Larry Semon, Daredevil Comedian of the Silent Screen

A Biography and Filmography

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by Claudia Sassen

Type

Biographies

Subject

Actor > Larry Semon

Keywords

Larry Semon, burlesque, silent cinema

Publishing date

2015

Publisher

McFarland & Co

Collection

Silent Cinema

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 264 pages
7 x 10 inches (18 x 25.5 cm)

ISBN

978-0-7864-9822-2

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Book Presentation:
Prior to his premature death from tuberculosis in 1928, Larry Semon was one of the most popular comics on the silent screen. For a time he rivaled comedy legends Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton for fame and fortune. The son of magician Professor Zera the Great, Semon participated in many of his father’s early performances. A talented youth, he worked as an illustrator and cartoonist before going into motion pictures with the Vitagraph Company. He soon became a Hollywood legend, responsible for his own stories, gags, acting and direction. The result of 30 years of research, this long overdue biography recognizes one of Hollywood’s most overlooked auteurs. The author draws on numerous articles and contacts with Semon’s family and friends, and screens many films previously believed to be lost.

About the Author:
Claudia Sassen is a cartoonist and linguist by profession, currently associated with the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany. Her cartoons have appeared in calendars and in a variety of newspapers and magazines. She lives in Duisburg, Germany.

Press Reviews:
"this fascinating and enlightening work on this unsung genius of the silent era will be a fine addition to both referencing and circulating collections"—ARBA; "definitive…impeccable…very highly recommended"—Examiner; "a must have for all serious Laurel and Hardy fans…for anyone who seeks everything Laurel and Hardy, add Claudia Sassen’s new biography of Larry Semon to your collection"—The Intra-Tent Journal; "recommended"—Silentology; "a valuable addition to serious scholarship of silent cinema"—Plan 9 Crunch.

See the publisher website: McFarland & Co

See the complete filmography of Larry Semon on the website: IMDB ...