HaroldLloyd.us mourns the death of Gloria Lloyd, eldest daughter of Harold and Mildred Lloyd, who passed away on February 10, 2012 (the 89th anniversary of the marriage of her parents) after a long illness. She was 87 years old.
Founded in 1995, haroldlloyd.us is dedicated to Harold Lloyd, the silent film comic actor.
Now revamped in a blog format, it will be easier than ever to learn about Lloyd’s life and work, to interact with other fans, to react to posts, to share screenings/airings/events, and to gush poetic about the undiscovered country that is Harold Lloyd.
Hosted by Lloyd biographer Annette D’Agostino Lloyd … who hopes you enjoy your visit … Why Worry? You’ll Never Weaken in Harold Lloyd’s World of Comedy! Let’s Go!
It’s so upsetting to hear that Gloria passed away recently. I haven’t gotten to know what she was like yet, but I’m sure she was very kind.
My condolences, and may she rest in peace.
Alice
ALERT- Professor Beware is on YouTube for today only! It’s under another one of Ric’s channels (99whatsupdoc99) listed as an ‘encore’. A pretty good film, sadly not included in the Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection.
Alice, Thanks for the Professor Beware ‘alert,’. Due to your info, I requested the film from your Youtube connection Ric, and it looks as if he came up trumps. I will be watching it right away, and maybe give my first-time impressions.
can you believe, I missed Prof Beware on Youtube on the 15th. Requested Ric’s channel again, but so far nothing.
I am so sorry to hear about Glorias passing. This is all the more poignant as I have lately been watching some commentaries and biographies on Harold, and was thinking (also reading) about Harolds home life at Green-acres (and of course including) his daughter Gloria. I also heard some commentary by her.
In fact I was just thinking how fortunate that she was still with us today…..alas that is no longer.
I pass on solicitations to Suzanne and the rest of the family,
Naveed
Naveed, the only Place I was able to watch Professor Beware was through YouTube (comes in handy quite a lot, doesn’t it?). One man on there has a couple of channels where he uploads hundreds of classic movies, and he does requests from anyone. I asked him in the comments section of his channel ‘ohpoopnotagain’ to post Professor Beware (you also should leave the year it was made in) and it was up in a few days. However, he posts videos he calls ‘ONO!!!’s which means they’ll only be up for one night. Professor Beware was one of those, but I’m sure Ric would be able to upload it again. I actually found it a bit funny, especially how Harold once shouted “Destiny does not wait for taxi drivers!” during the chase scene. And another scene looks very familiar to the one in Now or Never on top of the train…
Hope this will help,
Alice
By the way, Maddie, I completely agree with you. I just don’t understand how people can just write Harold off as being less brilliant than he obviously is… I think he’s better than Keaton and Chaplin! One look at popularity polls in the twenties tells you that. I think the main reason why so many are not aware of how great he truly is is because of the availibility of his films verses Chaplin’s or Keaton’s. At least we now have the Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection out now- I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have it already!
Hey Guys!
So, for my first post here, I really wanted to ask a question I’ve been seeing on other forums. Some people don’t think Harold should be ranked alongside Chaplin and Keaton, and it completely baffled me!
I believe their justification was that Harold had up to 12 gag men, and Chaplin virtually didn’t (but his gag men were referred to as “assistants”, right?), and Keaton may have, but not as many. I don’t know why the gag men thing matters. In my mind, gag men are people who throw out ideas and get ideas thrown at them. And I completely disagree when Hal Roach commented “Harold Lloyd was not a comedian, but he was the finest actor to play a comedian that I ever saw”. I couldn’t believe I’d heard it.
Harold has some of the most amazing work of the silent era, and I hate to see people that don’t think he was a comic, but just an actor. He didn’t have to perform any scene as flawless and gracefully as he did in any film. He used his skills as an actor and comic to produce such memorable, iconic scenes. He was a genius. He IS a genius.
But for my question: What do you think? Is Harold not worthy of being the “3rd Genius” or being alongside Chaplin or Keaton in terms of comedic talent?
Sorry for the rant. Had to get it off my chest!
