Today is the birthday of early silent film star King Baggot (read my full post on Baggot here). That makes today the perfect time to announce that I’ll be in Philadelphia this Sunday at the Gershman Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival introducing a terrific new documentary about Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle. Why is it such good timing? Before Laemmle, no one knew the names of the movie stars. Biograph, Edison, and the other major studios of the original era kept their stars anonymous so they couldn’t negotiate for more money. Laemmle changed all that. And one of the very first stars he introduced to the public by name was…King Baggott (right after Florence Lawrence). But that’s just one particle of an incredible story. I hope you’ll come see me, and this film, and this festival. Details here.
(Travalanche) 
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