As winter descends... Happy all-holidays

Well, a decade and a difficult year (for me) is almost over. I've not much profound to write  so I'll share some of my favorite Lionel Barrymore pics (and a few with brother John), some colorized and Santafied by yours truly. I wish you all peace, joy, love, and happiness this coming year and always.

In AMERICA 

IN BODY AND SOUL 

Lionel in The Show, Jack in Jekyll & Hyde 

The boys in Arsene Lupin

In Sadie Thompson.  One of my absolute fave films and images

In the second filming of The Mysterious Island

You can enjoy Mr B in a holiday mood under the Audio Tidbits section of this blog.

And Happy New Year!
Sam

Tomorrow and tomorrow... Anniversary of Mr. B's death

Fellow readers, I am ashamed of my lack of work on the blog, but I promise I had very valid medical reasons: I died twice in the ER. So, though I'm still here, I remember with a different feel Mr B's death this day in 1954.

A little office decor... 

I have not sought out his death certificate, though others have noted heart issues. Story goes he was watching TV with the Wheelers when he began having trouble breathing. At the hospital, he lapsed into a coma, dying November 15th. The funeral appeared well - attended, and the paeans were extensive for someone audiences tended to take for granted (some are in the audio page here). Indeed, Mr B had finished a Hallmark radio show the week before he died, and had been in a car crash not long before that, worrying sister Ethel.

Other than in It's a Wonderful Life, much of Mr B's work goes unseen and unknown to more recent audiences, though the range and level of his work across a good 40,50 years is undeniable. From stage to early film to his voice over of Father Time for an animated TV special, Our Mr. Sun, he was there and instigated innovations on stage and screen.

So thanks again, Mr Barrymore, and nod down fondly on us from beyond.

Told ya I'd be back:new LB radio pic

Found a new to me pic of Mr B from a history of radio book today :

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He gets only this mention, odd considering his fame on film and radio. But it's always good to see a new picture! I neglected to get the book name, but it was a 1950s history. I'll get the name the next time I go there.

As a reminder, you can click right on the audio tidbits page for Mr B performing on radio with a variety of people. Also, brother John is there!

Enjoy! 

FYI: I died

No, really, I did. July 4 I had a massive heart attack and 3 cardiac arrests. From that day  I've spent 59 days in 4 different hospitals. No, I had no warning and did not have heart trouble prior.

But I mean wow.... I'm still managing the fallout physically and mentally. And, I'm encouraging everyone to get regular checkups! Don't be foolish and cavalier about health  if you can manage. I was fortunate to have decent insurance and a safe job. Hopefully I'll be back in December at work.

In the meantime, I wish all the best end of the year. More Lionel to come, promise!

Lionel in Sadie Thompson 

Another film find from LOC: "Let's go to the Movies" 1948

AMPAS produced, this is a 9 minute short on film, "the 1st of a series of motion pictures about motion pictures".

Let's go to the Movies 1948
You can see Mary Pickford, what seems to be Henry Walthall, Chaplin kinetoscope, clips of film audiences, Jolson footage in Jazz Singer, Great Train Robbery footage, as well as Griffith clips, John Barrymore as Richard III in 1929's Show of Shows, and interestingly, a shot of a Key Largo theater marquee--with Bogart, Bacall, and--Robinson.

It's interesting how they show some shots of non-USA theaters, as well. 1948 was a really busy period in Hollywood, so it's not like when they show "little old Hollywood" it's a realistic assessment. The publishing info shows Teaching Film Custodians : Instructional Films, 1948. It is downloadable!

Screengrab--check out the film title!

NEW! WEIRD! Shorts and unused clips of Barrymores from British Pathe

British Pathe online, my friends! Y'all should give it a look for many, many items, but here's some Barrymore specific ones!

Carl Carlisle impersonates famous people, including Lionel Barrymore, in 1943.

Carlisle: Carl Carlisle impersonations
 He also does one from the Florida Club, 1940, in London, also of LB and others:
Florida Club, Carlisle impersonations

There's also a silent clip of Ethel Barrymore's funeral in 1959:
 Funeral:  Ethel Barrymore funeral

A 1939 news report of kids finger painting--checl out the close up of Eleanor Roosevelt and (possibly Lionel!) John Barrymore, according to the narrator. Since Eleanor Roosevelt may not have been fond of Lionel, it's probably Jack... Jack was better known probably too:
1939 kids' paintings, w/ a Barrymore

Bonus footage of the 1947 Oscars! Check out all the peoples, including Mr. B. Harold Russell received his award for The Best Years of Our Lives. Lionel Barrymore presents an award on stage to Anne Baxter (about 37 seconds in--Mr. B looks VERY snazzy!):
1947 Oscars footage, silent

Ethel Barrymore Colt was filmed rehearsing for her stage debut in "Scandals", 1932. She speaks of uncle John's early musical comedy on stage:
Ethel Barrymore Colt stage debut rehearsal


Annnd... Elaine Barrie!
 Elaine wants a divorce from Jack, 1937:  Elaine wants a break

Happy 141st, Mr B!

