Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes. Harold Lloyd was born on April 20, 1893 in Burchard, Nebraska. He was an American actor, comedian, film director, producer, screenwriter, and stunt performer who is best known for his silent comedy films. He was also a founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was one of the most popular actors of the silent film era along with Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. Lloyd's performance hanging from the hands of a clock high above the street in Safety Last! (1923) is one of the most iconic images in all of cinema. Lloyd began acting at the age of 20 and became friends with filmmaker Hal Roach. In 1919 he was seriously injured while holding what he thought was a prop bomb. It exploded, causing him to lose the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. By 1921 Lloyd and Roach moved from short films to feature length comedies. The films were popular and highly profitable, making him one of the wealthiest and most influential figures in early Hollywood. Lloyd married actress Mildred Davis on Saturday, February 10, 1923 in Los Angeles. The couple had three children (one adopted). After the silent film era, his popularity waned and he basically retired from film. In 1944 he became director and host of a radio anthology series that lasted only one season. He became involved in civic and charity work and experimented with photography. He died on March 8, 1971.; Mildred Hillary Davis was born on February 22, 1901 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was an American actress who appeared in many of Harold Lloyd's classic silent comedies and eventually became his wife. She was very active in the Beverly Hills social scene often hosting parties at their Beverly Hills mansion, Greenacres. She died on August 18, 1969. Harold Lloyd, Jr. was born in 1931 and as an adult sang, acted in a few films and worked in production in some of his father's compilation films. He was gay, which his parents accepted, but he led a troubled life, finding it difficult to live in the shadow of his famous dad. He died in 1971, not long after his father. Roy Brooks was born in 1901 and was a childhood friend of Mildred Davis, Lloyd's wife. He was an American actor who appeared in many of Lloyd's early films and later became Lloyd's personal secretary. He stayed close to the family for many years, living on their estate. He was gay and never tried to hide the fact. He died in 1976. Photograph caption dated October 21, 1950 reads "Saddler Wells Ballet opening at Shrine Auditorium. Left to right, Harold Lloyd, Mrs. Harold Lloyd, Harold Lloyd, Jr., Roy Brooks." The group is pictured outdoors on a sidewalk dressed in formal attire. Mrs. Lloyd is wearing a fur coat.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Lloyd, Harold,--1893-1971 Davis, Mildred,--1900?-1969 Lloyd, Harold,--Jr.,--1931-1971 Brooks, Roy,--1901-1976 Sadler's Wells Ballet Shrine Auditorium (Los Angeles, Calif.) Motion picture actors and actresses--United States Comedians--United States Sidewalks--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Families--California--Los Angeles Ballet--California--Los Angeles Children of celebrities--United States Fur coats University Park (Los Angeles, Calif.) Night photographs Group portraits Portrait photographs Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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