Dinky Dean — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

Had not Dinky Dean shown remarkable talent in all of his screen appearances, he would doubtless have become famous nevertheless, for no less an authority than Charles Chaplin predicted that he would some day become one of the most famous child actors the screen would ever produce.

Little Dinky, whose real name is Dean Franklin Reisner [Dean Riesner], was born in New York City on November 3rd, 1918. He is the only son of Charles (“Chuck”) Reisner [Charles Reisner], well known comedy star and director, and Miriam Hope, former musical comedy favorite.

When only eight months old he made his first, but brief, appearance in a screen comedy which his father was directing. At the age of two he will be recalled as the very charming kiddie who played with Brownie, the wonder dog, in a comedy series that evoked an unusual amount of interest.

A year later Dinky toured the country with his parents, appearing in Jack Dempsey’s vaudeville act, which his father wrote and also appeared in.

When Chaplin started to film “The Pilgrim” he needed a youngster for an important role. Daddy Reisner was cast for the villain in this comedy and he promised the famous comedian that he would get him “just the child for the part.” That he succeeded was established when The Pilgrim was finally shown, for in every notice that it received special mention was made of Dinky Dean, Chaplin’s new “find.”

Dinky is now signed to star in a series of full length features and Charlie Chaplin is not the only one who is prophesying a brilliant success for this little dark-eyed cherub.

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)