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
editKing-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
edit- The Hero 1917 a Billy West comedies film[7]
- The Villain 1917 a Billy West comedies film[8]
- The Slave 1917 a Billy West comedies film[9]
- The Pest 1917 a Billy West comedies film[10]
- The Millionaire 1917 a Billy West comedies film[11]
- Dough Nuts 1917 a Billy West comedies film[12]
- The Candy Kid 1917 a Billy West comedies film[13]
- Back Stage a Billy West comedies film[14]
- The Pest (1917), extant[15]
- The Orderly 1918 a Billy West comedies film[16]
- The Stranger 1918 a Billy West comedies film[17]
- The Messenger 1918 a Billy West comedies film[18]
- His Day Out (1918), extant
- King-Bee Films posters
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References
edit- ^ Miller, Blair (April 10, 2013). Almost Hollywood: The Forgotten Story of Jacksonville, Florida. Hamilton Books. ISBN 9780761859963 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Slide, Anthony (February 25, 2014). The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry. Routledge. ISBN 9781135925543 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com.
- ^ McIVER, STUART. "OLLIE'S DAYS IN THE SUN". Sun-Sentinel.com.
- ^ "Motography". 1917.
- ^ "Dramatic Mirror of the Stage and Motion Pictures". Dramatic Mirror Company. November 24, 1917 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Feb 7, 1918, p. 16". NewspaperArchive.com. 7 February 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Feb 21, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 21 February 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Mar 21, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 21 March 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Sep 19, 1918, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 19 September 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Piqua Daily Press Newspaper Archives, Aug 29, 1917, p. 6". NewspaperArchive.com. 29 August 1917. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Jan 10, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 10 January 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Dec 20, 1917, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 20 December 1917. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, May 2, 1918, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 2 May 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Mar 7, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 7 March 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, May 30, 1918, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 30 May 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.