Betsy J. Green

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Lawsuit

It's hard to say who was the good guy and who was the bad guy in this case – both sides were pointing fingers at each other. In one corner was the golden girl of Santa Barbara's "Flying A" studio – Mary Miles Minter. In 1919, she had abruptly left the company, and was suing for $4,125 in back pay.

In the other corner was the general manager of the film company who stated sternly, "There is no salary due the young lady. We have paid her all she has coming." The situation sounded like the scenario for a "Flying A" movie with lots of exaggerated gestures and frowny faces. But certainly, it was the end of a beautiful friendship.

Happy Birthdate, Katherine MacDonald!

MacDonald (a.k.a. McDonald) was born on December 14, 1891, in Pennsylvania. She appeared in 36 silent films, including The Beautiful Liar in 1921. This movie was filmed at one of the million-dollar mansions of Montecito, California.

The reviews for this movie were so-so. The best review came from down under.

"Delightful comedy-drama chock full of good romance and high-class comedy." – Wairarapa Daily Times (Wellington, New Zealand), November 18, 1922

An Early Xmas Present for Me!

I was overjoyed to see the wonderful article about my new book in the local newspaper. Here's the link: https://newspress.com/movies-million-dollar-mansions/

I guess writing 10 books over 20 years has finally paid off! Whew!

Dogs in World War I

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, the U.S. Army recruited horses and dogs to be sent to aid the conflict in Europe. Dogs helped haul equipment and delivered messages. "Flying A" actor William Russell donated one of his dogs.

"The latest animals to sign up for relief of their relatives at the front being the six-month-old Russian wolfhound belonging to William Russell of the American Film Company." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, June 18, 1918

Real Indians in "Flying A" Silent Movie?

It's doubtful if any of the actors filmed in Santa Barbara, California in this movie, who were purported to be Indians from a Navajo reservation, were actual Native Americans. Certainly, there were doubts about the ethnic background of a mysterious guy who called himself Lone Star Dietz. When he wasn't playing Indian in the movies, he was coaching football in the Pacific Northwest. This group was performing in the "Flying A" serial, The Diamond From the Sky in Mission Canyon in Santa Barbara.

"Lone Star, a full-blooded American Indian, led 40 of his tribe before the camera . . . hundreds of tourists sojourning in Santa Barbara and Montecito, were permitted to enjoy the proceedings from the sidelines. A complete Indian village had been built in the canyon by Lone Star's people, who were brought from the Navajo reservation expressly for this picture." – Moving Picture World, April 3, 1915

Happy Birthdate, Grace Darmond!

Silent film actress Grace Darmond was born on November 20, 1898, in Canada. She made nearly 50 movies in the silent and sound eras. In 1918, she costarred in the Vitagraph production of A Diplomatic Mission. Some scenes were filmed at a million-dollar mansion in Montecito, California.

The movie was made while the United States was involved in World War I. "The story concerns the activities of a Yankee in settling an uprising of South Sea Island natives. He does it for the love of duty and for the love of a girl." – Motion Picture News, October 5, 1918

Happy Birthdate, Edward Peil!

Silent film actor Edward Peil was born on November 18, 1883, in Wisconsin. He appeared in hundreds of films – both silent and sound. Peil appeared in films up to 1951.

In 1917, he starred in the "Flying A" silent film Whose Wife? fairly early in his career. He worked with the studio in 1917 and 1918.

Some scenes of this movie were filmed at the Miramar resort in Montecito, California.

Nasty Language on the Set

"The studio vernacular of stage electricians proved disconcerting to a nervous visitor from the Midwest during the filming of . . . The Unfoldment. [This 1922 silent movie was also filmed on California's Santa Catalina Island.] When the cameraman yells 'Feed 'em' it means the electrical current is turned on; 'Hit 'em' is the signal to strike a blow against a tube in case a light flickers; when the command 'Kill 'em' is given, the lights are turned completely off.

"Kern was directing Florence Lawrence and William Conklin in a dramatic scene. 'Feed 'em' commanded the electrician. 'Oh, they are serving lunch to the players, aren't they?' smiled the visitor. A few minutes later the chief electrician yelled, 'Hit 'em hard.' The nervous visitor became visibly more nervous. 'Now kill 'em dead,' howled the chief electrician. The lights went out and Director Kern said, 'Good work.'

"'Mercy, but this studio is a brutal place,' said the visitor in a horror-struck voice, as she swept off the stage. 'I'm going to notify the police of these goings on,' she concluded as she banged the stage door.'" – Los Angeles Herald, February 21, 1921

Happy Birthdate, Eugene O'Brien!

Silent film actor Eugene O'Brien was born on November 14, 1880, in Colorado. He appeared in more than 50 silent movies. In 1923, he costarred with Norma Talmadge in The Voice From the Minaret, directed by Frank Lloyd. Some scenes were filmed at a polo club in Montecito, California, which was rigged up to resemble a polo club in Bombay, India.

"Two stands, containing 18 boxes each, have been erected for the spectators. These are resplendent with vari-colored rugs and hangings, and with the Union Jack to lend the scene a Far Eastern glamour . . . The opening scene will be the arrival of the Governor-General of Bombay, accompanied by his wife (Norma Talmadge). The official party will be escorted by a troupe of Indian cavalry men to their box, which will be elaborate with Persian rugs and draperies." – Santa Barbara Morning Press, July 15, 1922

An Unplanned Stunt Behind the Scenes

In 1912, Santa Barbara's "Flying A" was at its temporary location in an old ostrich farm at State and Islay streets. Enter some local electricians who were just trying to do their job. Unfortunately, no one explained that to the "Flying A" guard dog. And, apparently, no one told the electricians about the dog, or that the dog took her job very seriously. What happened next seems like it was a scene from a silent movie. Too bad no one had the camera running.

The local paper wrote, "The debonair electricians approached and started to go through the corral. With a yelp and a bound, the collie appeared on the scene. Her eyes were glaring, and she meant business."

The electricians all took a flying leap to the top of the high wooden fence. The noise attracted the "Flying A" folks who managed to explain the situation to the dog, and to the electricians, and everyone calmed down. Fortunately, this story had a happy ending.