Educational Pictures
Encyclopedia
Educational Pictures was a film distribution
company founded in 1919 by Earle (E. W.) Hammons
(1882–1962). Educational primarily distributed short subjects, and today is probably best known for its series of 1930s comedies starring Buster Keaton
, as well as for a series of one-reel comedies featuring Shirley Temple's earliest screen appearances. Educational declared bankruptcy in 1940.
, Lige Conley
, Lloyd Hamilton
, and Monty Collins complemented many a moviehouse bill as "the spice of the program". Educational also released silent cartoons including the Felix the Cat
and Aesop's Fables series. In 1930, cartoonist Paul Terry
signed with Educational to distribute his cartoons.
Educational made a smooth transition to sound movies by handling the early talking comedies of comedy pioneer Mack Sennett
. Comedians Monty Collins, Vernon Dent
, Harry Gribbon
, and Edward Everett Horton
all starred in the studio's early talkies. Educational's most prolific comedian in the 1930s was undoubtedly the Sennett star Andy Clyde
, who made 54 comedies. Sennett also introduced singing star Bing Crosby
to movie audiences. But Sennett soon became plagued by financial problems, and he left Educational in 1932.
Educational replaced the Sennett films with star-name comedians. Andy Clyde and Harry Langdon
led Educational's release schedule for a few years, then Buster Keaton
headlined a series that yielded 16 popular two-reel comedies.
For a time Educational maintained studios on both coasts. New York-based talent from vaudeville and radio starred in Educational's East Coast productions: Joe Cook, Tim
and Irene Ryan
, Sylvia Froos, Warren Hull
, Tom Howard and George Shelton, Stoopnagle and Budd
, Bert Lahr
, and Willie Howard. Many stars made debuts in Educational shorts: Bob Hope
, The Ritz Brothers, June Allyson
, Imogene Coca
, and Danny Kaye
in New York; and Shirley Temple
, Joan Davis
, and Roy Rogers
in Hollywood. During its last year of production, Educational showcased the young comedy/dance team of Herman Timberg, Jr. and Pat Rooney, Jr., singers Niela Goodelle and Lee Sullivan, comic Charles Kemper, and comedienne Harriet Hutchins.
Twentieth Century-Fox and its predecessor, Fox Film Corporation, had been distributing Educational product to theaters. In 1937 after signing with the Terrytoons studio, the studio dropped its line of short comedies, and withdrew its support from Educational. Hammons tried to keep his company going while trying to enter the feature-film market with the financially-troubled Grand National Pictures. The drain on his finances forced both companies into bankruptcy. The final Educational comedies were released in January 1939, and the film library was sold at auction in 1940. Most were obtained by Astor Pictures
that re-released them to cinemas with a compilation of Bing Crosby's shorts released as the feature The Road to Hollywood
to exploit Paramount's "Road to...
" film series.
Much of Educational's silent film
library was lost in a laboratory fire in 1937, but the sound comedies survive today.
The quality of Educational's films varied widely in a large part consequent from the low-budget nature of the studio. Many future stars (such as Shirley Temple
) made their first few film appearances at Educational, and many former stars like Fatty Arbuckle
and Harry Langdon
found work with Educational when they couldn't get jobs elsewhere. Because Educational maintained its New York area studio for so long, it also relied on Broadway and vaudeville talent (such as Joe Cook), figures who were famous among theatregoers and New York nightclub patrons but sometimes little known elsewhere.
of a genie's lamp, above which the words "Educational Pictures" appeared formed by the smoke from the lamp. Below the lamp, enclosed in quotation marks were the words The Spice of the Program. (Latter day historians have conjectured that given the overall quality of the bulk of Educational's output, 'The Space on the Program' might have been somewhat more appropriate.)
The appearance of the logo was somewhat unique to Educational. The shorts would begin with the opening title card, usually having "E. W. Hammons presents" at the top, followed by the title of the short. The Educational logo would appear full screen. Normally, movie studios would have their logos appear before the opening titles, while Educational placed its logo after the opening credits.
At the end, there would be a standard end title card with the mini-logo for Educational Pictures appearing somewhere in the end title.