Excuse the jpg blog... Long story!

It's Lionel-eve!

April has proven to be a bit of a lion, in terms of drama! I apologize to Mr. B in the great hereafter, but I'm sure he understands. On this eve of Lionel, I present some images of the Man Hisself, more recently acquired. Inspired by Bob Fells of SFT on Facebook, I may try my hand at stringing images from some of his lost films, like The Barrier, together. That, and actually buy the few films of his easily available that I haven't seen, like The Bad Man.

Happy Lionel Eve!

Children of the Whirlwind.  He did shy so well given his other, more aggressive parts. 

The Voice of Bugle Ann, a much underrated & underviewed film. 

Enemies of women.... Oh, this one would be fun!

Below is him with long-term MGM coworker Wallace Beery. I've seen Mr. B and Beery in at least 2 films together, and well...Beery was always well typecast as a boor.

From The Barrier, one of his lost ones I really wish could be found! That's HB Walthall far right. 

The First of Lionel, 2019

Today commences the First of the fortnight of Lionel, April 12, the false date he cheerfully gave to his autobiography-helper, Cameron Shipp. Twas a base lie, and Mr. B knew it--his actual birthdate is April 28, 1878.

For this First of Lionel, then, I offer some pics from films in which Mr. B took on some real makeup, as opposed to his usual "as is and barefaced" look in the great majority of his films. Enjoy, be astonished, and sometimes just LOL at these get-ups. There are more, but here's the wide-ranging sampling!**

**You can also see some early makeup at this post here: LB's makeup in some early roles

In Decameron Nights, as Saladin (a lost film)

In "The Claw" on Broadway, here with soon to be second wife Irene Fenwick; 1st wife Doris Rankin was also in it! LB swore the makeup was the same, but his physical expressiveness and mannerisms changed to show age.

In the 2nd act of "The Copperhead" on Broadway, his biggest stage role

A posed shot from his notorious "Macbeth" on Broadway

Program cover from "Peter Ibbetson" on Bway, LB at bottom, if it's not obvious.

The Stranger's Return--old man beard, really young looking left hand!

The Devil Doll, still. Not exactly make up, but...(flash on edge my error in taking the pic!)

The glorious Rasputin and the Empress with brother John. Amusing anecdotes in LB's bio

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Tis the month of Lionel! (and a new find)

April commences the Month of Lionel, given his lie to his biographer that he was born April 12, when it's actually April 28, 1878.  No, I have no idea why he did that, other than an occasionally puckish humor.

I'm trying to think of some novel stuff for the blog, though it's kind of busy in work/life. However, I did finally acquire something I've had my eye on for a while:

This is a 1922 Canadian Tobacco Products Corp Card (#13 of 100 it seems), which I got from eBay for a nice price. The image below is apparently from the same shoot. He had just appeared in Boomerang Bill and was all kinds of handsome. I can generally figure out what the card said. Given the age, it's in quite good shape on the front.

So keep an eye out here for the lovely month of Lionel, and I'll try to provide some entertainment, or at least information.

Happy April!

February notes of note

February just RACED along, and I feel guilty not posting on Jack Barrymore's birthday (birth certificate Feb 14/Feb 15 in family bible). It's been an interestingly freakish year so far with a lot of energy spent unnecessarily. But I digress. I wanted to get something down not only to celebrate Jack's birthday month, but generally update LB-land.

Some great new Jack pics have come along, new to me, online:

From When a Man Loves

In Lionel-land, I'm afraid I've been slacking on my research. I still have hopes to soon go up and answer some more questions in the Ransom Center archives--something that makes me very happy to do! The fun thing is that on the blog, I have reached the 1920s in his filmography and the stuff on him is exponentially vaster than in the 19-teens. Really. It's exciting!

Some stuff:

50 years before my birth!

Women Love Diamonds, with Doug Fairbanks Jr., 1927. Doug Jr. was a huge JB fan, and per his autobio asked Lionel if he thought he looked like his brother. Oops.

The Voice of Bugle Ann--underrated, excellent film

Let's hope March dawns more quietly!

Happy new years...

..of Lionel Barrymore filmography! 1920 marked Mr. B's return to films after huge stage successes. There is a new page to the right here, 1920-1922 films of Lionel Barrymore, which is ongoing because there is SO MUCH INFORMATION about these films! Mr. B was much in demand after his stage successes, especially The Copperhead, which became his first film back after 3 years gone. Please enjoy and keep an eye out for its updates, until I am done with those years. Hopefully sooner rather than later!

Glass slide from The Copperhead release, 1920