King-Bee Films Explained

King-Bee Films Corporation was a film production company in the U.S. that released two-real short film comedies during the silent film era. The company's stars included Billy West, a Charlie Chaplin imitator. Louis Burstein was the company's president and general manager. He established it in 1917 after the breakup of Vim Comedy Company^[1] to produce comedies starring West. Oliver Hardy and Ethelyn Gibson also acted for the company. It operated a studio in Jacksonville, Florida,^[2] then Bayonne, New Jersey and finally at 1329 Gordon Street in Hollywood, California.^[2] Its offices were in New York.^[3]

History

King-Bee had offices in New York and Hollywood, California.^[3] The company's production sites included Jacksonville, Florida.^[4] Arvid E. Gillstrom directed for King-Bee. Members of the company on their way to Hollywood were entertained in Chicago by members of the Standard Films Corporation.^[5]

King Bee's Billy West comedies were in such demand it wanted him to work on two at a time.^[6]

Filmography

• The Hero 1917 a Billy West comedies film^[7]
• The Villain 1917 a Billy West comedies film^[8]
• The Slave 1917 a Billy West comedies film^[9]
• The Pest 1917 a Billy West comedies film^[10]
• The Millionaire 1917 a Billy West comedies film^[11]
• Dough Nuts 1917 a Billy West comedies film^[12]
• The Candy Kid 1917 a Billy West comedies film^[13]
• Back Stage a Billy West comedies film^[14]
• The Pest (1917), extant^[15]
• The Orderly 1918 a Billy West comedies film^[16]
• The Stranger 1918 a Billy West comedies film^[17]
• The Messenger 1918 a Billy West comedies film^[18]
• His Day Out (1918), extant

Notes and References

1. Book: Miller, Blair. Almost Hollywood: The Forgotten Story of Jacksonville, Florida. April 10, 2013. Hamilton Books. 9780761859963. Google Books.
2. Book: Slide, Anthony. The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry. February 25, 2014. Routledge. 9781135925543. Google Books.
3. Web site: Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List. www.silentera.com.
4. Web site: OLLIE'S DAYS IN THE SUN. STUART. McIVER. Sun-Sentinel.com.
5. Web site: Motography. 1917.
6. Web site: Dramatic Mirror of the Stage and Motion Pictures. November 24, 1917. Dramatic Mirror Company. Google Books.
7. Web site: Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List . www.silentera.com . 13 June 2020.
8. Web site: Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Feb 7, 1918, p. 16 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 7 February 1918.
9. Web site: Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Feb 21, 1918, p. 15 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 21 February 1918.
10. Web site: Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Mar 21, 1918, p. 15 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 21 March 1918.
11. Web site: Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Sep 19, 1918, p. 8 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 19 September 1918.
12. Web site: Piqua Daily Press Newspaper Archives, Aug 29, 1917, p. 6 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 29 August 1917.
13. Web site: Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Jan 10, 1918, p. 15 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 10 January 1918.
14. Web site: Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Dec 20, 1917, p. 8 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 20 December 1917.
15. Web site: Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List . www.silentera.com . 13 June 2020.
16. Web site: Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, May 2, 1918, p. 8 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 2 May 1918.
17. Web site: Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Mar 7, 1918, p. 15 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 7 March 1918.
18. Web site: Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, May 30, 1918, p. 8 . NewspaperArchive.com . 13 June 2020 . en . 30 May 1918.