Tuesday, 23 October 2018

Dorothy Gray

Born: 23 October 1922, Hollywood, California, USA
Died: 9 May 1976, Los Angeles, California, USA

Dorothy Gray was a child actor of the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s. She became a more successful actress in films than her mother Jean Riley, who made film appearances during the silent era.

As the Earth Turns (1934) as Bunny


















Harry Roller

Born: 21 December 1905 in New York City, New York, USA
Died: 18 February 1980, Los Angeles, California, USA

Coney Island (1943) as Member of The Solidaires (Credited as Leo Diamond and His Solidaires)

Not sure which one is Harry Roller, but Richard Hayman is in the glasses at the back and Leo Diamond is in the red top.











Pete Maggio

Born: unknown
Died: unknown

Coney Island (1943) as Member of The Solidaires (Credited as Leo Diamond and His Solidaires)

Don't know which one is Pete Maggio, Richard Hayman is at the back in the glasses and Leo Diamond is in the red top.










Richard Hayman

Born: 27 March 1920, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Died: 5 February 2014, New York, USA

Richard Hayman was a harmonica player, composer and arranger, who appeared in a handful of films. He was a member of Borrah Minevitch Harmonica Rascals, the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra and the Solidaires at various points in his career. He was the chief arranger for the Boston Pops Orchestra for 30 years.

Coney Island (1943) as Member of The Solidaires (Credited as Leo Diamond and His Solidaires)

Richard Hayman is in the glasses at the back, with Leo Diamond in the red top.













Abe Diamond

Born: 22 August 1908, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: July 1996

Abe Diamond was a harmonica player who played in his brother's group, The Solidaires.

Coney Island (1943) as Member of The Solidaires (Credited as Leo Diamond and His Solidaires)

Abe Diamond is bottom left of this picture. Richard Hayman is wearing glasses and Leo Diamond is in the red top.












Leo Diamond

Born: 29 June 1915, New York City, New York, USA
Died: 15 September 1966, Los Angeles County, California, USA

Leo Diamond was a famous harmonica player and composer of the 1930s and 1940s who appeared in several movies, often as a member of the Harmonica Rascals or his own group The Solidaires. 

Coney Island (1943) as Solidaires Leader (Credited as Leo Diamond and His Solidaires)

Leo Diamond is in the red top at the front. The other members are Abe Diamond, Leo's brother, Richard Hayman, in the glasses, Pete Maggio and Harry Roller. The lady is unknown to me.










Carmen D'Antonio

Born: 28 November 1911, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: 9 February 1986, Los Angeles County, California, USA

Coney Island (1943) as Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
















Harold DeGarro

Born: 30 July 1905, Portland, Oregon, USA
Died: unknown

Coney Island (1943) as Stiltwalker (uncredited)

When Hollywood needed a stiltwalker they turned to Harold DeGarro.












Jimmie Dundee

Born: 19 December 1901, Missouri, USA
Died: 20 November 1953, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Coney Island (1943) as Drunken Bricklayer (uncredited)

Jimmie leans on Jim Toney.













Monday, 22 October 2018

Libby Taylor

Born: 20 April 1902, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died: 23 August 1961, Los Angeles, California, USA
 
Libby Taylor was a bit part actress who was typecast as a maid in many of the major films of the 1930s and 1940s.
 
The Cole Case (1932) as Susan the Maid (uncredited)

Libby's first known film appearance was this short starring Donald Meek.















 
 
 
Coney Island (1943) as Libby, Kate's Maid (uncredited)
 
With Betty Grable.














Matt Briggs

Born: 18 November 1883, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: 10 June 1962, Seattle, Washington, USA

Coney Island (1943) as William 'Willie' Hammerstein

With Phil Silvers.














Jack George

Born: 11 December 1888, Butler, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: 29 October 1958, Los Angeles, California, USA

Coney Island (1943) as Violinist (uncredited)

Phil Silvers is on the right.













Buddy Williams

Born: 5 May 1896, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Died: 16 February 1951, Los Angeles, California, USA

Coney Island (1943) as Singing Waiter (uncredited)
















Friday, 19 October 2018

George Foley

Born: unknown
Died: unknown

George Foley was a silent screen actor in British films.

