Friday, March 18, 2016

#2 Clyde Beatty


Posted by Buckles at 3/18/2016 05:34:00 AM

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Universal turned down the opportunity to do a movie of the Frank Buck-Edward Anthony book BRING ‘EM BACK ALIVE, which went on to earn a mint of money for RKO. This might be one of the reasons Universal obtained an option on the Clyde Beatty-Edward Anthony book THE BIG CAGE and made an “A” picture out of it. In his book, FACING THE BIG CATS, Beatty tells how THE BIG CAGE was supposed to open in Radio City Music Hall, but ended up opening in a lesser house when Sam Gumpertz wouldn’t let Beatty make personal appearances before each screening. As a result of losing the Radio City Music Hall opening, THE BIG CAGE was never as commercially successful as the Frank Buck films. This and other friction with Gumpertz eventually led to Beatty leaving Ringling and starting his own act.

18 March, 2016 13:16
Roger Smith said...

IMDb has Raymond Hatton in "almost 500" films. Other sources place the count at 517.
He played Timothy O'Hara in THE BIG CAGE, an old trainer whose demise involved the drink. This left an orphan boy, around 8 or 9, played by 13-year-old Mickey Rooney. As we know, this was Beatty's film debut. Mr. Hatton and his beloved Frances were married from 1909 until her death in 1971. He died the same year, at 84. They were cremated, and I pay my respects to their place of interment here in Lancaster, California, at Joshua Memorial Park.

18 March, 2016 16:24

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