Film distributor
A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing...
company founded in 1919 by Earle (E. W.) Hammons
E. W. Hammons
E. W. Hammons was an American film producer. He produced 228 films between 1921 and 1938. In 1915 he founded Educational Pictures, which started out making educational films for schools, but soon changed its focus to comedy short films.He was born in Winona, Mississippi, and died in New Rochelle,...
(1882–1962). Educational primarily distributed short subjects, and today is probably best known for its series of 1930s comedies starring Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
, as well as for a series of one-reel comedies featuring Shirley Temple's earliest screen appearances. Educational declared bankruptcy in 1940.
Business history
Earl Hammons originally established the company to make instructional films for schools, but making comedies for theatrical release proved more lucrative. Educational did indeed issue many educational, travelogue, and novelty shorts, but its main enterprise was comedy. Educational's heyday was the 1920s, when the popular silent comedies of Al St. John, Lupino LaneLupino Lane
Lupino Lane was an English actor and theatre manager, and a member of the famous Lupino family. Lane started out as a child performer, known as 'Little Nipper', and went on to appear in a wide range of theatrical, music hall and film performances...
, Lige Conley
Lige Conley
Lige Conley , was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 140 films between 1915 and 1938....
, Lloyd Hamilton
Lloyd Hamilton
Lloyd Vernon Hamilton was a major silent film star. Hamilton is best remembered as the stocky half of silent comedy's "Ham and Bud" , and later, his own series of short comedies...
, and Monty Collins complemented many a moviehouse bill as "the spice of the program". Educational also released silent cartoons including the Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat is a cartoon character created in the silent film era. His black body, white eyes, and giant grin, coupled with the surrealism of the situations in which his cartoons place him, combine to make Felix one of the most recognized cartoon characters in film history...
and Aesop's Fables series. In 1930, cartoonist Paul Terry
Paul Terry (cartoonist)
Paul Houlton Terry was an American cartoonist, screenwriter, film director and one of the most prolific film producers in history...
signed with Educational to distribute his cartoons.
Educational made a smooth transition to sound movies by handling the early talking comedies of comedy pioneer Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
. Comedians Monty Collins, Vernon Dent
Vernon Dent
Vernon Bruce Dent was a comic actor who appeared in over 400 films in his career. He co-starred in many short films for Columbia Pictures, frequently as the foil to the Three Stooges.-Early career:...
, Harry Gribbon
Harry Gribbon
Harry Gribbon was an American film actor. He appeared in 144 films between 1915 and 1938.He was born in New York, New York, and died in Los Angeles, California. He was the brother of actor Eddie Gribbon....
, and Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton was an American character actor. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television and voice work for animated cartoons. He is especially known for his work in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.-Early life:Horton was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Isabella...
all starred in the studio's early talkies. Educational's most prolific comedian in the 1930s was undoubtedly the Sennett star Andy Clyde
Andy Clyde
Andy Clyde was a Scottish movie and TV actor whose career spanned more than four decades. He broke into silent films in 1925 as a Mack Sennett comic...
, who made 54 comedies. Sennett also introduced singing star Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
to movie audiences. But Sennett soon became plagued by financial problems, and he left Educational in 1932.
Educational replaced the Sennett films with star-name comedians. Andy Clyde and Harry Langdon
Harry Langdon
Harry Philmore Langdon was an American comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films , and talkies. He was briefly partnered with Oliver Hardy.-Life and career:...
led Educational's release schedule for a few years, then Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
headlined a series that yielded 16 popular two-reel comedies.
For a time Educational maintained studios on both coasts. New York-based talent from vaudeville and radio starred in Educational's East Coast productions: Joe Cook, Tim
Tim Ryan (actor)
Tim Ryan was an American performer who is probably best known today as a film actor. Ryan and his wife, Irene who later played Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies, were a show business team that performed on Broadway, film and radio...
and Irene Ryan
Irene Ryan
Irene Ryan was an American actress, one of the few entertainers who found success in vaudeville, radio, film, television and Broadway....
, Sylvia Froos, Warren Hull
Warren Hull
John Warren Hull was an actor and TV personality, active from the 1930s through the 1960s. He was one of the most popular serial actors in the action-adventure field....
