Thursday, October 31, 2024

To Young To Remember "Stepin Fletchit"....Laziest Man In America ? he became rich !! LoL

Stepin Fetchit was the stage name of Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry, an American comedian and actor who became famous in the early 20th century as the first Black actor to receive significant screen credit in Hollywood films. Born in 1902 in Key West, Florida, he rose to fame during the 1920s and 1930s and is known as one of the earliest Black film stars. His character, Stepin Fetchit, was portrayed as the "laziest man in the world," playing to prevailing racial stereotypes. This persona generated both fame and criticism for Perry, whose career reflects complex issues around race, entertainment, and media representation in America.

Early Career and Rise to Fame: Perry began his career in vaudeville, where he developed his Stepin Fetchit character, a slow-talking, slow-moving figure who performed in various comedy routines. When he transitioned to film, he brought this character to the screen. His breakout role was in the 1927 silent film In Old Kentucky, which led to more roles as similar characters, often servants or "fools." Perry’s comedic timing and physical humor made him popular with audiences, and he became one of the most prominent Black actors of the era.

The Character's Controversy and Impact: While Fetchit's character brought Perry unprecedented success, it was based on stereotypical and demeaning depictions of Black people that catered to white audiences’ expectations. The Stepin Fetchit persona reinforced the "happy-go-lucky" and "lazy" stereotypes that were pervasive in American media, which sparked controversy among Black audiences and the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. For many, the character symbolized the dehumanizing portrayals of Black Americans in entertainment. Perry's success was thus seen by some as a reinforcement of harmful stereotypes, while others recognized it as a rare achievement in an industry with limited roles for Black actors.

By the 1940s, changing social attitudes and criticism from civil rights advocates led to a decline in Perry's career. He attempted to transition to different types of roles but struggled to shake the Stepin Fetchit image. In his later years, Perry experienced financial difficulties and largely faded from Hollywood. Despite the controversy, Stepin Fetchit's impact on American film history remains complex. He was one of the first Black actors to achieve fame in Hollywood and opened doors for future generations of Black actors, albeit through a controversial legacy. Later in life, some revisited his career with a nuanced perspective, recognizing both his achievements and the constraints placed upon him by a segregated society. Fetchit was the first Black actor to earn a million dollars in film, making him one of the wealthiest Black actors of his time.

Remeber This Friendly Ghost....Casper !!

Casper the Friendly Ghost first appeared in 1939 as a character concept by Seymour Reit and Joe Oriolo, two writers and illustrators working in the animation industry. Reit and Oriolo initially intended for Casper to star in a children's storybook, but the character gained his real fame when adapted by Paramount's Famous Studios as a cartoon series in the 1940s. The first animated short, The Friendly Ghost, was released in 1945 and introduced Casper as a gentle ghost who wanted friends rather than to scare people, setting him apart from typical ghost characters. Casper’s friendly and innocent personality quickly made him popular among children, leading to numerous animated shorts and eventually a comic book series published by Harvey Comics in the early 1950s. Harvey Comics acquired the rights to Casper in 1959 and expanded his universe, introducing characters like Wendy the Good Little Witch and the Ghostly Trio, Casper’s mischievous uncles. Casper's popularity continued to grow through television shows, including The New Casper Cartoon...BJ🙈🙉🙊

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Vintage Silent Film Star "Fatty Arbuckle"....Rise and Fall to Fame

Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle was a pioneering silent film actor, comedian, and director, born on March 24, 1887, in Kansas. He rose to fame in the 1910s, working alongside icons like Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, and was one of the highest-paid actors of his time. Known for his physical comedy and impressive agility, Arbuckle starred in numerous successful comedies, creating a beloved "Fatty" persona that was a staple in early Hollywood. However, his career took a dramatic turn in 1921 when he was accused of raping and murdering actress Virginia Rappe during a party. Although he was tried three times and eventually acquitted, the scandal ruined his career, and he became one of the first major victims of the Hollywood "scandal culture." Despite being cleared legally, his reputation never fully recovered. Arbuckle struggled to find work under his name but continued directing films under the pseudonym William Goodrich until his death in 1933 from a heart attack. BJ🙈🙉🙊

Sunday, October 27, 2024

"Buster Keaton"...Vintage Silent Movie Star

Buster Keaton was a groundbreaking figure in silent cinema, renowned for his deadpan humor, elaborate stunts, and innovative filmmaking techniques. Born Joseph Frank Keaton IV on October 4, 1895, in Piqua, Kansas, Keaton grew up in a family of vaudeville performers, where he quickly became known for his physical comedy and resilience. His father, Joe Keaton, often tossed young Buster around on stage, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face" due to his unfazed expressions despite the chaotic stunts.

