Century of Slapstick #5: The Rural Third Degree
Today is the 100th anniversary of the release of The Rural Third Degree, Edgar Kennedy’s first confirmed appearance in a Keystone film. While he does play a Kop in this film, the above photo was taken much later. The movie was directed by Mack Sennett and stars Fred Mace and Dot Farley, whom ironically would later play a supporting part as the mother-in-law in Kennedy’s own starring series of talkie shorts at RKO.
For more information on the history of silent and slapstick comedy past present and future, see Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube available at Bear Manor Media, and also through Amazon.com and wherever nutty books are sold.
