King-Bee Films Corporation was a film production company in the U.S. that released two-real

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

comedies during the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

era. The company's stars included

Billy West William Richard Werstine (born April 16, 1952), known professionally as Billy West, is an American voice actor. His voice roles include Bugs Bunny in the 1996 film ''Space Jam'' and several subsequent projects, the title characters of '' Doug'' ...

, a

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

imitator.

Louis Burstein Louis Burstein (1878 – March 25, 1923), sometimes credited as Louis Burston, was a film producer. He co-founded Vim Comedy Company. He was born in Russia. He led Vim and King-Bee filming operations in Jacksonville, Florida. Burstein die ...

was the company's president and general manager. He established it in 1917 after the breakup of Vim Comedy Company to produce comedies starring West.

Oliver Hardy Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his c ...

and Ethelyn Gibson also acted for the company. It operated a studio in

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...

, then

Bayonne, New Jersey Bayonne ( ) is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is situated on a peninsula located between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill Van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east. As of ...

and finally at 1329 Gordon Street in

Hollywood, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...

. Its offices were in New York.

History

King-Bee had offices in New York and Hollywood, California. The company's production sites included Jacksonville, Florida. Arvid E. Gillstrom directed for King-Bee. Members of the company on their way to Hollywood were entertained in Chicago by members of the Standard Films Corporation. King Bee's Billy West comedies were in such demand it wanted him to work on two at a time.

Filmography

*''

The Hero The Hero may refer to: Books * "The Hero" (poem), a poem written by Rabindranath Tagore * ''The Hero'' (novel), a science fiction novel by John Ringo and Michael Z. Williamson * '' The Hero: A Study in Tradition, Myth and Drama'', a book by Fi ...

'' 1917 a

comedies film *'' The Villain'' 1917 a

comedies film * '' The Slave'' 1917 a

comedies film * '' The Pest'' 1917 a

comedies film *'' The Millionaire'' 1917 a

comedies film *''

Dough Nuts ''Dough Nuts'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Billy West as Billy, the New Baker * Ethel Marie Burton as Ethel, the Cashier (as Ethel Burton) * Oliver Hardy as Babe, the chef (as Babe Hardy) * Leo White a ...

'' 1917 a

comedies film *'' The Candy Kid'' 1917 a

comedies film *''

Back Stage ''Backstage'', also previously written as ''Back Stage'', is an American entertainment industry trade publication. Founded by Allen Zwerdling and Ira Eaker in 1960, it covers the film and performing arts industry from the perspective of performer ...

'' a

comedies film *'' The Pest'' (1917), extant * ''

The Orderly ''The Orderly'' is a 1918 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Billy West as Sanitarium orderly * Oliver Hardy (as Babe Hardy) * Leatrice Joy * Ethel Marie Burton * Leo White * Joe Bordeaux * Bud Ross See also * Oliv ...

'' 1918 a

comedies film * '' The Stranger'' 1918 a

comedies film * '' The Messenger'' 1918 a

comedies film *''

His Day Out ''His Day Out'' is a surviving 1918 American silent comedy short film featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Billy West as Billy * Leatrice Joy as Joy * Oliver Hardy as Oliver * Leo White * Joe Bordeaux * Ethel Marie Burton * Bud Ross as The Fathe ...

'' (1918), extant File:The Villain.jpg File:'The Millionaire'.jpg File:Billy West - Dec 1917 Variety.jpg

References

{{Authority control Silent film studios Defunct companies based in California Defunct companies based in New York City