Walter the Sleuth (1926) as George


















Walter Forde

Born: 21 April 1898, Lambeth, London, England, UK
Died: 7 January 1984, Los Angeles, California, USA

Walter Forde was an actor, writer and director from the silent era. His acting career all but came to an end when sound films became popular; Walter made only a handful of film appearances in the 1930s. His directing career, however, continued on well into the 1940s.

Walter the Sleuth (1926) as Walter

















Pauline Peters

Born: 28 August 1896, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Died: unknown

Pauline Peters was silent screen actress in British films. Paulline's only appearance in a sound film was a small part in 'Deadlock (1931)', which is now considered a lost film.

Walter the Sleuth (1926) as Pauline


















Elizabeth Hunt

Born: unknown
Died: unknown

Gert and Daisy's Weekend (1942) as Maisie Butler

Elizabeth Hunt is the blonde in the centre. On the right is Elsie Waters and Doris Waters.










Thursday, 18 October 2018

Doris Waters

Born: 1904, London, England, UK
Died: 17 August 1978, London, England, UK

Gert and Daisy's Weekend (1942) as Daisy

Doris is on the right, with her sister Elsie Waters.











Elsie Waters

Born: 19 August 1893, Poplar, London, England, UK
Died: 14 June 1990, Steyning, Sussex, England, UK

Gert and Daisy's Weekend (1942) as Gert

Elsie is on the left, with her sister Doris Waters.











Anderson Lawler

Born: 5 May 1902, Russellville, Alabama, USA
Died: 6 April 1959, New York City, New York, USA

Night After Night (1932) as Lonely Drunk (uncredited)

Anderson Lawler stands tall next to George Raft. Constance Cummings is seated.













George Templeton

Born: 11 November 1906, Mount Vernon, Texas, USA
Died: 26 August 1980, Los Angeles, California, USA

George Templeton was a director, producer and actor in small roles.

Night After Night (1932) as Patsy (Credited as Dink Templeton)

George Templeton is standing on the left, in the light coloured hat. Seated is Bradley Page and the other henchman is Marty Martyn.













Marty Martyn

Born: 19 May 1903, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: 25 December 1964, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Marty Martyn was a dancer who appeared on Broadway in 1925. He made an appearance in only one film as a gangster's henchman. After leaving the acting side of films, Martyn became an agent.

Night After Night (1932) as Malloy

Marty Martyn is on the right. Bradley Page is seated and the other standing henchman is George Templeton.













Phillips Smalley

Born: 7 August 1875, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: 2 May 1939, Hollywood, California, USA

Phillips Smalley was an actor and director of many silent films. When sound came his directing days were already over and he moved into smaller roles, mostly uncredited.

Sinister Hands (1932) as Richard Lang


















  

Night After Night (1932) as Mr. Wilson (uncredited)

Phillips Smalley is seated, shaking hands with George Raft.


















Night Life of the Gods (1935) as Alfred Lambert

Phillips Smalley is on the right, with Richard Carle.














Wednesday, 17 October 2018

Harry Wallace

Born: 1907
Died: unknown

Night After Night (1932) as Jerky

Harry Wallace is on the right, with Constance Cummings and George Raft.
















Again on the right. This time with Roscoe Karns.













Richard Rober

Born: 14 May 1910, Rochester, New York, USA
Died: 26 May 1952, Santa Monica, California, USA

Night Intruder (1938) as Jack, Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Richard Rober is on the right, with Floyd Gibbons in the centre.














Helen Carew

Born: 21 August 1882, Kansas, USA
Died: 7 March 1980, Los Angeles County, California, USA

Helen Carew was a Broadway actress who appeared in a small number of films and some television episodes.

Night Intruder (1938) as Mabel Whitman

















Harry Bellaver

Born: 12 February 1905, Hillsboro, Illinois, USA
Died: 8 August 1993, Nyack, New York, USA

Night Intruder (1938) as Burglar

















Floyd Gibbons

Born: 16 July 1887, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Died: 23 September 1939, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Floyd Gibbons was a journalist and radio presenter. He covered the First World War and was injured, losing his left eye, while attempting to save a U.S. Marine. He made a series of short films, in which he was a radio presenter telling stories. The stories were dramatised as he narrated them. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio.