, Tom Howard and George Shelton, Stoopnagle and Budd
Stoopnagle and Budd
Stoopnagle and Budd were a popular radio comedy team of the 1930s, who are sometimes cited as forerunners of the Bob and Ray style of radio comedy...
, Bert Lahr
Bert Lahr
Bert Lahr was an American actor and comedian. Lahr is remembered today for his roles as the Cowardly Lion and Kansas farmworker Zeke in The Wizard of Oz, but was also well-known for work in burlesque, vaudeville, and on Broadway.-Early life:Lahr was born in New York City, of German-Jewish heritage...
, and Willie Howard. Many stars made debuts in Educational shorts: Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
, The Ritz Brothers, June Allyson
June Allyson
June Allyson was an American film and television actress, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was a major MGM contract star. Allyson won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance in Too Young to Kiss . From 1959–1961, she hosted and occasionally starred in her own CBS anthology...
, Imogene Coca
Imogene Coca
Imogene Fernandez de Coca was an American comic actress best known for her role opposite Sid Caesar on Your Show of Shows....
, and Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
in New York; and Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
, Joan Davis
Joan Davis
Joan Davis was an American comedic actress whose career spanned vaudeville, film, radio and television. Remembered best for the 1950s television comedy, I Married Joan, Davis had a successful earlier career as a B-movie actress and a leading star of 1940s radio comedy.Born as Madonna Josephine...
, and Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
in Hollywood. During its last year of production, Educational showcased the young comedy/dance team of Herman Timberg, Jr. and Pat Rooney, Jr., singers Niela Goodelle and Lee Sullivan, comic Charles Kemper, and comedienne Harriet Hutchins.
Twentieth Century-Fox and its predecessor, Fox Film Corporation, had been distributing Educational product to theaters. In 1937 after signing with the Terrytoons studio, the studio dropped its line of short comedies, and withdrew its support from Educational. Hammons tried to keep his company going while trying to enter the feature-film market with the financially-troubled Grand National Pictures. The drain on his finances forced both companies into bankruptcy. The final Educational comedies were released in January 1939, and the film library was sold at auction in 1940. Most were obtained by Astor Pictures
Astor Pictures
Astor Pictures was a motion picture distribution service in operation from 1930 to 1963, founded by Robert M. Savini...
that re-released them to cinemas with a compilation of Bing Crosby's shorts released as the feature The Road to Hollywood
The Road to Hollywood
The Road to Hollywood is a 1947 American film released by Astor Pictures that is a combination of several of Bing Crosby's Educational Pictures short subjects. The title was designed to exploit the Paramount Pictures Crosby, Hope and Lamour Road to.....
to exploit Paramount's "Road to...
Road to...
Road to ... refers to a series of seven comedy films starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. They are also often referred to as the "Road" pictures or the "Road" series. The movies were a combination of adventure, comedy, romance, and music...
" film series.
Much of Educational's silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
library was lost in a laboratory fire in 1937, but the sound comedies survive today.
The quality of Educational's films varied widely in a large part consequent from the low-budget nature of the studio. Many future stars (such as Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
) made their first few film appearances at Educational, and many former stars like Fatty Arbuckle
Fatty Arbuckle
Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. Starting at the Selig Polyscope Company he eventually moved to Keystone Studios where he worked with Mabel Normand and Harold Lloyd...
and Harry Langdon
Harry Langdon
Harry Philmore Langdon was an American comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films , and talkies. He was briefly partnered with Oliver Hardy.-Life and career:...
found work with Educational when they couldn't get jobs elsewhere. Because Educational maintained its New York area studio for so long, it also relied on Broadway and vaudeville talent (such as Joe Cook), figures who were famous among theatregoers and New York nightclub patrons but sometimes little known elsewhere.
Logo
Educational Pictures had a logoLogo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
of a genie's lamp, above which the words "Educational Pictures" appeared formed by the smoke from the lamp. Below the lamp, enclosed in quotation marks were the words The Spice of the Program. (Latter day historians have conjectured that given the overall quality of the bulk of Educational's output, 'The Space on the Program' might have been somewhat more appropriate.)