Hi Maddie,
Harold Lloyd not only deserves to be alongside Chaplin or Keaton in terms of comedic talent, but in my opinion surpasses both of them. Take what you think is the best film or films of all three, and I guarantee Harold comes up trumps all the time.
But you will not convince many of the so-called experts or those writing articles on silent screen comedians or some folks on forums, who still tend to bypass our Harold!
I want to add that no-one should take Hal Roach’s comments as gospel when it comes to Harolds ability as an actor or comedian. Keep in mind that, despite keeping of appearances (of a willing separation on both sides), Hal Roach must have been very unhappy when Harold decided to quit making films with him back in the early 1920′s. Despite their friendship, I think he carried a sort of grudge against Harold for this reason. It must have also galled him that he was not talented in that sphere (of acting comedy) himself!
As for ‘gag men’, the final say and direction was only Harold Lloyds. We are all inspired by others ideas at times. But how one accomplishes that idea is what really shows the final genius, so to speak.
I’m sure Harold himself came up with stellar ideas.
Alice, keep up the conversation about Harold with others. Its the best to introduce the man on the clock! By the way I have always wanted to view that later talkie Professor Beware. If you know of anyone or any way for me to get hold of that film, let me know!
Just saw The Milky Way again today. Found it very amusing.
Yes, I’m very glad that they enjoyed his films too. They have actually decided to give me the right to show them a movie marathon of Harold’s films from the set when my birthday comes because of how excited I’ve been about it lately.
When found in a situation with someone where neither of us is talking, I strike up an conversation by asking, “Do you find someone dangling off the face of a clock on the side of a building stories up in the air funny?” I always find myself trying to show others that just because something is old, it doesn’t make it boring. If I could find a theater showing a silent any where near where I live, I’d be there in a heartbeat.
I was very fortunate just now to catch Professor Beware airing. Certainly not one of Lloyd’s strongest films, but fairly funny just the same. Checked that one off the list.
Oh, by the way, a person by the username of RedTango on YouTube has bought old reels of some of HL’s one-reelers that you mentioned and transferred them to digital format onto YouTube. I’ve watched a few so far, “Don’t Shove” and “Spring Fever” for example, on there.
Alice
Alice, I don’t know which part of the world you reside, but if you go on ebay (or ebay UK, ebay Canada), you can probably get a DVD set which has Movie Crazy OR The Cat’s Paw (each respectively usually with another Harold feature film). This could be more affordable than getting the Harold Lloyd Box set. Though I highly recommend that one. It has so many films and commentaries on it!
In his silent films, I really like Jobyna Ralston, but Mildred Davis was also nice. Neither will frighten you
. On the otherhand they both complemented Harold very nicely. In Movie Crazy, the leading lady was Constance Cummings, and as I said she had great chemistry with Harold onscreen.
So did Jobyna in particular.
Harold was not too happy with The Sin of Harold Diddlebock. Won’t go into details here, but the filming and production was not entirely in his hands (but that of Preston Sturges, the producer and Howard Hughes (the financial backer of the film). So Harold did not have all his say on how the film should go.
Just my opinion.
In his sound movies, Feet First is another very good one. I also liked the Milky Way. Prefer both to The Cats Paw.
Sorry for the long wait for reply! Thanks Naveed, for the information about the movie sets (I do live in the US). However, I won’t need that: yesterday, quite to my enjoyment, I was able to convince my parents into letting me purchase my own copy of the Harold Comedy Collection through eBay for a grand total of $113! I know that’s more expensive than it originally was, but it was the only complete set out there for less than $150. I’m expecting it to come in the mail within the next week.
I really enjoy watching the films with Jobyna or Mildred in them. In fact, I recently discovered that I have the same birthday as Mildred!
I can’t wait until the box set arrives. To celebrate after purchasing it, while I was over at a friend’s with some other good company, I convinced her to let us watch Never Weaken and the final twenty-minute squence of Safety Last! Soon, everyone there was crowding around her laptop laughing at every gag and screaming at every clumsy near-fatal misstep on the edge of the building. They all loved it. I was very glad to see them react to it the same way I did when I first saw it.
