Mabel normand

Mabel Normand received an ovation in San Francisco, Cal., recently when she arrived in that city to enjoy a short vacation. The throngs about the train as she stepped off demanded a word from their favorite screen star, and Miss Normand made a pretty little speech of thanks, although confessing afterwards that she was considerably influenced by her reception.

THE TELLTALE LIGHT, (Keystone): July 10 -- In this feel kissing and spooning gun riot, the Anti-Spooning Club winds up with everybody practicing the art of osculation. Mabel turns the searchlight on everyone in turn. This reel, as may be imagined, is not of an elevated type, and we did not consider it very amusing, but it will undoubtedly appeal to certain audiences.

LOVE AND COURAGE, (Keystone), July 21 -- Mabel’s lovers become involved in a running fight. There are touches of vulgarity in this which might well have been avoided.

Mabel Normand has taken a brief respite from her strenuous duties at the Keystone studio, and instead of falling out of aeroplanes, riding in a mile-a-minute automobiles, and plunging from dizzy heights into the water, a few of the stunts which she performs in the films, Mabel is quietly resting in San Francisco.

PROF. BEAN’S REMOVAL, (Keystone), July 31 -- Quite an amusing number, in the rough style of this company’s well-known nonsense. Mabel and Ford practice so violently on their trombones that the neighbors move the house one evening. An actual moving house is shown, and it is some time before the audience learns what is going on. Something new and different, without any particular offensiveness.

Miss Mabel Normand, whose picture is presented on our cover this week, is the charming leading lady of the Keystone Film Company, and is considered one of the most beautiful as well as capable artists on the screen.

Before her present connection with the Keystone Company, Miss Normand was well and favorably known as a clever performer, both with the Vitagraph and later with the Biograph Company. Her work with these two organizations attracted considerable attention and praise and when the Keystone Film Company was formed Miss Normand was taken over, together with Mack Sennett, Fred Mace and Ford Sterling. This famous company of fun-makers made an enviable reputation for themselves while the Biograph Company and the Keystone Film Company are to be complimented on their business acumen in securing these prominent players.

Miss Normand, besides her personal charm and beauty, has an original style all her own while working in pictures and in the particular style of comedy which the above company is now making a specialty of. Miss Normand has attracted attention by her work from picture-play fans all over the country.

She is an accomplished horsewoman and a champion swimmer and high diver and before entering picture work was recognized as one of the best women swimmers in the world. She is athletic to a degree and fond of outdoor sports of all kinds, in many of which she excels her male competitors.
* from Moving Picture World, August 13, 1913

Prof. Bean’s Removal

Prof. Bean and his daughter are enthusiastic cornetists, to the distress of the neighbors. Their efforts to have the noise stopped meets with no success, as Prof. Bean and Mabel put them all to rout. The landlord takes a hand, accompanied by police, but Prof. Bean and his trusty gun convinces them that discretion is the better part of valor. The other tenants threaten to move, and in desperation the landlord places the house on automobile trucks and moves it away in the dead of night. The Professor and Mabel are awakened by being thrown out of their beds by the jostling of the house and, rushing to the door, find themselves moving rapidly down the street.

THE RIOT (Keystone), August 7 -- Here is a full reel given over to a free-for-all fight, in which bricks and bombs are thrown and the police, fire department and militia respond to quell the riot. It all begins over Cohen’s saleslady, whose parcels are opened by the Irish children. A race war ensues and the situations contain a lot of harmless amusement, free from vulgarity.

MABEL’S NEW HERO, (Keystone), August 28 -- A full reel comedy containing much that is genuinely funny, but also many broad, suggestive situations which will not commend it to the best houses; in fact much of it is unfit for presentation any where.

THE GYPSY QUEEN, (Keystone), September 11 -- A good burlesque offering, free from offense, in which Mabel Normand appears as the Gypsy queen. The fat boy is tied to a tree, and as the live snake crawls toward him, Mabel hatches up schemes for stopping the approaching rescuers. Quite laughable in places. A full reel number.

Nothing gives greater delight to Mabel Normand than to do the part of a diving girl in the Keystone productions. She is possessed of a figure which would cause Venus de Milo and Annette Kellerman “to go some” and could give the latter young lady the race of her life in the water. She had medals galore for swimming and high diving and has handily beaten many contenders, both male and female, for championship honors, and when the Keystone company was producing at Coney Island last summer the fair Mabel was the cynosure of all eyes.

