Silent "Our Gang" question (not the usual one)
Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:38 pm
I've just spent a few dan-dan-dandy hours perusing old issues of THE BILLBOARD on Google Books, and came across something: a couple of articles (from 1955 and '56, respectively) that mention a package of silent "Our Gangs" having gone into distribution, courtesy of "Onyx Picture Corporation." I couldn't locate a trade ad or any other details, save that Pick Temple's Washington DC kid's show would henceforth be playing this package in lieu of westerns (this from the March 1955 article).
Interstate Television's package of Roach "Little Rascals" had gone into distribution the previous fall and by spring was wiping up the competition.
The Maltin-Bann book states that National Telepix Corp distributed "The Mischief Makers," which - courtesy of the wonderfully mind-boggling website theluckycorner.com - I know came about in 1960 (and, according to tvparty.com, swiftly departed the following year, at least in NYC). The book couldn't identify the distributor of the other silent "Our Gang" package, "Those Lovable Scallawags with Their Gangs." Could this be the Onyx package? Or did Onyx merely distribute Pathe (and/or Exclusive) prints with/without music tracks? Does anyone know?
The only further mention I can find of "Onyx Pictures Corporation" is that in 1957 they distributed a feature film, "Carib Gold," starring Ethel Waters and featuring an uncredited Cecily Tyson.
Michael
Interstate Television's package of Roach "Little Rascals" had gone into distribution the previous fall and by spring was wiping up the competition.
The Maltin-Bann book states that National Telepix Corp distributed "The Mischief Makers," which - courtesy of the wonderfully mind-boggling website theluckycorner.com - I know came about in 1960 (and, according to tvparty.com, swiftly departed the following year, at least in NYC). The book couldn't identify the distributor of the other silent "Our Gang" package, "Those Lovable Scallawags with Their Gangs." Could this be the Onyx package? Or did Onyx merely distribute Pathe (and/or Exclusive) prints with/without music tracks? Does anyone know?
The only further mention I can find of "Onyx Pictures Corporation" is that in 1957 they distributed a feature film, "Carib Gold," starring Ethel Waters and featuring an uncredited Cecily Tyson.
Michael