I I LOMPOC PICAYUNE- Ii ~: INTELLIGENCER the Official NEWSLETTER of the W .C.FIELDS FAN CLUB I

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I I LOMPOC PICAYUNE- iI ~: INTELLIGENCER THE OffiCIAL NEWSLETTER Of THE W .C.FIELDS FAN CLUB i

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HAPPY 125TH BIRTHDAY We. FIELDS BORN JANUARY 29, 1880

I Issue Number 24 - Winter-2005 ] I ON LOCATION IN company, the Famous Players finest kind of weather we hope. movie company had arrived FLORDIA: W.e. FIELDS Lasky Corporation, held a The filming of these pictures in earlier by train and were already AND IT'S THE OLD ceremony before the crowd and and around Ocala is a big making themselves at home. The ARMY GAME (PART 1) film crew. Fields stepped out to advertisement for Ocala and we hotel register revealed the names By Lisa Bradbury applause, dressed in a costume of hope that every assistance asked of the cast and crew, which pajamas (his attire for the "back will be given to Mr. Fields and included the director, Edward On a Saturday morning in the porch" sequence in the film). By hi s company.'"' W. C. Fields' "Eddie" Sutherland, and cast: winter of 1926, a crowd ofnearly one account, the ceremony talents were not unknown to the Louise Brooks, Blanche Ring, 500 people gathered in Ocala, proceeded as he broke a bottle of citizens of Ocala as two fi lms in William Gaxton, Mary Foy, Florida hoping to calch a glimpse wine over a bouquet of fl owers which he appeared--Sally of Mickey Bennett. Elise Cavanna. of W. C. Fields, who was in the which had been presented to him. the Sawdust and That Royale George Currie, Little Lord city to begin film ing the silent In another account, more in line Girl--had recently been shown Roberts, W. P. Lewis, Pete feature film comedy. It's the Old with prohibition, the bottle at Ocala's Temple Theatre. Raymond, and Jim Bradbury. It's Army Game. The spectators contained ginger ale and was Driving south from New York in the Old Anny Game takes its title broken over a plank. Whatever the details, newsreel and still cameras recorded the ceremony with the pictures reportedly rushed back to New York to pUb licize the event. Famous Players-Lasky, producing fil ms at the Paramount Astoria Studios in Long Island, New York, chose Ocala, a city seventy-five miles his Lincoln, Fields arrived in northwest of Orlando, for Ocala on the afternoon of location filming during the February 26. He was from the shell and pea con game winter months due to the mild accompanied by friend Bill which is demonstrated in a weather, year round sunshine, Grady and a female companion sequence of the film. W. C. and proximity to New York by referred to as "Mrs. Fields." The Fields stars Elmer Prettywiltie, a train. It's the Old Anny Game drive south was uneventful until small town druggist. Louise would be the fourth film Famous crossing the Georgia border into Brooks plays his assistant. Players-Lasky would make in Florida where the Lincoln Marilyn. When Bill Parker Ocala within a year. While Fields suffered three tire blowouts. In a (William Gaxton), president of was filming in Ocala, Famous telegram to E. W. Wingart, the the High·and·Dry Realty Co., would have the honor of Players had another crew in Palm movie company's business catches a glimpse of Marilyn witnessing a milestone in Fields' Beach filming The Palm Beach manager, Fields stated, ""The while passing through town. he movie career--his official Girl starring Behe Daniels. An rubber had no chance to become decides to stay and set up debut as a "star." A lthough Fields Ocala newspaper expressed the acclimated to the nice wann business with Prettywillie as his had appeared in several earlier city's enthusiasm for the movie weather of the sunny south."" vice-president. films, this was to be his first company: •.. ·Ocala will give the (Continued in LPI No. 25. April starring role in a feature under his company a hearty welcome and Upon arriving in Ocala, Fields 2005) new contract with Paramount Mr. Smith of the Chamber of checked into the Harrington Hall Lisa Bradbury is a film historian Pictures. Paramount's parent Commerce will order on the Hotel. Other members of the living in Florida. Thank you Lisa!