Thanks again,
Alice
Congratters Alice on the upcoming Harold Lloyd comedy collection DVD. Glad you will be able to enjoy it. One thing you will notice is the pristine reception. A delight, and of course you can use that word in more ways for the Harold Lloyd films.
There are others, but one of my other especial favourites is the relatively shorter “Dr Jack”.
I also liked “Never Weaken”.
So happy that your friends are also enthused. I try to introduce folks to Harold whenever possible, and have had a good response. I wish the local theatres showed his films. I believe he would catch on with the audience of today tremendously. They just need to know & be introduced to this wonderful (mainly silent) comedian, who provides us with more than only thrills.
I was happy today as (what I believe) are more rare HL one-reelers DVD plopped by in my mail.
Titles such as “Hear ‘em Rave”, “Going going gone”, “Never Touched me”, “Chop Suey & Co”,
“Spring Fever”, “Don’t shove”, “Pay your due” and others—I have never seen them yet.
The Harold Lloyd autobiography can also be found listed for sale if you google bookfinders.com. In fact I have the original 1928 version only via this site, and it was less than three figures in price! (but without a dust-jacket).
I note that the 1971 reprint has more in it. May need to get it myself now.
Alice, I highly..make that HIGHLY recommend Annette’s book “Harold Lloyd: Magic in a pair of horn-rimmed spectacles. I just read it and had a hard time putting it down. Not only is it compiled in a very informal style of prose, but full of information on this remarkable comedic actor. The turning points of his life, are embellished with some info on his films and other associated actors/actresses, and there are some very interesting and useful photos and illustrations.
I would say it is both worthy reading for the novice and the one already acquainted with Harold.
I only have one reservation, I could not agree with Annette at all in the chapter headed “Harold Lloyd releases The Cat’s Paw”. This chapter discusses his sound film “The Cats Paw”, which Annette reckons was his finest sound movie. I could not disagree more. In that film (which put story-line over gags for the first time) , the character of Harold was not as engaging as in some other movies–including sound ones. His constant recourse to wise sayings was in character, but a thing too much on occasion (mostly his high-flown way of speaking got on my nerves a bit!) . His relationship with the leading female in the film did not have too much chemistry, and was not as worthy (in execution) as Annette has us believe. Mostly the film did not flow as smoothly—as did another Harold Sound feature—”Movie Crazy”. That one–”Movie Crazy”, I opine was his best sound film.
Excellent character, full of laughs and amusing situations, great chemistry with the leading lady—and excellent dialogue, which was not stinted at all, and flowed smoothly.
Sorry for going on here—but this was the only chapter with which I was not in sync in Annettes excellent book.
She also has published “The Harold Lloyd Encyclopedia”, which remains one of the best ‘reference’ whos who on Harold Lloyd. I would recommend both her books, as well as the autobiography.
Thanks for the information regarding Annette’s books! I really need to look into those as soon as possible. I’ve only read one or two books that have ever sounded so engaging as how you described Annette’s novel (one being Fred Astaire’s own autobiography).
I have not been able to watch The Cat’s Paw or Movie Crazy yet. If anyone knows where I can (outside of Harold Lloyd’s box set, though as much as I want it, I don’t think I’d be able to get it), please let me know. I’ve already created a fairly long list of his films that are on YouTube, so anything else added to that would be great.
I recently saw The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, and I found the leading lady in that a bit frightening to watch, with all the “Yes, Mr. Diddlebock,” “No, Mr. Diddlebock,” and “Of course, Mr. Diddlebock,” included in her lines.
Thanks for your help and support, both of you,
Alice
The website looks amazing! I’m new to Harold’s world of comedy, but I’m loving it. Already watched Safety Last!, Girl Shy, The Freshman, Grandma’s Boy, The Kid Brother, The Milky Way, and some of Harold’s shorts. That’s pretty good for a thirteen-year-old given two or three weeks, if I say so myself! Then again, I get obsessive…
Anyway, thank you for dedicating so much of your time into helping other Lloyd-fanatics out there with your books. I hope to read a copy of one soon somewhere. On that note, do you happen to know where I could find an intact copy of Harold’s An American Comedy autobiography? It would be a miracle if I came across one, it seems.
