Syd chaplin

Issue 15 of THE LOST LAUGH magazine is out now!

Well, it’s been a while, but the new issue is done.

At 60 pages, this is the longest one yet, and I’m proud to feature some fantastic guest contributors this time. Syd Chaplin’s biographer Lisa Stein Haven has provided some great insights into our cover star, as well as his more famous little brother… There are also some details on the newly restored Syd feature, Oh! What a Nurse!.

I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to publish an exclusive excerpt from Steve Massa’s new book about Harold Lloyd’s Lonesome Luke films, and the early years of the Hal Roach studios – available soon from Split-Reel. There’s also a very informative Q & A with Steve about the new book.

There are also articles about Jerry Drew, Marion Byron, Monty Banks and a piece about gagman extraordinaire Charles Rogers, by Holly Foskett and Matthew Lydick from A Lot of Fun Writers. Plus, a transcript of an interview with Al St John, film and BluRay reviews and lots more.

You can download the magazine below:

The Lost Laugh #15 to publishDownload

I really hope you enjoy this issue. I hope it won’t take as long for #16 to come along! If you’d like to contribute an article, plug a project you’re working on, or take part in a Q & A for the next issue, please do get in touch – either in the comments section here, or by emailing movienightmag [AT] gmail.com

And finally… The magazine is totally free. However if, you do enjoy reading the issues and would like to make a donation to support site running costs, software etc then these would be gratefully received! If you would like to donate, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi. Thanks!

Issue 15 of The Lost Laugh is coming…

Where does the time go? Somehow, It’s just over three years since the last issue of The Lost Laugh appeared. Well, finally I’ve been cracking on with a new one, and though life has thrown a few delays in the way, I hope it will be out by the end of March.

This time round, I’m really thrilled to be featuring contributions from silent comedy experts Steve Massa, Lisa Stein Haven, Holly Foskett & Matthew Lydick, and have enjoyed researching some corners of silent film comedy that were new to me. Here’s a teaser of some of the contents:

  • Syd Chaplin. As Syd’s newly restored feature Oh!What a Nurse! is restored and re-premiered, it’s the perfect opportunity to revisit his neglected comedy career. Syd’s biographer and Charlie Chaplin expert/author Lisa Stein Haven has very kindly agreed to a Q & A about the brothers.
  • Monty Banks: his career in short films, from supporting actor to star comic.
  • Steve Massa provides an insight into the early years of Hal Roach‘s studio – Rolin, and fills us in on his exciting new book project
  • Jerry Drew: aka Clem Beauchamp, Educational’s corner on the sophisticated comedy market of the late 1920s. But there’s more to Drew than that; he was also a writer, director, stunt pilot, husband of Anita Garvin… and an Oscar winner!
  • Charley Rogers: Holly Foskett and Matthew Lydick shine a light on Stan Laurel’s right hand man, a talented gagman, director and performer whose career has been under-researched… until now.
  • A celebration of Marion Byron: one of Buster Keaton’s best leading ladies, and a very talented comedian.
  • A Charley Chase feature film is a sadly rare thing, but 1929’s Modern Love still exists and provides some vintage Chase comedy!
  • news of exciting new Kickstarter projects, film festivals, DVD/BluRay releases, plus reviews…

It’s not too late to add something, if you’d like to! Contributions are always welcomed, and if you have a project you’d like to plug, then please do get in touch. I’m always happy to help spread the word. Drop me a line in the comments section, or at movienightmag [AT] gmail .com if I can help!

Here’s the cover of the issue. I thought I’d try a simpler, cleaner look this time. What do you think?

Silent Laughter 2024 is on the way…

It’s back! Mark your diaries for giggles, chuckles and belly laughs! On November 9th & 10th, Kennington Bioscope present another Silent Laughter Weekend: two days of live silent cinema showcasing the cream of silent comedy films.


This year features one of our most packed programmes ever, a wide-ranging and eclectic selection of the funniest, rarest and most unusual gems from comedy’s greatest era. From the best-loved comedians to the most obscure; from wild slapstick to the subtle and sophisticated; from surreal stop-motion animation to European clowns, there’s a smorgasbord of silent hilarity spread over twelve programmes.

You’ll find plenty of familiar favourites, including classic shorts starring Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Laurel & Hardy. But there’s so much more to silent comedy than the well-known stars, and as always we also spotlight the undeservedly forgotten comedy talents, such as Marion Davies (in The Patsy), Danish comedy team Pat & Patachon, Richard Dix, Charlie Murray and Charley Chase.

 
Regular attendees will know that we always pull some real rarities out of the hat. This year is no exception, as we’ll be hosting the U.K. premieres of several recently rediscovered films. On Saturday evening, Charlie Chaplin’s brother Syd stars in Oh! What a Nurse!  one of the big hits of last year’s Pordenone, it hasn’t been seen in this country for almost 100 years! We’re also thrilled to be showing the newly rediscovered spooky comedy thriller The Gorilla, starring comedy stalwart Charlie Murray. Murray also features alongside Clara Bow in another previously lost film, The Pill-Pounder. Bioscope favourite Charley Chase will feature in a programme of newly restored short comedies that have been unseen in many, many years and we’ll also be showing some incredibly rare films starring the likes of Monty Banks, Harold Lloyd and Dorothy Devore.



There is also a spotlight on the iconic Keystone Kops, as well as the work of Vitagraph Studios. An ‘Animations and Illusions’ programme will feature camera trickery, from Meliés’ experiments to the mind-blowing madness of Charley Bowers.  You won’t want to miss a very special presentation of 9.5mm rarities by Christopher Bird, shown on film using amazing vintage projectors. Bioscope favourite Charley Chase will feature in some of his rarest comedies, newly restored and presented by Hal Roach expert Richard M Roberts.


We’ve even got a silent film appearance of a Marx Brother! There’s a rare screening of Too Many Kisses, a 1925 comedy featuring a supporting role from none other than Harpo Marx.

Every programme features live musical accompaniment from London’s finest silent film pianists. A roll call of comedy film authors, enthusiasts and collectors will contextualise the films, and share stories of the filmmakers. And it all takes place in the wonderful surroundings of London’s Cinema Museum. Oh, and it’s just £30 for the whole weekend!

 
So come and join us on the 9th-10th November for a lafftastic weekend of live silent cinema. It’s the best selection of rare and classic silent comedy you’ll find anywhere!

Here’s the link to the full programme, and to buy tickets:

http://www.cinemamuseum.org.uk/2024/kennington-bioscope-silent-laughter-weekend-3/