Bert Lahr, 125 -- August 13, 2020

 

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Bert Lahr, beloved for playing the Cowardly Lion in the 1939 Wizard of Oz and not remembered for much else, was born 125 years ago today, on 13-August-1895. My family watched the Wizard of Oz when it was on CBS every year around Easter time. My favorite part was when the Lion ran away and dove through a window. I have seen Bert Lahr in other movies, and haven't liked most of them.

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Quite Unique and Quite Different -- December 11, 2013

This item is from the 19-September-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  It announces that the Oz Film Company of Los Angeles signed with Paramount to distribute its productions.  "in five parts" means The Patchwork Girl of Oz was a five reel feature.  Frank J Baum was the son of L Frank Baum, author of the Oz books. 

In January, this series will move to my new movies-mostly blog, The Big V Riot Squad, which will premiere on 01-January-2014. 

Now Ready! Another Big Winner -- November 12, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz. The company made some movies, but was not a financial success.

This ad is from the 10-October-1914 edition of Moving Picture World. Their first movie, The Patchwork Girl of Oz was released on 28-September-1914. The ad mentions their second movie, The Magic Cloak of Oz, and what proved to be their third and last movie, The Last Egyptian. Be sure to click on the images to see larger versions.

A Delightful Fantasy Brilliantly Produced -- October 15, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This ad is from the 03-October-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  Their first movie, The Patchwork Girl of Oz was featured on the cover and in an ad mentioning that it was released on 28-September-1914.  The ad mentions their second movie, The Magic Cloak of Oz.  Be sure to click on the images to see larger versions.

Be Sure to See the Whimsical Woozy -- September 18, 2013

 

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This ad is from the 26-September-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  It refers to their first two movies, The Patchwork Girl of Oz and The Magic Cloak of Oz.I like the picture of the Woozy.  It mentions that The Patchwork Girl of Oz "Will be released through the Paramount program on September 28, 1914." 

Thrills of the Honest Sort -- August 15, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. This double page ad is from the 29-August-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  It refers to their first two movies, The Patchwork Girl of Oz and The Magic Cloak of Oz. I'm glad the acting is "Thoroughly Adequate." 

The Daintiest Darling of Them All -- July 15, 2013

 

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 12-September-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  It refers to their first movie, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, as "5000 feet of joyous film" and says their second film, The Magic Cloak of Oz, has just been completed. 

The Children Laughed to Their Hearts' Delight -- June 15, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 29-August-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  It talks about apreview of their first movie, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.  "The children laughed to their hearts' content and the grown-ups became children again." 

The Oz Film Company Announces the Completion -- May 17, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 22-August-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  It announces the completion of their first movie, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, and says they are "busily at work on our Second Feature Film -- a Photo-Visualization of L. Frank Baum's Fairy Tale The Magic Cloak of Oz.  I like the graphic around the upper part of the ad.  It looks like a relief. 

Marvelous Illusions -- April 14, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 15-August-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.It says the movies is "Now completed and ready for exhibition." 

As Good As Money, Brains, Patience and Experience Can Make It -- March 13, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 08-August-1914 edition of Moving Picture World. It has a nice photo of Mr Baum, a nice drawing of Ozma of Oz, and a remarkably complete cast list. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

A Marvelous Filmization -- February 15, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 01-August-1914 edition of Moving Picture World. It has some nice stills, and the only use I have ever seen of the word "filmization."  "Competent critics positively assert that in this, their first great feature film, the Oz Company has created a newer and better era and opened a new vista in the field of Picturedom."  I wonder what incompetent critics thought.   

Oz Film -- We Are Just Completing Our First Feature -- January 13, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 18-July-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  It states that their first feature, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, is just being completed and it invites feature exhibitors to "secure it at an early date."  The handwriting is an interesting touch.  The images are by John R Neill.  

The Patchwork Girl of Oz #3 -- December 14, 2012

"The new Plant of the Oz Film Company, conceded to be the most completely equipped and best appointed in California if not in America."

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 11-July-1914 edition of Moving Picture World. It includes an image of their studio, on "Santa Monica Boulevard from Gower to Lodi streets."  Pierre Couderc, "direct from the Folies-Bergere," played the lead role in their first feature, The Patchwork Girl of Oz. He went on to write and direct movies.  Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

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There was a shooting rampage in a Connecticut grammar school. This followed a rampage in an Oregon shopping mall and a massacre in a Colorado movie theater. Some people say this is not the time to "politicize" an event like this. If not now, when are we supposed to talk about how easy it is for unbalanced people to get guns and ammunition?  When are we going to address the issue of caring for people with mental illnesses? 

The Patchwork Girl of Oz #2 -- October 14, 2012

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz. The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 27-June-1914 edition of Moving Picture World. The images are by John R Neill. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

Pierre Couderc, L'étoile grotesque (the grotesque star) of the Folies-Bergere played the lead role in their first feature, The Patchwork Girl of Oz. He went on to write and direct movies.Director J Farrell MacDonald went on to have a long career as a supporting actor.

The Giants lost the first game of the National League Championship Series to the Cardinals.  

The Patchwork Girl of Oz -- September 14, 2012

"The first OZ FILM (now making) will be..."

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 20-June-1914 edition of Moving Picture World. The images are by John R Neill.  Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

"Produced under the personal supervision of the author, L. FRANK BAUM."  

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company -- August 14, 2012

"...transferred direct FROM BRAIN TO SCREEN."  

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 13-June-1914 edition of Moving Picture World. It's a little small, but I like the images around the edge.  Some Oz fan could probably identify the artist.  (UPDATE:  John R Neill -- thank you, JumpingFrog)  Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version.

"OZ Films are produced under the personal supervision of Mr. L. FRANK BAUM."  

Metreon, Yerba Buena Gardens, Cartoon Art Museum -- February 18, 2012

It was cold and windy today.

The cat jumped on the bed to wake us.  We went downstairs and found that Turner Classic Movies was showing M. Hulot's Holiday.  After breakfast, we drove downtown to Fifth and Mission.  We went to the Metreon, which recently reopened after extensive remodeling, which is still going on.  We had lunch at the San Francisco Soup Company.  We went upstairs and took some pictures, like the one above, showing the Museum of Modern Art and Timothy Pflueger's Pacific Telephone Building. We walked around Yerba Buena Gardens and took more photos.

I didn't notice any problems caused by this weekend's Bay Bridge closure. 

We went to the Cartoon Art Museum. They had an exhibit of art related to the Wizard of Oz, from a comic strip that L Frank Baum wrote and a 1930s comic strip, to more recent comic books and graphic novels. My daughter has been enjoying the Marvel graphic novels. They also had an exhibit of contemporary comic strips, including Pearls Before Swine and Lio. 

We went to 5 o'clock mass at Good Shepherd, then had dinner at Guerrero's Taqueria.

Wicked -- February 7, 2009

We went to see Wicked at the Orpheum today. We took BART from Daly City. We had seen it years ago, but I didn't remember it well. My wife and daughter felt it was a very different production. We had an understudy for Glinda, but I thought she was good. Carol Kane played the headmistress.

On the way home, we stopped at Rockin' Robs to have dinner. The Chinese New Year parade is on television tonight.

I don't like the new layout of the Chronicle. It looks like USA Today. The Chronicle always had a distinctive appearance. I could always recognize a clipping.

Wizard of Oz -- January 23, 2009

An ad from the 20-March-1904 New York Sun, for the musical Wizard of Oz, starring Fred A Stone (The Scarecrow) and David C. Montgomery (the Tin Man).

It rained most of the day.