Betsy J. Green

Happy Birthdate, Harry A. Pollard!

Harry was born in Kansas on January 23, 1879. He began as a silent film actor, but soon switched to directing. In 1914, he starred in and directed The Dream Ship for Santa Barbara's "Flying A" film studio. This silent movie was filmed at a couple of the million-dollar mansions in Montecito, CA.

The luxurious settings caught a lot of attention. One movie magazine wrote, "The scenes were taken at the residence and grounds of millionaire Gillespie of Montecito, and he generously suggested the use of his treasures. One rug alone was worth $10,000, and the chair used was once the property of a Spanish king. Two pillars were from Pompeii." – Motion Picture News, June 27, 1914

Happy Birthdate, silent film actress Jessalyn Van Trump!

Jessalyn was born in Ohio on January 16, 1887. She made 80+ silent films between 1911 and 1928, more than 60 of these were made for the "Flying A" film studio in Santa Barbara. In 1912, she starred in The Law of God, which was filmed in Montecito. This was one of the seven silent movies filmed in Montecito that have a religious theme.

In the movie, Jessalyn is the daughter of a minister, and her boyfriend is an atheist. Hmm. Problem to be solved. (Spoiler alert – he eventually embraces religion and the girl.)

No copies are known to survive.

Saloon Men vs. Movie Men

Misunderstandings between film folks and Santa Barbara, CA residents started even before the "Flying A" settled here in 1912. The Essanay film company was filming here for several months in 1910, and accidentally caused some trouble.

A couple of local tavern owners mistakenly thought that the Essanay film company was making an anti-liquor documentary here when they were actually making a comedy called Method in His Madness. The movie scene involved a man who fainted outside a saloon and then was given a drink to recover. "Some of the saloon men and their friends thought the motion picture company was trying to bring disgrace to the city by picturing a drunken brawl with a liquor house for the background." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, January 26, 1910

One of the protesting saloon owners then stole a piece of the motion picture camera. Finally, the mayor and the chief of police stepped in and prevented the conflict from escalating into open warfare, and the film company promised to avoid making movies in front of the saloon.

A couple of years later, when the "Flying A" film studio settled in Santa Barbara, the misunderstandings started again. (More about that in future posts.)

Are Mermaids Naughty or Nice?

There's nothing like a mermaid movie to get people excited, one way or another. In 1915, Universal Studios was out on Santa Cruz Island in California filming Undine, a movie about mermaids, and it created quite a splash.

Some people objected to the scantily clad actresses playing mermaids. "The picture producer would have done better to have called Undine, Undressed, for never in any film production to date has there been so much female loveliness with so little draping. In fact, there were entire stretches of the picture when the female loveliness wasn't draped at all." – Variety, February 4, 1916

But not everyone agreed. "Although their clothing is scanty (and in some cases, entirely absent), there is nothing about the scenes which can give offense to anyone. Censors will look in vain for something to cut out. (Which does not mean that they will cut nothing.)" – Motion Picture News, February 12, 1916

Unfortunately, this seems to be one of the many silent films that are lost, so we will not be able to judge for ourselves.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Lawsuit

It's hard to say who was the good guy and who was the bad guy in this case – both sides were pointing fingers at each other. In one corner was the golden girl of Santa Barbara's "Flying A" studio – Mary Miles Minter. In 1919, she had abruptly left the company, and was suing for $4,125 in back pay.

In the other corner was the general manager of the film company who stated sternly, "There is no salary due the young lady. We have paid her all she has coming." The situation sounded like the scenario for a "Flying A" movie with lots of exaggerated gestures and frowny faces. But certainly, it was the end of a beautiful friendship.

Happy Birthdate, Katherine MacDonald!

MacDonald (a.k.a. McDonald) was born on December 14, 1891, in Pennsylvania. She appeared in 36 silent films, including The Beautiful Liar in 1921. This movie was filmed at one of the million-dollar mansions of Montecito, California.

The reviews for this movie were so-so. The best review came from down under.

"Delightful comedy-drama chock full of good romance and high-class comedy." – Wairarapa Daily Times (Wellington, New Zealand), November 18, 1922

An Early Xmas Present for Me!

I was overjoyed to see the wonderful article about my new book in the local newspaper. Here's the link: https://newspress.com/movies-million-dollar-mansions/

I guess writing 10 books over 20 years has finally paid off! Whew!

Dogs in World War I

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the U.S. Army recruited horses and dogs to be sent to aid the conflict in Europe. Dogs helped haul equipment and delivered messages. "Flying A" actor William Russell donated one of his dogs.

"The latest animals to sign up for relief of their relatives at the front being the six-month-old Russian wolfhound belonging to William Russell of the American Film Company." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, June 18, 1918

Real Indians in "Flying A" Silent Movie?

It's doubtful if any of the actors filmed in Santa Barbara, California in this movie, who were purported to be Indians from a Navajo reservation, were actual Native Americans. Certainly, there were doubts about the ethnic background of a mysterious guy who called himself Lone Star Dietz. When he wasn't playing Indian in the movies, he was coaching football in the Pacific Northwest. This group was performing in the "Flying A" serial, The Diamond From the Sky in Mission Canyon in Santa Barbara.

"Lone Star, a full-blooded American Indian, led 40 of his tribe before the camera . . . hundreds of tourists sojourning in Santa Barbara and Montecito, were permitted to enjoy the proceedings from the sidelines. A complete Indian village had been built in the canyon by Lone Star's people, who were brought from the Navajo reservation expressly for this picture." – Moving Picture World, April 3, 1915

Happy Birthdate, Grace Darmond!

Silent film actress Grace Darmond was born on November 20, 1898, in Canada. She made nearly 50 movies in the silent and sound eras. In 1918, she costarred in the Vitagraph production of A Diplomatic Mission. Some scenes were filmed at a million-dollar mansion in Montecito, California.

The movie was made while the United States was involved in World War I. "The story concerns the activities of a Yankee in settling an uprising of South Sea Island natives. He does it for the love of duty and for the love of a girl." – Motion Picture News, October 5, 1918