MABEL’S DRAMATIC CAREER, (Keystone), Sept. 8 Good humor and extreme vulgarity are closely intermingled in this. Much of the latter can be cut out. It is difficult to see why a company with such splendid opportunities for appealing to all houses should appeal only to the less particular ones.

THE BOWLING MATCH, (Keystone), Sept. 29 -- An amusing bowling match between Messrs. Sauer and Kraut. The balls and pins are manipulated by an electric magnet and perform some queer antics. There is, of course, the usual roughhouse finish, with Ford and Mabel in the important parts. Good fun, without offense.

THE FATAL TAXICAB, (Keystone), September 18 -- A typical amusing offering of the burlesque type, in which Sterling, Mabel and the Fat boy come into a new series of adventures. The Italian Count is pursued by the Keystone police. His auto falls over a cliff and lodges in a tree. Nothing offensive in this, but some rattling good nonsense with which to enliven a program.

WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE, (Keystone), September 22 -- This burlesque offering is of rather coarse humor and will not appeal to all audiences. The suitcase full of live snakes creates havoc in Sterling’s bedroom. He dashes out in his night clothes and there is much rough and tumble excitement, in which the snakes play a large part.

A very successful and exciting Keystone comedy “Speed Kings,” just finished, shows Santa Monica and the Corona races. Earl Cooper winner of both is used in this subject, as well as his Stutz number, eight, present holder of the world’s road races record. Teddy Tetzlaff, another world’s speed champion, is also used along with Barney Oldsfield [Oldfield], Ralph De Palma, Spencer Wisheart [Wishart] and several more of the racing celebrities of this and foreign countries.

Mack Sennett, managing director of the Keystone films has added a new burden to his shoulders. He has taken twenty little boys and girls, ranging from the age of four to twelve years, and is training them for the pictures. They will be seen shortly in “kid” comedies.¹¹⁶

A picture just finished by the Keystone Company, “Love Sickness at Sea,” was made upon the Pacific Coast Steamship Company’s boat “Harvard,” the fastest passenger carrying ship that floats the American flag. This ship was chartered by the Keystone Company and during a run, down and up the coast, a full reel was made. This picture portrays the extensive improvements that have been made in fire drills aboard sea-going vessels, and this was used as a basis upon which a great comedy was made. A company of fifty people made this trip, and over two hundred of employees of the boat were used in the films.

* from Los Angeles Times, November 7, 1913

A World’s record for a trotter driven by a lady was made yesterday at Exposition Park, when “Escobedo,” 2:09 was driven by Miss Mabel Normand of the Keystone Film Company a quarter of a mile in 31 seconds, which is at the rate of one in two minutes and four seconds.

The drive was first staged as a “stunt” for a moving picture con concern, and developed into a trial against time when it was seen that Miss Normand was getting the very best gait out Escobedo.

This finish of the trial against time was exciting Goldenut, a speedy sorrel had been selected by E. J. Delorey, secretary of the Los Angeles Harness Horse Association, who owns Escobedo, as the horse with which he would accompany Miss Normand in the trial. Goldenut has a record a second or so faster than Escobedo and therefore was thought perfectly able to keep Mr. Delorey within talking distance of his big trotter while Miss Normand was driving.

Escobedo must have become excited over the pilot [plot?] of the “movie,” for he trotted faster for this inexperienced girl driver than his trainers ever have been able to force him this summer, and finished the quarter in 31 seconds. In fact, so fast was the furious drive of the finish that Goldenut, the fleet trotter, driven by Mr. Delorey, broke just short of the wire, showing plainly that the animal had been driven off his feet by Miss Normand driving Escobedo.

The showing made in this brush determined Mr. Delorey to enter his horse in two of the events of the big race meet next week, a thing which he had been holding in abundance for some time owing to the rather slow time made by his horse.

Mabel Normand wrote me the other day about her trip in a dirigible balloon.¹¹⁷ She was working in a picture and the director induced her to climb into the basket of the balloon. “The first thing we knew,” she said, “we were going up -- and I was scared to death. I thought my time had come. We got up about two hundred feet when Mack Sennett (who was directing the picture, and pretending the going up of the balloon was an accident) yelled to climb down the rope hanging from the basket, as they had caught the anchor under a pier. Well, imagine me, if you can, with a bathing suit on, sliding down a rope. When I landed on the good old sand of Santa Monica beach I was about the happiest mortal alive, and Mack says if he could have gotten a picture of the things I said to him he is sure it would have surpassed any Rembrandt in J. Pierpoint Morgan’s collection. I dare say they won’t turn me loose in any more balloons soon.”

