Author: White, J.J.
Title: Moviegrins
Description: Chicago, IL, The Howell Company, 1915. FIRST EDITION (NAP). Hardcover. A small (6.75" x 4.50") back-pocket book of movie-industry-related anecdotes. Title page states that the author, J.J. (John James) White, is also the author of "Funabout Fords, etc." Brown cloth with blue image of Charlie Chaplin on the silver screen, facing an movie theatre audience, the reader's view being the back of their heads, silhouetted. Rubbing and wear to edges and corners, but solidly bound. When published in September of 2015, book was $.25, and that's the price penciled onto top corner of front free endpaper. Extremely scarce bit of film-industry-related humor. OCLC lists ten copies in libraries worldwide, but number may be less than this for actual books (and not microfiche). Besides the jokes, which make mention of numerous silent films, locations of theatres, etc. the "Rules for conduct at The Movies" is full of tongue-in-cheek humor: "..When the usher directs you down one aisle take another one. The ushers are there to mislead you."; Bring candy with you and take care to choose the kind that has each piece wrapped separately in paper. It multiplies the annoyance."; Amuse those about you by telling the person next to you: a) That the theatre across the way is better; b) That Mary Pickford is married..) that Charlie Chaplin is a modest young man." Jokes: "It is getting so the importance of a town or city is gauged by the number of movie theatres in it." "A pompous young man bustled into the office of the president of a film company: "This the president?" "Yes." "Well, I'm Mr. Alfred Westman." "Take a chair, sir." "My father is a cousin of Mary Pickford's aunt and I --" "Take two chairs!" Contains somewhat antisemitic and racist jokes: (Mr. Cohen approached the box office with his little son Jakey. 'Gif me von dicket,' said Cohen. "You'll have to have one for the boy, too,' said the ticket seller." "My life on it," said Cohen, 'he von't look.'" or "An old darkey appeared in the doctor's office one morning, plainly very low in his mind.."Belieb me, Marse Doctor, I'se just a movin' picture of pain!". The final section, entitled "All Joking Aside", the author offers a serious explanation "why it is that in some moving pictures the wheels of moving vehicles seem to be going backward, while the vehicle itself is going forward.". Then the author assails the "canned" scenarios which characterize most scriptwriting, to wit: "Always have a threaded needle on convenient table. All well regulated homes have threaded needles lying about."; Hero must always carry engagement ring, in box, in lower lefthand vest pocket. You can't tell when he will need it." "The hero's picture, which is to be fondly gazed upon, should be in an oval silver frame"; "There must be a 'passing policeman'." This happens only in the movies so make the most of it. Good Plus .
Keywords: Humor, Silent Movies, Mary Pickford, Movie Jokes,
Title: Moviegrins
Description: Chicago, IL, The Howell Company, 1915. FIRST EDITION (NAP). Hardcover. A small (6.75" x 4.50") back-pocket book of movie-industry-related anecdotes. Title page states that the author, J.J. (John James) White, is also the author of "Funabout Fords, etc." Brown cloth with blue image of Charlie Chaplin on the silver screen, facing an movie theatre audience, the reader's view being the back of their heads, silhouetted. Rubbing and wear to edges and corners, but solidly bound. When published in September of 2015, book was $.25, and that's the price penciled onto top corner of front free endpaper. Extremely scarce bit of film-industry-related humor. OCLC lists ten copies in libraries worldwide, but number may be less than this for actual books (and not microfiche). Besides the jokes, which make mention of numerous silent films, locations of theatres, etc. the "Rules for conduct at The Movies" is full of tongue-in-cheek humor: "..When the usher directs you down one aisle take another one. The ushers are there to mislead you."; Bring candy with you and take care to choose the kind that has each piece wrapped separately in paper. It multiplies the annoyance."; Amuse those about you by telling the person next to you: a) That the theatre across the way is better; b) That Mary Pickford is married..) that Charlie Chaplin is a modest young man." Jokes: "It is getting so the importance of a town or city is gauged by the number of movie theatres in it." "A pompous young man bustled into the office of the president of a film company: "This the president?" "Yes." "Well, I'm Mr. Alfred Westman." "Take a chair, sir." "My father is a cousin of Mary Pickford's aunt and I --" "Take two chairs!" Contains somewhat antisemitic and racist jokes: (Mr. Cohen approached the box office with his little son Jakey. 'Gif me von dicket,' said Cohen. "You'll have to have one for the boy, too,' said the ticket seller." "My life on it," said Cohen, 'he von't look.'" or "An old darkey appeared in the doctor's office one morning, plainly very low in his mind.."Belieb me, Marse Doctor, I'se just a movin' picture of pain!". The final section, entitled "All Joking Aside", the author offers a serious explanation "why it is that in some moving pictures the wheels of moving vehicles seem to be going backward, while the vehicle itself is going forward.". Then the author assails the "canned" scenarios which characterize most scriptwriting, to wit: "Always have a threaded needle on convenient table. All well regulated homes have threaded needles lying about."; Hero must always carry engagement ring, in box, in lower lefthand vest pocket. You can't tell when he will need it." "The hero's picture, which is to be fondly gazed upon, should be in an oval silver frame"; "There must be a 'passing policeman'." This happens only in the movies so make the most of it. Good Plus .
Keywords: Humor, Silent Movies, Mary Pickford, Movie Jokes,
Price: US$ 250.00 Seller: Aardvark Books
- Book number: 76238
- Book number: 76238