Jean Havez
Encyclopedia
Jean Havez was an American
writer of novelty songs and silent era comedy
films. In his film career, Havez worked with comedian
s Buster Keaton
and Harold Lloyd
.
for the 1914 Ziegfeld Follies
; "Everybody Works But Father
", "When You Ain't Got No Money then You Needn't Come Around", "I'm Looking For an Angel", "Do Not Forget the Good Old Days", "You're On the Right Road, Sister", and "He Cert'ny Was Good to Me". He was a charter member of ASCAP (1914).
Havez co-wrote several of Keaton's most popular films, including Our Hospitality
(1923), Sherlock Jr. (1924), The Navigator (1924), and Seven Chances
(1925). Havez supplied the story for Lloyd's first comedy feature Grandma's Boy
(1921), and also contributed (uncredited) to Lloyd's most famous film Safety Last!
(1923). He is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA.
Season 3 episode "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" features a character named Clyde Bruckman
who foresees how other people die. Two minor detective characters on that episode are named Havez and Cline, after Eddie Cline
, another writer who worked with Buster Keaton.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer of novelty songs and silent era comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
films. In his film career, Havez worked with comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
s 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...
and Harold Lloyd
Harold Lloyd
Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. was an American film actor and producer, most famous for his silent comedies....
.
Career
Havez' novelty songs, popular in their day, include "Darktown Poker Club" and "I'm Cured", written for the great vaudevillian Bert WilliamsBert Williams
Egbert Austin "Bert" Williams was one of the preeminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. He was by far the best-selling black recording artist before 1920...
for the 1914 Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
; "Everybody Works But Father
Everybody Works but Father
"Everybody Works but Father" is a popular song published in 1905, with words and music by Jean Havez. It is sung from the point of view of the son, lamenting that he, his sister and his mother all work, while his father lounges all day: "Everybody works at our house but my old man."The song was...
", "When You Ain't Got No Money then You Needn't Come Around", "I'm Looking For an Angel", "Do Not Forget the Good Old Days", "You're On the Right Road, Sister", and "He Cert'ny Was Good to Me". He was a charter member of ASCAP (1914).
Havez co-wrote several of Keaton's most popular films, including Our Hospitality
Our Hospitality
Our Hospitality is a silent comedy directed, produced, written by and starring Buster Keaton. Released in 1923 by Metro Pictures Corporation, the movie uses slapstick and situational comedy to tell the story of Willie McKay, a city slicker who gets caught in the middle of the infamous Canfield &...
(1923), Sherlock Jr. (1924), The Navigator (1924), and Seven Chances
Seven Chances
Seven Chances is a 1925 American comedy silent film directed by and starring Buster Keaton, based on a play written by Roi Cooper Megrue, produced in 1916 by David Belasco. Additional casts members include T. Roy Barnes, Snitz Edwards, Ruth Dwyer, and others. The film also stars Jean Arthur, a...
(1925). Havez supplied the story for Lloyd's first comedy feature Grandma's Boy
Grandma's Boy (1922 film)
Grandma's Boy is a 1922 Family comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. The film was highly influential, helping to pioneer feature-length comedies which combined gags with character development.-Plot:...
(1921), and also contributed (uncredited) to Lloyd's most famous film Safety Last!
Safety Last!
Safety Last! is a 1923 romantic comedy silent film starring Harold Lloyd. It includes one of the most famous images from the silent film era: Lloyd clutching the hands of a large clock as he dangles from the outside of a skyscraper above moving traffic. The film was highly successful and critically...
(1923). He is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA.
Trivia
The X-FilesThe X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
Season 3 episode "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" features a character named Clyde Bruckman
Clyde Bruckman
Clyde A. Bruckman was an American writer and director of comedy films during the late silent era as well as the early sound era of cinema. Bruckman collaborated with such comedians as Buster Keaton, W.C...
who foresees how other people die. Two minor detective characters on that episode are named Havez and Cline, after Eddie Cline
Edward F. Cline
Edward Francis Cline was a screenwriter, actor, writer and director. He was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin and died in Hollywood.-Career:...
, another writer who worked with Buster Keaton.