Fred evans actor biography sample
Pimple’s Progress
Acknowledgments v
Preface 1
Introduction 3
Chapter 1. Pimple’s Pantomime Tradition 5
Chapter 2. Minnie Jee, the Fair Equestrian 13
Chapter 3. Uncle Will, the Musical Eccentric 21
Chapter 4. An American Interlude 27
Chapter 5. Living Pictures 32
Chapter 6. The Pooles as Partners 42
Chapter 7. Ec-Ko and Co 45
Chapter 8. Folly and Phoenix 54
Chapter 9. A Cast of Thousands, More or Less 62
Chapter 10. Uncles on Screen 70
Chapter 11. Pimple’s Popularity 78
Chapter 12. The Humor of the Halls 87
Chapter 13. Pimple’s Patriotism 96
Chapter 14. Pimple’s Three Weeks (Without the Option) 106
Chapter 15. Pimple in “The Whip” 112
Chapter 16. Our Old Pal Pimple 119
Chapter 17. Pandora B9/877 131
Chapter 18. Joey, Jimmy, and Gerry 139
Chapter 19. An End to Filming 148
Chapter 20. Family Affairs 161
Chapter 21. Postscript 166
Appendix: The Films of Fred Evans 167
Chapter Notes 189
Bibliography 193
Index 195
Showman in a Suitcase - Putt Mossman
There haven’t been any comments on this, but don’t think it isn’t appreciated, Chris. Is there any books about him?
ReplyDon’t know about books, but the bio on the Motorcycle Hall of Fame website is pretty interesting. He was inducted in 1998, perhaps the most famous motorcycle stunt man ever, until Evel Kneivel came along; and Putt was better!
ReplyIt’s a shame Grace Conrad has been largely ignored.
ReplyIn Australia a Grace Mossman was billed as Putt’s sister (1937 or so). I don’t think he had a sister called Grace so do you think this could have been Grace Conrad appearing as Grace Mossman?
ReplyHello! I’m Putts great granddaughter. I just ran across this & even though it’s been awhile since the comment I thought I’d explain who grace was. Grace was a girlfriend at one time to my grandpa, they were not married but she performed with him under his name. He did have a sister who also performed & was a talented rider and stunt person, her name was Dessi. I love running across information about my grandparents stunt days!
What an extrordinary person. I have an ongoing conversation with a good friend of mine who is (like myself) a movie and documentary buff. We are always pointing out interesting characters or periods of history that would make for good films or documentaries. This post provides a perfect example.
Many Thanks!
ReplyI’m Miner mossman I use to help my Uncle Putt do Horse shoe pitching for school in Hopland Calif. Back when I was a kid
ReplyI met Putt in Des Moines, Iowa in 1953. Being a teen-ager I thought this strange man was probably high on something. In fact he seldom drank and didn’t do drugs. He was incredibly high on life, and himself.He was a treasure trove of stories about his life as a showman. His appearance on the the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson was amazing. He challenged Eval Kane
Fred evans actor biography example
Fred Evans was a talented comedian whose 200 or so films were immensely popular before and during the First World War. Unlike his childhood friend Charles Chaplin, Fred, with the able support of his brother Joe, relied less on observational comedy, but drew more heavily on theatrical burlesque.
Fred evans actor biography example
Deriving from the world of Victorian entertainment, their films abounded with punning intertitles and the relentless substitution of ludicrous for dramatic themes. As the anarchic Pimple, Fred rivalled Chaplin's early popularity in Britain, but changing circumstances were to leave him, and Joe, to pursue less exalted careers.
Joe scripted the films and provided jokey intertitles, while Fred acted as director.
Fred and Joe's grandfather was a popular clown, while their uncle Will Evans was a leading comedian and founder of the Sunny South film company.
Following a circus apprenticeship Fred and Joe performed with their parents in a pantomime act, the Florador Qu
Fred Evans (comedian)
British music hall and silent film comedian
Fred Evans | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frederick William Evans (1889-02-20)20 February 1889 Lambeth, London, England |
| Died | 31 August 1951(1951-08-31) (aged 62) St Germans, Cornwall, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Comedian |
| Years active | 1890s–1951 |
| Known for | Music hall, silent films |
Frederick William Evans (20 February 1889 – 31 August 1951) was a British music hall and silent film comedian, who became famous around the time of the First World War for portraying his character Pimple in more than 200 short movies. He was described as "second only in popularity to Chaplin in Britain at the height of his career," and as displaying "a proto-Pythonesque humour of the absurd." Critic Barry Anthony wrote that "in many ways the topical skits of Pimple have more in common with The Crazy Gang, Benny Hill, the Goons, Monty Python or topical sketch shows like French and Saunders and The Fast Show than with the classic Hollywood silent comedies."
Biography
Evans was born in London into a family of music hall and circus performers. His grandfather, also named Fred Evans, was a popular clown who staged harlequinades; his uncle Will Evans was a leading music hall comedian; and his parents were members of several touring musical troupes. He was a childhood friend of Charlie Chaplin. As a child he performed with his brother Joe as part of his parents' pantomime act, the Florador Quartet. Fred and Joe then worked together and individually in music hall, and for Sanger's Circus, before joining filmmakers Cricks and Martin in 1910. Evans' early screen appearances were as Charley Smiler, a disaster-prone 'dude' character dressed in frock coat, waistcoat and spats.
In 1912, Fred and Joe Evans began working at the Ec-Ko studios in Teddington, and set up their own production company, Folly Films.[