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King-Bee Films

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"The Hero" (1917) poster
"The Hero" (1917) poster

King-Bee Films Corporation was a film production company in the U.S. that released two-real short film comedies during the silent film era. The company's stars included Billy West, a Charlie Chaplin imitator. Louis Burstein was the company's president and general manager. He established it in 1917 after the breakup of Vim Comedy Company[1] to produce comedies starring West. Oliver Hardy and Ethelyn Gibson also acted for the company. It operated a studio in Jacksonville, Florida,[2] then Bayonne, New Jersey and finally at 1329 Gordon Street in Hollywood, California.[2] Its offices were in New York.[3]

History

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King-Bee had offices in New York and Hollywood, California.[3] The company's production sites included Jacksonville, Florida.[4] Arvid E. Gillstrom directed for King-Bee. Members of the company on their way to Hollywood were entertained in Chicago by members of the Standard Films Corporation.[5]

King Bee's Billy West comedies were in such demand it wanted him to work on two at a time.[6]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ Miller, Blair (April 10, 2013). Almost Hollywood: The Forgotten Story of Jacksonville, Florida. Hamilton Books. ISBN 9780761859963 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b Slide, Anthony (February 25, 2014). The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry. Routledge. ISBN 9781135925543 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com.
  4. ^ McIVER, STUART. "OLLIE'S DAYS IN THE SUN". Sun-Sentinel.com.
  5. ^ "Motography". 1917.
  6. ^ "Dramatic Mirror of the Stage and Motion Pictures". Dramatic Mirror Company. November 24, 1917 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Feb 7, 1918, p. 16". NewspaperArchive.com. 7 February 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Feb 21, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 21 February 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Mar 21, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 21 March 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Sep 19, 1918, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 19 September 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Piqua Daily Press Newspaper Archives, Aug 29, 1917, p. 6". NewspaperArchive.com. 29 August 1917. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Jan 10, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 10 January 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Dec 20, 1917, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 20 December 1917. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, May 2, 1918, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 2 May 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Mar 7, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 7 March 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, May 30, 1918, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 30 May 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.