The appearance of the logo was somewhat unique to Educational. The shorts would begin with the opening title card, usually having "E. W. Hammons presents" at the top, followed by the title of the short. The Educational logo would appear full screen. Normally, movie studios would have their logos appear before the opening titles, while Educational placed its logo after the opening credits.
At the end, there would be a standard end title card with the mini-logo for Educational Pictures appearing somewhere in the end title.
Selected filmography
- Air Pockets (1924, with Lige ConleyLige ConleyLige Conley , was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 140 films between 1915 and 1938....
) - The Iron Mule (1925, with Al St. John, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle)
- The MoviesThe MoviesThe Movies is a business simulation game created by Lionhead Studios for Microsoft Windows and subsequently ported to Mac OS X by Feral Interactive. It was released on November 8, 2005 in North America, and November 11, 2005 in Europe after reaching gold status on October 8, 2005...
(1925, with Lloyd HamiltonLloyd HamiltonLloyd Vernon Hamilton was a major silent film star. Hamilton is best remembered as the stocky half of silent comedy's "Ham and Bud" , and later, his own series of short comedies...
, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle) - Drama Deluxe (1927, with Lupino LaneLupino LaneLupino Lane was an English actor and theatre manager, and a member of the famous Lupino family. Lane started out as a child performer, known as 'Little Nipper', and went on to appear in a wide range of theatrical, music hall and film performances...
, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle) - Honeymooniacs (1929, with Monty Collins, directed by Jules WhiteJules WhiteJules White born Julius Weiss was a film director and producer best known for his short-subject comedies starring the Three Stooges.-Early years:...
) - The Right Bed (1929, with Edward Everett HortonEdward Everett HortonEdward Everett Horton was an American character actor. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television and voice work for animated cartoons. He is especially known for his work in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.-Early life:Horton was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Isabella...
) - Honeymoon Trio (1931, with Al St. John, Walter CatlettWalter CatlettWalter Catlett was an American actor. As a San Francisco citizen, he started out in vaudeville with a detour for a while in opera before breaking into films.-Early career:...
, and Dorothy GrangerDorothy GrangerDorothy Granger was an American actress best known for her roles in short subject comedies in Hollywood.-Career:...
, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle) - Windy Riley Goes HollywoodWindy Riley Goes HollywoodWindy Riley Goes Hollywood is a 1931 short comedy film directed by Fatty Arbuckle using the pseudonym of William Goodrich. It featured Louise Brooks in her first talkie.-Plot:...
(1931, with Jack Shutta and Louise BrooksLouise BrooksMary Louise Brooks , generally known by her stage name Louise Brooks, was an American dancer, model, showgirl and silent film actress, noted for popularizing the bobbed haircut. Brooks is best known for her three feature roles including two G. W...
, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle) - I Surrender Dear (1932, with Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
) - The Hitch Hiker (1932, with Harry LangdonHarry LangdonHarry Philmore Langdon was an American comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films , and talkies. He was briefly partnered with Oliver Hardy.-Life and career:...
and Vernon DentVernon DentVernon Bruce Dent was a comic actor who appeared in over 400 films in his career. He co-starred in many short films for Columbia Pictures, frequently as the foil to the Three Stooges.-Early career:...
) - Two Black CrowsTwo Black CrowsThe Two Black Crows was a blackface comedy act popular in the 1920s and 30s. The duo appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio, comedy records, and in film features and shorts....
in Africa (1933, with Moran and Mack) - Million Dollar Melody (1933, with Lillian RothLillian RothLillian Roth was an American singer and actress.-Early life:Roth was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She was only 6 years old when her mother took her to Educational Pictures, where she became the company's trademark, symbolized by a living statue holding a lamp of knowledge...
) - KrakatoaKrakatoa (film)Krakatoa is a 1933 short documentary film produced by Joe Rock. It won the Academy Award in 1934 for Best Short Subject .Educational Pictures was the film distributor of the film....
(1933, narrated by Graham McNameeGraham McNameeGraham McNamee was a pioneering broadcaster in American radio, the medium's most recognized national personality in its first international decade....