Mabel Normand, leading woman with Keystone, will hereafter direct every picture in which she appears. Madame Blache [Alice Guy-Blaché] has been the only woman director for some time, but she now has a rival in Mabel who will both act and direct.

Mabel Normand, leading woman of the Keystone co. since its inception, is in future to direct every picture she acts in. This will undoubtedly make Keystone more popular than ever, and this will give Miss Normand the opportunity of injecting her comedy, which she has never had an opportunity to put over before.

Ford Sterling displays all his tricks of walk and facial movement in the Mack Sennett two-reel comedy entitled, “Zuzu, the Band Leader.” Mabel Normand found the tightest jacket and the fullest skirt in California, seemingly, in which to play the role of the love struck girl who “couldn’t make her eyes behave” when they gazed upon the wonderful band-leader. They, the eyes, insisting on crossing, to the consternation of her escort, and the confusing of the baton and direction of Zuzu. But all the women fell in love with Zuzu, so little Mabel didn’t have a chance at his affections and, with her desperate escort, made Zuzu’s life miserable for him. It’s a particularly funny two reels, and one of the best Keystones yet.

Husband and wife, and Mabel are staying at same hotel. Mabel is romping with her pet dog in hotel yard when her sweet heart comes on and talks with her. In next set husband and wife are sitting. Wife leaves set for moment to get something. During her absence Mabel’s dog’s ball rolls into husband’s set. Husband picks it up, as Mabel comes on, and takes his time in presenting it. Wife comes on to husband and Mabel and upbraids husband. Lover from first set sees and comes to husband, wife and Mabel. Recognizes husband as friend and calms the group down somewhat. Wife now takes husband into hotel and Mabel bids lover good bye and also goes into building.

Their rooms adjoin and Mabel, as soon as she comes in, starts playing with her dog again. The noise penetrates partition and the wife already harboring a feeling against Mabel exits to complain to manager about noise. Meanwhile, Mabel has prepared for bed and is in her pajamas. In playing with dog again, the ball roles out into the public hall. Mabel looks about and seeing no one goes after it. Dog inside room, in trying to follow her, jumps against door, the spring lock catches and Mabel is locked in hall in her pajamas. At this point drunk comes along and tries to flirt with Mabel. In a panic, she tries the next room’s door and enters husband’s room. Latter is standing at mirror and does not observe her. She hides under bed.

Meanwhile, Mabel’s lover has taken notion to call and comes to her room. Finds it locked. Looks through key hole and sees Mabel’s dog. Passing janitor unlocks door for him and dog emerges. As Mabel is not at home, lover decides to call on husband next door. Enters. He and husband hold conversation. Meanwhile, in hall Mabel’s dog has found her trail and enters and goes to bed wagging tail. Mabel under bed tries to make him go away. Lover and husband notice dog and discover Mabel. Lover starts to beat husband when the three of them hear wife and manager coming. Do not want manager to know seeming scandal, so husband and lover agree to keep quiet. Wife and manager enter. Wife peeved at lover, orders him out. He and manager exit. Wife and husband alone. Wife calming down and almost reconciled when she discovers Mabel under bed in pajamas.

Consternation, etc.
* from Reel Life, January 1, 1914

One of the enjoyable events of the winter was the New Years Eve party given in the Country Club room Wednesday evening, December 31st. Mr. Thomas H. Ince. Vice-President and General Manager of the New York Motion Picture company, and Mr. Mack Sennett, President and General Manager of the Keystone Film Company, entertained fully three hundred leaders of the artists employed in their moving picture companies now wintering in Southern California. They were those whose faces are familiar to all who patronize the moving picture theatres and among them were some of the most prominent people in the moving picture world as well as those well known on the legitimate stage.

The grounds were beautifully illuminated with Japanese lanterns and the rooms were handsomely decorated with natural flowers; a huge punch bowl was never empty although every possible attempt was made to reach the bottom of it. Music for dancing was furnished by a full string orchestra, with a quartet of cabaret entertainers and dancing was indulged in until long after the New Year had been welcomed. As old 1913 passed away the rooms were thrown into darkness and a huge firework set piece typifying the passing of 1913 with Old Father Time and his scythe and Cupid as 1914 was illuminated on the spacious lawn.

Supper was served at which Mr. Ince acted as toastmaster and all that was good in 1913 was toasted and all that was expected of 1914 wished for in toasts which were drunk standing and the absent ones were not forgotten, for while the orchestra played “Auld Lang Syne,” toasts were drunk to Messrs. Baumann, Kessel, Hite and Aitken.