PAGE 10 - LO MPOC PICAYUNE -INTELUGENCER 1'24 PAGE 11 _ LOMPOC PICAYUNE - INTELUGENCER 11'24 ON LOCATION IN attraction) about 7 miles outside FLORDlA: W.e. FIELDS of Ocala. An old-fashioned LOMPOC PICAYUNE - INTELLIGENCER AND IT'S TilE OLD horse-drawn, steam fire engine THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETI'ER OF THE W.C. FIELDS FAN CLUB ARMY GAME (PART 2) had been purchased from the (:1 2005 W.e. Fields Fan Club By Lisa Bradberry Jacksonville Fire Department and restored specifically fo r scenes in FAN CLUB OFFICERS: IS IT YOUR TIME In a twist on the Florida real the film. For interior scenes at Theodore E. Wioncek, Jr. TO RENEW??? estate boom, Parker's business is the Court Phannacy. and during to sell New York lots to President & Editor those occasional cloudy days Floridians. Fields would recreate Brian J. Wioncek, Sr. IF THIS BLOCK IS when extra light was needed, Webmaster CHECKED THIS IS D lighting equipment was furnished THE LAST ISS UE ROGE R P.lJARRIs on loan from a Miami studio. YOU WILL RECEIVE Founding PrCJideot Chief camerama n, Alvin UNTIL YOU RENEW. Wyckoff, had a crew of six CONTRIBUTING TO THIS cameramen so several units could Please send your .check or mOlley ISSUE: film simultaneously at different order in the amount of S1S ($18. US locations in the city. February 28 in Canada, $26.00 Elsewhere) marked the first of three days TED WIONCEK payable to "W.e. Fields Fan Club." several of his stage sketches from spent filming at Silver Springs. You will receiyc a new 8" 1: 10" still The Comic Supplement in the LARRY BLEIBERG Hundreds of people gathered to photograph (Three Faces of w.e. film : the "Back Porch," the Fields) for your second renewal a watch Louise Brooks and "Drug Store," and the "Picnic." LISA BRADBERRY new 8" x 10" still photo (The Bank William Gaxton perfonn in Much preparation went into Dick), (while supplies last). Don't be severaJ scenes featuring a glass ~ bottom boat ride and later BRUCE DUGUID a moon calf or a jabbemow you're not onc of those, are you? feeding a deer. Director Eddie Sutherland was injured in a MARK SOIFER PLEASE RENEW NOW! boating mishap, spraining his ann. (Note: A video version of BRIAN WIONCEK, SR. the movie viewed by this author did not include any Silver Than k you aU ABOUT THE COVER: ! Springs scenes. Either they were The cover of tbis Issue Is a reduction of choosing the locations and missing or cut from the final W.C. FIELDS FAN CLUB an original drawing by artist Bill building the sets for It's the Old print). Since W. C. Fields was PO BOX 506 Levers. The drawing was created Army Game. A three-story back not required for any of the scenes STRATFORD NJ 08084~506 exclu51vly ror tbe ran club. Tbank you porch set was constructed at the at Silver Springs, and WCField!lFanClub@comcastnet Bill! Signed, numbered, limited edition, rear of the Hi-Way Hotel. Other www.webirec.com/wcfields full size prints of the cover are for sale construction on the back porch major locations included a train Lompoc Picayune-lntc1Ugencer for 525.00 each plus 55.00 postage. set had yet to be completed, he Subscription rates are SI5.00 for Send your check payable to "W.e. station, the Court Pharmacy, the took the opportunity to drive four (4.) issues (Canadian Field, Fan Club" In the amount of city streets, and Silver Springs (a through Marion County. membership ill St8.00 U.S. funds), $30.00 to the ran club address. picturesque natural springs spending some time in the Elsewhere S26. park- - Florida's first tourist country. On March 3, Fields