Night Intruder (1938) as The Headline Hunter / Narrator

















George Montgomery

Born: 27 August 1916, Brady, Montana, USA
Died: 12 December 2000, Rancho Mirage, California, USA

Coney Island (1943) as Eddie Johnson

Phil Silvers is on the right.














Phil Silvers

Born: 11 May 1911, Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Died: 1 November 1985, Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Coney Island (1943) as Frankie


















The Night They Took Miss Beautiful (1977) (TV) as Marv Barker


















Tuesday, 16 October 2018

Louis Calhern

Born: 19 February 1895, Brooklyn [now in New York City], New York, USA
Died: 12 May 1956, Tokyo, Japan

Night After Night (1932) as Dick Bolton

With Constance Cummings.















Alison Skipworth

Born: 25 July 1863, London, England, UK
Died: 5 July 1952, New York City, New York, USA

Night after Night (1932) as Miss Mabel Jellyman

With George Raft.



































Wynne Gibson

Born: 3 July 1898, New York City, New York, USA
Died: 15 May 1987, Laguna Niguel, California, USA

Wynne Gibson was a stage actress and chorine who went on to feature in B-movies as tough blondes.

Night After Night (1932) as Iris Dawn







































The Falcon Strikes Back (1943) as Geraldine Lipton
















Roscoe Karns

Born: 7 September 1891, San Bernardino, California, USA
Died: 6 February 1970, Los Angeles, California, USA
 
Troopers Three (1930) as Bugs
 
From left to right: Rex Lease, Slim Summerville and Roscoe Karns.
The feature-length version of Troopers Three is lost. This shot is taken from the surviving 22min version.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Night After Night (1932) as Leo
 



















A Tragedy at Midnight (1942) as Det. Lt. Cassidy



















Miami Alvarez

Born: unknown
Died: unknown

Narcotic (1933) as Drug Addict

Miami Alvarez is the dark-haired lady in this shot. On the left is Jean Lacy and the man with the beard is Harry Cording.











Charles Bennett

Born: 11 March 1889, Dunedin, New Zealand
Died: 15 February 1943, Hollywood, California, USA

Charles Bennett began his film career in Keystone short comedies of the silent era. He was once married to Boots Mallory.

Narcotic (1933) as Arm Wrestler
















Hildegarde Stadie

Born: 14 July 1895, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died: 21 July 1993, Bullhead City, Arizona, USA

Hildegarde Stadie was a writer of stories and screenplays for low budget movies she made with her husband Dwain Esper. As a child Stadie travelled the United States with her uncle who was a peddler of a patent medicine, a 'cure-all' remedy called Tiger Fat. This experience was in part the inspiration for the film script for Narcotic (1933). Dwain Esper assumed ownership of a small studio in Los Angeles in 1930 and using Stadie's scripts began to churn out low-budget exploitation films.

Narcotic (1933) as Blonde Lady in Dr. Davies' Waiting Room

Hildegarde Stadie is the blondie lady on the right, appearing in one of the films for which she wrote the screenplay.











Jean Lacy

Born: 10 September 1913, Seattle, Washington, USA
Died: 30 January 1996, Los Angeles, California, USA

Narcotic (1933) as Lena (Credited as Jean Lacey)

Jean Lacy is the blonde on the left. Harry Cording is stood behind her. The lady with the dark hair is Miami Alvarez.













Herman Hack

Born: 15 June 1899, Panola, Illinois, USA
Died: 19 October 1967, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Herman Hack was one of the most prolific bit part players in Hollywood, appearing in over 800 film and television roles in a career spanning 40 years.

Narcotic (1933) as Burger (uncredited)

Herman Hack is seated on the left, with Blackie Whiteford seated next to him in the lighter suit.










New Frontier (1939) as Jim (uncredited)




















Renegade Girl (1946) as Mr. Shelby (uncredited)

Herman Hack is on the left. John 'Dusty' King is in uniform. The actress is still unidentified.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Contributors