Among those present, well known in the theatrical world as well as filmdom, were George Osborne, Walter Belasco, Hershell Mayall, David M. Hartford, Charles Giblyn, Walter Edwards, Herbert Standing, Mabel Normand, Anna Little, Louis Morrison, Jay Hunt, Thomas Chatterton, Richard Stanton, Ford Sterling, Clara Williams, Rhea Mitchell, Gertrude Claire, Fannie Midgley and many others.

It was indeed one of the most enjoyable events that has ever been held in the Country Club rooms, and those of the City’s residents who were honored with invitations will remember the occasion with much pleasure.

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* from Reel life, February 28, 1914

Miss Mabel Normand, of the Keystone Company, has just received through the courtesy of B. Allan, of the Western Import Co., Ltd., of London, a letter from Mr. A.W. Stewart, Chief Engineer of Existing Lines Office, Western Australia, Government Railways. Mr. Stewart is editor of the Western Australia Railways Gazette, in addition to his duties as Chief Engineer of the railroad company.

“We have all watched your career with great interest,” says Mr. Stewart, in his letter to Miss Normand, or, as she is known in Australia, Muriel Fortesque [also Fortescue] “There are several large motion-picture theatres in Perth, and practically the whole of the Railway service of the State of Western Australia, British Dominion, have watched your career during the last two years, all through your stay with the A. B. Co. [Biograph] and after your transfer to Keystone.

“There is one question which greatly vexes the whole of the service here, however. Will you kindly tell us the color of your eyes and hair? We should all like to have our curiosity on this respect satisfied.”

Miss Normand was much gratified at the expression of appreciation from Mr. Stewart, and the railway employees of Western Australia directed a letter to the Australian editor and her other admirers in the antipodes, conveying the information that her eyes and hair are both dark brown.
* from Variety, April 17, 1914

A salary war, in which Marie Dressler and Mabel Normand, known as “The Queen of the Movies,” are struggling for supremacy, was given light today with the announcement that Miss Dressler had left the stage for pictures. She is now a member of the Keystone company, of which Miss Normand has been leading lady for several years at a salary reported to be $1,500 a week.

The storm broke out when Miss Dressler took possession of the star dressing room at the Keystone studio, which for the past two years has been sacred to Miss Normand. This precipitated such a riot a second stellar dressing room was hastily constructed in an effort to appease both temperamental females.¹¹⁹
* from Variety, April 24, 1914

A truce has been declared in the temperamental war between Marie Dressler and Mabel Normand at the Keystone picture studio, but the stars are still nursing their “peeve” and refuse to speak.

Today’s matinee and night the City theater offers for the first time in Williamsport a melodramatic story of a girl’s fight for right, entitled “Thorns of the Gay White Way.” The story depicted here is morally beneficial to all. It portrays a political boss who is a proprietor of a tenement dive. He is, however, large in heart and spirit and is ever the friend of the ill-treated girl. This City theater feature will arouse your sympathy for the struggling girls that are confronted with many traps of injustice. Conditions similar to the ones here portrayed are the existing ones in many of our large cities, conditions that baffle the civic authorities. “Caught in a Cabaret“ is the title of a Keystone comedy that will also be presented today. This comedy was staged in Mack Sennett’s comical factory out in California and undoubtedly will be the Keystone success of the year. This comedy caused so much laughter among actors and cameramen while being photographed that several attempts were made before getting a perfect negative. Mabel Normand and Mack Sennett score heavily in this two-reel comedy feature.

Ever since the day when Marie Dressler gave up being a queen of the stage to become a Keystone comedienne, she and Mabel Normand, the Queen of the Movies, have been bitter rivals.

It began, they say, with dressing rooms. There is only one “first” dressing room, and while Mabel Normand ought to have it by right of priority of occupancy, on the other hand, Miss Dressler ought to have it by right of superiority of size. From dressing rooms it graduated--fostered and featured by all the local papers--to salaries: from salaries to maids; from maids to Pomeranians; and from Pomeranians to motor cars.

Everyone breathed easier. Here at last was something that might be settled. When it was rumored shortly afterward that Miss Normand and Miss Dressler had decided to demonstrate the merits of their respective cars--also their driving--by racing against each other at Ascot Park at Santa Monica, the various members of the company began drawing their salaries in advance to back their favorites.

The Day arrived. Miss Normand was there with her high power Bear Cat Stutz, while Miss Dressler drove a Fiat. Many fans were there but the weather made a postponement necessary.¹²⁰
* from Blue Book Magazine, July 1914