of actor Robert Harron and of actress Mary Harron. Harron died in Seattle, Washington from spinal meningitis. Selected filmography * ''Through the Back Door'' (1921) * '' The Fox'' (1921) * ''The Grim Comedian'' (1921) * '' The Five Dollar Baby'' (1922) * '' The Ragged Heiress'' (1922) * '' Love in the Dark'' (1922) * '' The West~Bound Limited'' (1923) * '' Dulcy'' (1923) * ''The Fire Patrol'' (1924) * ''What Shall I Do?'' (1924) * '' Below the Line'' (1925) * '' My Wife and I'' (1925) * ''The Wife Who Wasn't Wanted'' (1925) * ''Satan in Sables'' (1925) * ''Old Shoes'' (1925) * '' The Night Cry'' (1926) * ''Hell-Bent for Heaven'' (1926) * '' The Boy Friend'' (1926) * ''Rose of the Tenements'' (1926) * '' The False Alarm'' (1926) * '' Love Makes 'Em Wild'' (1927) * ''Closed Gates'' (1927) * '' Onc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sumner Getchell
Sumner Getchell (October 20, 1906 – September 21, 1990) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1926 and 1953. He was born in Oakland, California, and died in Sebastopol, California. Partial filmography * '' The College Widow'' (1927) - Jimmie Hopper * '' Pirates of the Pines'' (1928) * '' The Air Circus'' (1928) - (uncredited) * ''The Flying Fleet'' (1929) - Kewpie (uncredited) * ''New Year's Eve'' (1929) - Edward's Friend * '' College Love'' (1929) - Fat * ''Cheer Up and Smile'' (1930) - Paul * '' Maybe It's Love'' (1930) - Whiskers * '' Man to Man'' (1930) - Jerry (uncredited) * '' Don't Bet on Women'' (1931) - Office Boy (uncredited) * '' Daybreak'' (1931) - Emil * ''Pleasure'' (1931) - Slug - Party Guest (uncredited) * ''Crooner'' (1932) - Teddy's Band Member (uncredited) * '' That's My Boy'' (1932) - Carl * ''Vanity Street'' (1932) - Scottie (uncredited) * '' The Son-Daughter'' (1932) - Dr. Dong's Servant (uncredited) * ''Her First Mate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Herman Bing
Herman Bing (March 30, 1889 – January 9, 1947) was a German-American character actor. He acted in more than 120 films and many of his parts were uncredited. Biography Bing was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He was son of the opera singer Max Bing (1865-1919) and Frieda Seckback (1869-1939), and brother of actor Gustav Bing (1893-1967), Clara Bing (1895-1976), and Erna Bing Swarzchild. He was married to Carla Lichtenstein and had one daughter. Bing began his career at the circus, at age 16, and vaudeville showing comedic talent. In 1921 he made his film debut in "Ciska Barna, die Zigeunerin". He was production chief of several films in Germany before he went to America, in 1923, with director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau as Murnau's interpreter and assistant director. He also worked under John Ford and Frank Borzage, before establishing himself as a successful character actor well known for his wild-eyed facial expressions and thick German accent. He provided the voi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Janney
William Janney (born Russell Dixon Janney, February 15, 1908 – December 22, 1992) was an American actor who appeared in 39 films between 1929 and 1937. He was the son of author and theatrical producer Russell Janney,(28 December 1940)William Janney Marries ''The New York Times''(2 March 1930)Actors' Children Emulate Parents ''Pittsburgh Press'' and he attended the School for Professional Children. Janney debuted on Broadway in ''Merton of the Movies'' (1922). His other Broadway credits include ''Great Music'' (1924) ''Four O'Clock'' (1933), ''Take My Tip'' (1932), ''Tommy'' (1927), and ''Bridge of Distances'' (1925). His biggest regret was not taking the role in ''Tol'able David'' (1930) after Columbia boss Harry Cohn offered it to him. His mother urged him to let Richard Cromwell have it. "She told me there was this old woman friend of hers whose son had always wanted to play the part. She said I didn't want to play it anyway. To this day, I don't understand her... This rea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
