Betsy J. Green

A Cowboy Bites the Dust

An accident occurred while Santa Barbara's "Flying A" was filming a horse chase for the 1912 silent film The Law of God. The posse was chasing the bad guys in this scene. The cowboy actor leading the posse fell down and was lucky that he didn't get trampled.

"His horse stumbled and fell, pinning his rider's leg underneath, and slid about 15 feet on the down grade, dragging [the actor] with him. The other cowboys following had the presence of mind to guide their mounts to one side . . . [one] was so close behind that he was compelled to leap his horse over the forms of the fallen horse and [the actor]." – Motography, November 9, 1912

The actor had severe bruises on his face and head, but no bones were broken. The horse was tended to by a veterinarian.

Watch My Lips!

Ever wonder what the actors in silent films were really saying? Sometimes people who could read lips reported that the actors' conversations did not match the story at all. In 1910, the Essanay Film Company spent several months in Santa Barbara filming cowboy movies. Here's a rare example of the real dialog that a local reporter heard as the actors were filming a scene for The Mexican's Faith in 1910.

Smith: "Hello, Stick in the Mud. How're ye coming?"
Mexican: "Nix on the frijoles. Do you own this cheese-ranch around here?"
Smith: "Sure thing. Made it myself."
Mexican: "I want some work."
Smith: "The deuce you do. What'll you take?"
Mexican: "Thirty dollars."
Smith: "Too much."
Mexican: "Well, anything you give me then, you old tight."

– Santa Barbara Independent, January 5, 1910

Baby Peggy Films in Santa Barbara

Although the "Flying A" studio had folded in the early 1920s, filmmakers were still coming to Santa Barbara to use the studio's facilities or to take advantage of our city's picturesque locales.

In 1922, Baby Peggy, one of the most famous kid-stars, was here filming. "Baby Peggy to Work at Santa Barbara. As soon as Baby Peggy returns from San Diego . . . she will go to Santa Barbara, where additional shots will be made." – Motion Picture News, November 18, 1922

This movie, Carmen, Jr., was released in 1923.

An Authentic Stagecoach in the Movies

Shortly after the "Flying A" folks moved to Santa Barbara in 1912, they were able to use the old Lompoc stagecoach in their films. One of the first films that the studio created here was The Jack of Diamonds. Some of the scenes were filmed on the stagecoach.

"The exteriors were taken in the vicinity of the Hollister Road [upper State Street], about a mile from the studio. The old stagecoach which was used in early days out of Lompoc was called into play for the first time. It will add considerable color to the story." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, August 16, 1912

Later in 1912, the stagecoach was used again in the film Intrusion at Lompoc, which was filmed in Lompoc.

Just Horsing Around

"Flying A" actor Jack Richardson had a horse that he was very fond of. "That Jack loves his steed, is eloquently attested by the glossy coat and well-groomed hoofs which 'Chief' presents . . . as well as by the fact that Jack spends considerable leisure in the saddle, when not being filmed in 'Flying A' dramas."

However, one afternoon, 'Chief' majorly embarrassed his owner. The two were at a garden party at a Santa Barbara mansion. It started well. 'Chief' wandered casually across the beautiful lawn, nibbling the grass here and there, while Jack chatted pleasantly with the guests on the spacious veranda.

"Suddenly a scream from the hostess curdled the blood of her guests . . . Eternal disgraces!"

'Chief' had decided that the garden of carefully cultivated tropical plants would be an ideal spot to roll around in. Oops! The horse and his owner apologized and made a hasty exit. – Motography, September 9, 1916

A Misbehaving Monkey

A monkey was featured in Santa Barbara's "Flying A" silent movie The Diamond From the Sky but, unfortunately, this was a monkey with attitude. "He was not inclined to be friendly, in fact a few fingers have been bitten in the attempt to educate him to the film game."

Fortunately, the "Flying A" actor who would be performing with the monkey, knew how to speak monkey, or something. The actor said, "he does not believe there is a monkey in the world that he cannot make friends with. As soon as the two were introduced [the actor] started some sort of outlandish gibberish that the monkey seemed to understand or at least take interest in. The two have become great friends, but the monkey's attitude towards others has not changed." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, September 9, 1915

Courting Disaster

During the filming of the "Flying A" silent film, The Decision, an actor was playing the part of a drunken judge. As the actor staggered toward the Santa Barbara Courthouse, "a crowd gathered, and . . . began to hoot and yell and run at his heels. Then the mob saw the camera, and so many members of it wanted to get their picture taken at once" that they spoiled the take. – Motography, July 3, 1915

Movie Villains and Kids Don't Mix

The "Flying A" silent movie villain Jack Richardson's acting was so real, he scared one of the child actors in a scene in The Law of the Wilds.

"The famous villain made a lunge at the youngster, letting out a fine line of choice expletives. The startled child gazed, paralyzed for a moment, into the sinister face of his pseudo parent. Then he gave vent to a terrified shriek, and to another, and yet another, wailing hysterically and refusing to be comforted . . . The small actor had to be returned to headquarters and another less sensitive child taken out to the location." – Reel Life, January 16, 1915

From Real Life to the Screen

A large trunk washed up on the beach in Santa Barbara, California after a big storm in 1915. When the trunk was opened, an infant was found, snuggled in blankets.

Two "Flying A" actresses were walking along the beach at this time and witnessed the discovery. They told others at the studio, and the story was made into a silent movie titled After the Storm. – Pictures and the Picturegoer, October 16, 1915

(This story and more will be included in my upcoming book, Behind the Scenes at the "Flying A," due out this fall.)

A Deliberate Disguise

When "Flying A" actress Mary Miles Minter wanted to walk around Santa Barbara without being noticed, she put on a disguise. "Mary possesses a hat and coat of ancient vintage, which she loves to don and go shopping all by her lonesome in Santa Barbara. Few who pass the little girl enveloped in the old coat and hidden by the drooping brim of the old hat would ever dream that it was Mary Miles Minter." – Motography, June 15, 1918