Gayety Comedies Explained

Gayety Comedies are a comedy film series released made in the United States during the silent film era. They debuted in 1919 and were distributed to various film exchanges^[1] Al Christie produced them. The studio that made them was owned by E. H. Emmick and J. L. Friedman and was on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street.^[2]

George Ovey and Lillian Biron featured in several. Biron had previously acted in Vogue Comedies.^[3] Billy Bletcher and Vera Reynolds were added to keep up with production demand.^[4]

Gayety Studios advertised itself as producing a one-reel comedy once a week. The content was promoted as "polite slapstick."^[5]

The New England territorial sales were handled by the American Feature Film Company. In western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, they were overseen by The Quality Film Company. The Electric Theatre Supply Company handled the film rights in the majority of Mid-Atlantic states, and the Southeastern United States were managed by the E and H Film Distributing Company.^[6]

The production company was active in 1919 and 1920.^[7]

Fiomography

• Dropped into Scandal
• Are Flirts Foolish?^[1]
• Dark and Cloudy (1919)^[8]
• Lovesick at Sea (1919)^[8]
• Fireman, Save My Gal!, extant^[9]
• Dry and Thirsty
• Ladies Must Dance (1920)^[10]
• Say Uncle
• Afraid of His Wife^[11]
• Oh, Brother
• Wild and Willie
• Assault and Flattery
• Standing Pat^[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Motion Picture News. October 4, 1919. Motion Picture News. Google Books.
2. Book: Miller, Blair. American Silent Film Comedies: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Persons, Studios, and Terminology. October 4, 1995. McFarland & Company. 9780899509297. Google Books.
3. Book: Walker, Brent E.. Mack Sennett's Fun Factory: A History and Filmography of His Studio and His Keystone and Mack Sennett Comedies, with Biographies of Players and Personnel. January 13, 2010. McFarland. 9780786457076. Google Books.
4. Book: Clown Princes and Court Jesters. Kalton C.. Lahue. Samuel. Gill. October 4, 1970. A. S. Barnes. 9780498069499. Google Books.
5. . 9 Nov 1919 . First Gayety Comics Announced . . 20 . 20 . 3487 . New York City . 10 June 2024.
6. . 6 Dec 1919 . List of Territorial Sales Made Already on Gayety Comodies . Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1919) . 20 . 24 . 4105 . New York City . 10 June 2024.
7. Book: Slide, Anthony. The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry. February 25, 2014. Routledge. 9781135925611. Google Books.
8. . 20 Dec 1919 . Gayety Comedies . . 20 . 26 . 4424 . New York City . 10 June 2024.
9. Book: Roots, James. 100 Essential Silent Film Comedies. May 11, 2017. Rowman & Littlefield. 9781442278257. Google Books.
10. Web site: Ladies Must Dance (Gayety Film, 1920). Title Lobby Card and Lobby | Lot #54232. Heritage Auctions.
11. Web site: Hollywood. October 4, 1922. Google Books.
12. Web site: Motion Picture Daily: Formerly Exhibitors Daily Review and Motion Pictures Today. October 4, 1921. Exhibitors Trade Review, Incorporated. Google Books.