Keaton began his film career in the early 1920s, quickly making a name for himself through inventive, physically demanding comedies. He rose to prominence as a writer, director, and actor, creating now-iconic works such as Sherlock Jr. (1924), The General (1926), and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928). His films were marked by an extraordinary attention to visual detail and clever use of props and mechanical devices. Keaton often performed his own stunts, which were highly dangerous and meticulously planned, contributing to a physical intensity and authenticity that set his films apart.

Monday, October 21, 2024

Did The Famous Vintage Character "Wimpy" ... Have a Burger Joint Named After Him?

Sunday, October 13, 2024

"Beginning Of Vintage Silent Cartoons And Brief History" 1890-1910

Vintage silent cartoons are an important part of animation history, marking the early stages of the medium’s development before synchronized sound became standard. These cartoons were produced during the silent film era, from the late 19th century to the late 1920s. Here’s an overview of the history:

1. Origins of Animation (1890s–1910s)

Silent Film Era Begins: The idea of animation predates sound in cinema, starting with early experimental works by pioneers like Émile Cohl and J. Stuart Blackton. Cohl’s Fantasmagorie (1908), often considered the first fully animated film, featured hand-drawn stick figures and a surreal narrative.
J. Stuart Blackton created Humorous Phases of Funny Faces (1906), one of the first films to use stop-motion and hand-drawn animation, where drawings appeared to move as though they were alive.

2. Key Innovators

Winsor McCay (1910s): One of the first major animation artists, McCay is best known for Gertie the Dinosaur (1914). He created incredibly detailed animation, drawn by hand on thousands of individual frames. Though still silent, McCay would perform live alongside Gertie, interacting with the animated dinosaur, adding to the experience.
Raoul Barré and John Randolph Bray: These two pioneered new techniques for the growing field. Barré introduced the use of “peg-and-perforation” systems, which standardized the alignment of animation frames, while Bray introduced cel animation. These innovations allowed for faster production and less re-drawing.

3. Rise of Animated Characters (1920s)

Felix the Cat (1919): Created by Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer, Felix became one of the first true cartoon superstars of the silent era. Felix’s expressive face and gestures made him popular worldwide, helping animation gain recognition as a form of entertainment beyond mere novelty.
Out of the Inkwell: A series created by Max Fleischer featured a combination of live-action and animation, where the animated character Koko the Clown would emerge from an ink bottle and interact with the real world.

>4. Technological Advances

The silent era saw key innovations that set the groundwork for future animation techniques:

Cel Animation: Pioneered by Bray and Earl Hurd in the 1910s, this allowed animators to draw moving characters on transparent sheets, overlaying them on static backgrounds, significantly reducing the labor required to produce animation.
Rotoscoping: Introduced by Max Fleischer in the 1910s, this technique involved tracing over live-action footage to create fluid, lifelike movement in animated characters. It was used in films like Out of the Inkwell.

5. Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (1927): Created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, Oswald was one of the first Disney characters, notable for his bouncy, fluid animation. This was one of the final silent cartoon series before sound was introduced.
Mickey Mouse (1928): Though Steamboat Willie is often associated with synchronized sound, Mickey Mouse made his debut in silent cartoons like Plane Crazy. However, Steamboat Willie marked a major shift towards sound and is remembered as the first Disney cartoon with synchronized sound, helping launch the “talkie” era of animation.

6. End of the Silent Era

The introduction of synchronized sound in 1928 with Disney’s Steamboat Willie marked the decline of silent animation. Cartoons transitioned rapidly to sound, with major studios like Warner Bros. and MGM also embracing the new technology. Sound allowed for greater expressiveness and added elements like synchronized dialogue, music, and sound effects, transforming the animation landscape.

Influence and Legacy

Character-Driven Animation: Silent cartoons heavily relied on physical comedy and exaggerated gestures, setting the tone for character-driven animation. Characters like Felix the Cat, Gertie the Dinosaur, and early Mickey Mouse shaped how animators approached personality and movement.
Aesthetic and Technical Innovation: Techniques developed during the silent era—like cel animation, the use of gags, and the concept of animation as both art and entertainment—became foundational for the animation industry, influencing generations of animators.

Vintage silent cartoons remain celebrated for their creativity and innovation in an era before dialogue, showing how animation could thrive purely on visuals and physical storytelling.

Vintage Cartoons. . . And "Vintage Movies"

Vintage Notes