Thanks again,
Alice
Alice, I think YOU are amazing! Thanks for posting such nice thoughts, and for being such a good new fan of HL. You definitely remind me of me (I found HL at age 17, and haven’t stopped yet … and I am soon to celebrate the 11th anniversary of my 39th birthday). I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you evolve into someone so curious that you, too, have to write your own book(s) on HL! Yay for that!
Regarding HL’s autobiography, you should seek out a copy of the 1971 reprint, which has everything that the 1928 original has, plus a 1966 interview with HL. It is also MUCH cheaper than the original. Check here. (BTW, the hardcover is the 1928 original. WAY over 3 figures.)
Please keep in touch … and make suggestions for things you’d like to learn about HL. I am here to serve!
Hugs,
Annette
Sorry, the Amazon link didn’t come through. Here is the page that lists a bunch of copies of the paperback version of HL’s autobiography (the 1971 reprint, which I highly recommend, at least at this point, over the original from 1928 – it’s cheaper, and has more in it):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0486226840/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&qid=1326896951&sr=1-1&condition=used
Let me know how this works.
Annette
That’s certainly kind of you to say! It would definitely be a dream of mine to make a living through writing books on cinema history, restoring old film or running a movie theatre! Nothing’s better than working on something you love, right?
Thanks for the info on HL’s autobiography. I saw it on Amazon, but the process was a bit confusing for me. Namely the bit about the books being “Acceptable” or “Good”. I have the tendency of being OCD sometimes, so it drives me nuts when a book of mine is damaged (I bet that I could walk into a bookstore, place any one of the books I own on the shelf, and no one would notice it had been used before.) But, I guess that’s what you have to deal with if it’s not brand new.
I’ll try and see if my library has any of your books. Probably not, considering I live in a tiny town with the smallest library I’ve ever seen. Who knows, they might surprise me.
I think I’ll take you up on that offer. Would you happen to have made that HL tribute titled “Harold Lloyd – Real Man!” that’s on YouTube? It says that it was created and edited by a certain Annette D’Agostino Lloyd for a 2002 film conference…
Oh, and the link works great: now just to find one I like and snag it before someone else does.
Alice
I love it Annette!!! I love the HL Sightings idea. I cant wait to spend some major time around here!
Great work AL!
Yes I think the HL sightings should be in one category maybe just named the “HL sightings”. In one place.
I think that the ones you have under “the films” and “the life” category at present, should perhaps be put on that one place.
Annette,
Yes, I was able to comment.
Is that first comment considered a “register”?
I can get to other categories on the site, but only can see the top of the list. Opening the other groups, the sub-categories roll down behind the front screen.
Agnes
Hi Agnes! I would think that the comment would be considered a register, as you needed to put your name in, in order to comment at all.
Also, I have to check on how to get to the bottom of a lengthy list; whether we can get to the bottom of the list at all. Good find!
Annette
Hi All -
So far, on my computer, no list is longer than my computer screen, so I don’t know what will happen when it gets any longer.
Here’s a question: Should I put all images (what I call HL Sightings) on one page, so it doesn’t contribute to a category getting too lengthy? Would that be more helpful for all? Let me know.
Annette
amazing re vamp, really lovely – thank you Annette for all you do XXX Emilia ( in the UK ) XXX
Just visited now. Looks like a very interesting site on all things Harold Lloyd. The greatest silent film star of all time in my opinion (and not so bad in a few of the talkies either!).
I think this web space is very promising, and will be a hit as well!
So far the re-vamp looks great. All the “new news & comments” right as you walk in the door.
Hopefully the general info is still all accessable?
Can I “register” without belonging to Facebook or Twitter ( which I don’t and won’t join)?
Agnes McFadden
Agnes: As far as I know, you can most definitely register for my site without having to belong to any social site. I connect this site to them because it furthers the interactive nature of my site (which is what I’ve wanted all along). Let me know if you have any trouble, but I don’t think you will. And, thanks!
Annette
Hi Annette- new site looks great- Really like the layout.
all the best,
Buckey