Silent Baseball Games

THE BUSHER-1919-A young baseball player (Charles Ray) goes to the big city and forgets his girlfriend (Coleen Moore) until a rival (John Gilbert) shows up. Clichéd by today’s standards this was a big hit in its time. Star Ray was a matinee idol until he lost his fortune investing (and starring) in an independent flop. He later tired unsuccessfully to break into the NY Theater and then played bit roles in some talkies. Like many ex-silent stars he died unusually, from an impacted tooth that became infected! He was 52. THE BUSHER (A Thomas Ince Production) is also interesting as it featured then unknowns Moore and Gilbert who would achieve fame a few years later.

CASEY AT THE BAT OR THE FATE OF A ROTTEN UMPIRE-1899-Fragment filmed by The Edison Company depicts a batter disgruntled with the umpire’s call who attacks the official. Even back then “kill the umpire” seemed to be part of the game!



HEARTS AND DIAMONDS-1914-Filmdom’s first comedy star was John Bunny. (the above picture) Though forgotten today in his time he was one of the most famous people in the world!

Although his career lasted a scant 5 years (ending with his death at 51 in 1915) he made over 200 short films! Mostly comedies though once in a while he “stepped out” in a dramatic role like THE PICKWICK PAPERS. He made many of his shorts with actress Flora Finch. They became so well known as a comedy duo that their films were called “Bunnyfinches”.

In HEARTS AND DIAMONDS Bunny plays a widower trying to woo a rich widow. It turns out she’s a real baseball fan (“I simply adore baseball players”) so Bunny creates his own team and puts himself in the starting line-up to win her. There’s lots of slapstick. One reason Bunny (a rather grotesque but lovable character) isn’t remembered is so little of his work exists. This was one of his last. Thankfully there’s a station like TCM that is finding “lost classics” and presenting them to film fans!

“First Thing We Do Is Kill All The Lawyers”-Bill Shakespeare

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