, produced by Joe RockJoe RockJoe Rock was an American movie producer, director, actor and screenwriter best remembered today for producing a series of 12 two reel comedies starring Stan Laurel in the 1920s....
) - Dora's Dunkin' Doughnuts (1934, with Andy ClydeAndy ClydeAndy Clyde was a Scottish movie and TV actor whose career spanned more than four decades. He broke into silent films in 1925 as a Mack Sennett comic...
and Shirley TempleShirley TempleShirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
) - Hotel Anchovy (1934, with The Ritz Brothers, directed by Al ChristieAl ChristieAl Christie was a Canadian-born motion picture director, producer and screenwriter.-Career:Born Alfred Ernest Christie, in London, Ontario, Canada, he was one of a number of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood who made their way to Hollywood, California, attracted by the newly developing motion...
) - Going Spanish (1934, with Bob HopeBob HopeBob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
) - Three Cheers for Love (1934, with Sylvia Froos and Warren HullWarren HullJohn Warren Hull was an actor and TV personality, active from the 1930s through the 1960s. He was one of the most popular serial actors in the action-adventure field....
) - Grooms in Gloom (1935, with Tom Howard and George Shelton)
- Hail, Brother (1935, with Billy GilbertBilly GilbertBilly Gilbert was an American comedian and actor known for his comic sneeze routines. He appeared in over 200 feature films, short subjects and television shows starting in 1929. He is not to be confused with silent film actor Billy Gilbert Billy Gilbert (September 12, 1894 – September 23,...
and Shemp Howard) - Dumb Luck (1935, with the Easy AcesEasy AcesEasy Aces, a long-running American serial radio comedy , was trademarked by the low-keyed drollery of creator and writer Goodman Ace and his wife, Jane, as an urbane, put-upon realtor and his malaprop-prone wife...
) - Mr. Widget (1935, with Joe Cook)
- Way Up Thar (1935, with Joan DavisJoan DavisJoan Davis was an American comedic actress whose career spanned vaudeville, film, radio and television. Remembered best for the 1950s television comedy, I Married Joan, Davis had a successful earlier career as a B-movie actress and a leading star of 1940s radio comedy.Born as Madonna Josephine...
, directed by Mack SennettMack SennettMack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
) - Blue BlazesBlue BlazesBlue Blazes is a 1936 short comedy film featuring Buster Keaton. Buster becomes a fireman, but not a particularly good one. He has a chance to prove himself, however, when three women are trapped in a burning building.-Cast:* Buster Keaton - Elmer...
(1936, with Buster KeatonBuster KeatonJoseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
) - Grand Slam OperaGrand Slam OperaGrand Slam Opera is a 1936 short comedy film starring Buster Keaton.-Cast:* Buster Keaton - Elmer Butts* Diana Lewis - The Girl Downstairs* Harold Goodwin - Band Leader* John Ince - Colonel Crowe* Melrose Coakley* Bud Jamison - Arizona Sheriff...
(1936, with Buster KeatonBuster KeatonJoseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
) - Playboy Number One (1937, with Willie Howard)
- Montague the Magnificent (1937, with Bert LahrBert LahrBert Lahr was an American actor and comedian. Lahr is remembered today for his roles as the Cowardly Lion and Kansas farmworker Zeke in The Wizard of Oz, but was also well-known for work in burlesque, vaudeville, and on Broadway.-Early life:Lahr was born in New York City, of German-Jewish heritage...
) - The Bashful Ballerina (1937, with Imogene CocaImogene CocaImogene Fernandez de Coca was an American comic actress best known for her role opposite Sid Caesar on Your Show of Shows....
) - Dates and Nuts (1937, with Herman Timberg, Jr. and Pat Rooney, Jr., and June AllysonJune AllysonJune Allyson was an American film and television actress, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was a major MGM contract star. Allyson won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance in Too Young to Kiss . From 1959–1961, she hosted and occasionally starred in her own CBS anthology...
) - Getting an Eyeful (1938, with Danny KayeDanny KayeDanny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
) - All's Fair (1938, with The Cabin Kids)
- Col. Stoopnagle's Cavalcade of Stuff #2 (1939, the final Educational comedy)