PAGE 2 - LOMPOC PICAYUNE _ INTELLlGENCER 125 PAGE 3 _ LOMPOC PICAYUNE - lNTELLIGENCER 1 25 would begin the first of several Cavanna's character is racing her present. As part of the The final score: Wildcats 33, days filming scenes on the newly to car to Prettywillie's drugstore. entertainment, Eddie Sutherland Lillies 12. On Wednesday night, constructed back porch set. His The car just misses being hit by a called upon some of his movie March 10, the Ocala Elks Lodge character attempts to get some speeding train. It was revealed cast to perfoon; they sang or did initiated nine members of the sleep in a porch swing, but his that the car and train were vaudeville comedy bits. Famous Players-Lasky company attempts at slumber are thwarted actually traveling at slow speeds Unfortunately. for those to into its membership. It is by a vegetable vendor, a man while being filmed, but the final attendance, W.e. Fields was unknown whether Fields was offering to sharpen scissors, and result appears to be more absent. He had been spending the included . The production the iceman. He also has an perilous. Wearing a dress and day fi shing at Homosassa wrapped in Ocala after 18 days altercation with a screaming baby hat, Harry Thompson, a driver Springs some forty miles away, with plans to go on to Palm played by twenty·nine year old, with the White Ring Taxi and it was said car trouble Beach for two days' filming thirty-seven inch Company, doubled prevented him from making it before returning to New York. back to Ocala in time for the One Ocala newspaper offered the tall actor, LittJe r:.:·.'< [\t47.~ JIr8 I~I}.·.:'" for Ms . Cavanna as Lord Roberts, who " ,I I1~ ~l!.l lI1llS:~ \&fj '!· ", four ca m e ras banquet. After long hours director's departing remarks: it was reported had lI.. ri~·· PJ,r(ore.~ recorded the action. filming, the cast and crew found "Edward Sutherland said be was been an actor at t -~trrd' lF ~I!IS - The car actually some time for recreation, holding Paramount for two t' .- II ;: :':.1 . ~. came within two a series of baseball games on a >o«l,,"T)t).,Tm[ nlf..ll~;:: '- ''''~''''-'~ _...... years and appeared c ~ ~\..(it1G\\!.t - " , feet of the train as it vacant lot adjacent to the back LAST WEEK in several movies ..." ...... t crossed the tracks. porch set. 1be first game was F""'~S.....,... \hot " .za. including Lon Other filming held late one Sunday afternoon. . y"' ....:-.:.s... Chaney's lost film, which occurred Although it was raining, a large ZIEGFELD The Miracle Man. d uri n g fh e crowd gathered to cheer on their Palm Beach Nights' "Mrs. Fields" was following days .s..~ s.,.. , favorite team-- either the ow, . 1'"...-"D.,..t,f: on hand to watch as covered the Court Paramount Wildcats with W. C. 1).,C_."""-.-l:...f"'l.,..1 - W. C. performed Phannacy interiors, Fields pitching----or the Grady Giur.fjinl! the At"",;""n Girl. before the cameras. the fire engine, and Lillies, named for Bill Grady. ~ . ,nnc> It was reported, the Ocala street Wingart, the business manager M Hiclanal;l ~Ild His

PAGE 4 ~ LOMPOC PICAYUNE _ INTELUGENCER '25 PAGE 5 ~ LOMPOC PICAYUNE - INTELUGENCEA #25 fathers for many courtesies.' The comedian for motion pictures. police department and Chief Last season he was co-starred Morgan were also praised by Mr. with Will Rogers in the Ziegfeld Sutherland for their efficient aid Follies." After film ing was in handling crowds." Ocala bid completed in Palm Beach, the farewell to the movie company: company departed for Miami to "The Famous Players have made board a ship back to New York many friends in Ocala, and Ocala Fields once again took to the will always welcome them." On road in his automobile for the Saturday, March 13, W . C. Fields drive north. After interior scenes and his companions left for Palm were completed at the Astoria Beach ahead of the rest of the studio. It's the Old Anny Game movie company. which took a was released in May, 1926. special train. In her book, Lulu in Fields went on to make his next Hollywood, Louise Brooks stated two films at the Astoria Studios that filming took place in Palm in New York. In 1927, Fields Beach at the Stotesbury estate. It followed Famous Players-Lasky appears this was the location for west when it was decided to the "picnic" scene where Fields move the operatioRs to and his movie fam.ily wreck the Paramount Studios in Califontia. immaculate Jawn of an It's the Old Army Ganle was unsuspecting homeowner. While significant beyond W. C. Fields' the movie company was in Palm debut in a starring role. Fields Beach, it was learned the city and Eddie Sutherland became was hosting a special edition of good friends, and the director the Ziegfeld Follies. A rather would go on to work with Fields distinguished pomait of W. C. again on several films. Fields appeared in The Palm Sutherland also began a personal Beach Post above the following relationship with Louise Brooks caption: "w. C. Fields will be the which would result in their guest of honor at tonight's marriage during the swnmer of perfonnance of Ziegfeld"s Palm 1926. Beach Nights at the Montmarte Copyright 2005 Lisa Bradberry Theater. Fields, who is now in Palm Beach making The Old Lisa Bradberry is a .film Anny Game, a picture for historian living ill Florida. Famous Players, has been under Thank you Lisa! Flo Ziegfeld's management for 16 years and is now receiving the largest salary ever paid a

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