Under the Magnifying Glass — Charles Reisner (1923) 🇺🇸
How “Chuck” Reisner Started
Charles “Chuck” Reisner, who appears in a leading role in Rob ‘Em Good, Hunt Stromberg’s newest comedy production for Metro, has had a varied career. He has boxed Jack Johnson, wrestled Frank Gotch, played in vaudeville for years, starred in motion picture comedies, directed 100 pictures, and in addition has a thousand other accomplishments.
by The Man behind ‘Close-Up’
“Chuck” started his colorful life in his “home town,” Minneapolis, joining Hi Henry’s minstrel show at the age of 10. Some years later he became a boxer, but quit the ring after 38 professional fights, having found vaudeville more profitable and easier on his anatomy.
His wrestling match with Frank Gotch, the most famous heavyweight wrestler of all time, was an exhibition affair at the Dewey Theater in Minneapolis. “Chuck” had never wrestled before. Gotch had posted $100 which he agreed to forfeit if he failed to throw any five opponents within 15 minutes.
“He threw us all in 11 minutes,” said “Chuck,” “but I stayed longer than any of the others. I started to run and as I was smaller and quicker it took him three and a half minutes to catch me. Gotch grabbed me by one leg and he threw me so hard I wasn’t the same man for a week.”
Mr. Reisner also is the author of several successful songs, chief of which was Goodbye Broadway, Hello France. He has written vaudeville acts for Jack Dempsey and Jack Kearns, Margaret Young, Rena Arnold, “Bull” Montana [Bull Montana] and for himself.
This same industrious young man was starred in two musical comedies, Dillingham’s [Charles B. Dillingham] Stop, Look and Listen and Queen of the Movies.
Mr. Reisner has the distinction of being the first “gag” man in motion pictures. In explanation it may be said that a “gag” man is one who thinks of stunts for comedies, laugh provokers. He made his debut in this role with Keystone. Others on the Keystone scenario staff at that time include Clarence G. Badger, William S. Campbell, Aaron Hoffman, Vincent Bryant, Billy Jerome, Hampton Del Ruth and Frederick Palmer. Among the comedy stars for whom they wrote were Weber and Fields [Lew Fields | Joe Weber], Willie Collier [William Collier Sr.], Sam Bernard, Raymond Hitchcock, Eddie Foy, Joe Jackson, Ford Sterling and others.
He was with Charlie Chaplin five years and assisted in the stories and direction of A Dog’s Life, Shoulder Arms, A Day’s Pleasure, The Kid and The Pilgrim. He also played in the last two named.
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Norman Kerry — Good For You, Norman
Norman Kerry has been signed by Universal for five years. He has finished the role in Merry Go Round, that brought him out of New York’s limelight into the California cinema glare, and will at once begin the characterization of Phoebus in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
This announcement by Irving G. Thalberg, director-general of Universal City, made motion picture history.
It marked the ascension to stardom of the screen’s handsomest leading man, checked off the completion of the great Merry Go Round, and started production on The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
When production was begun on Merry Go Round, on August 24, Norman Kerry was summoned from New York, and assigned the role of Count Hohenegg, the dashing favorite of the late Emperor Franz-Josef in the colorful Universal-super-Jewel drama of Austria’s shame, which Rupert Julian directed.
Again in The Hunchback of Notre Dame he will bask in the favor of a monarch. As the romantic Phoebus, the Prince Charming of fifteenth century Paris, he will be seen as a captain of Louis XI. Guards, and the suitor for the hand of Esmeralda, the dancing girl of the gutter, who won his love against the Lily of France.
The addition of Norman Kerry to the cast of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, gives Lon Chaney his greatest supporting ensemble since the character master has been a star. In addition to Mr. Kerry, Lon Chaney will be supported by Patsy Ruth Miller as Esmeralda; Brandon Hurst, Ernest Torrence, Harry von Meter, Raymond Hatton, Eulalie Jensen and Kate Lester. Wallace Worsley will direct.
Paul Bern, formerly scenario editor of the Goldwyn studios, and before that associated with every branch of the motion picture industry and with principal activities of the stage, has been engaged at Universal City as an associate scenario editor. He will supervise scenario writing of a unit in the department of expert screen writers of which Raymond L. Schrock is the editor.
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Stuart Paton’s original wheeze:
Be careful boys, for the engaged girl of today is the married woman of tomorrow.
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Nato [Nate?] and Frank Strayer [Frank R. Strayer] have been made assistant directors to Harry Beaumont on the Warner lot.
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Dorothy Morgan
Collection: Close Up Magazine, January 1923