Browse Items (25 total)
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"Board of Chamber Womanless Wedding", Howell, Michigan, 1936
This is a photograph of the presentation of a "Womanless Wedding". This play took place at the Howell, High School Auditorium to raise funds during Depression, in the 1930's. The date of the back of the photograph was 1936, and said Charles Sutton played the role of the "Bride".
A search of newspapers.com did not find any accounting of the "Womanless Wedding" being performed or sponsored by the Business Chamber, as it was then known, in 1936. The Livingston County Press reported on two presentations of the "Womanless Wedding" during that decade, the first in 1929, and later in 1940. The following was reported.
The cast members were all male businessmen or professionals from the Howell area. In the Livingston County Press, there are articles detailing and advertising for two such performances. The first took place on April 2 and April 3rd, 1929, sponsored by the Class Ten of the M.E. Church freaturing 80 local men.
On October 1st and 2nd, 1940, the Howell Lions Club sponsored a performance using 70 local men. The play, in its advertisement prior to the event, promised to be "a hilarious farce". The proceeds were to support the Lions Sight program and a portion was donated to McPherson Memorial Hospital to purchase a new oxygen tent.
Both events drew good crowds, according to the reports in the Livingston County Daily Press.
According to Wikipedia, "A womanless wedding is a traditional community "ritual of inversion" performance, popular in the United States in the early 19th century. In this comic ritual, the all male cast would act out all roles of a traditional wedding party – including those of bridesmaids, flower girls, and the mother of the bride – while dressed in gowns and dresses. The event often raised money for charities, civic organizations, and churches." -
"The Rich Slave", 1920 Silent Movie, Michigan State Police, Howell Motion Picture Corporation, Thomas J. Fausett/Faussett, Howell, Michigan
This series of postcards were advertising for a silent film, "The Rich Slave". This movie was made by a company named Howell Motion Picture Corporation, which was formed by Howell resident Thomas J. Fau(s)sett and actor Romaine Fielding. "The Rich Slave" may have been released in 1919 as "Miss 13".
View Livingston County Press & Argus Articles on Thomas Fausett (in library use only)
The Howell Motion Picture Corporation advertised stock sales through the First State & Savings Bank, Howell Michigan, in the Livingston Republican after they sold their first foreign photo play.
Howell Motion Picture Corporation Stockholders' Meeting
In May 1919, the Officers of the Howell Motion Picture Corporation were: T. J. Faussett, President; Lieut. Dorr Frisbee, Secretary & Treasurer; Directors: John Barron, Charles P. Adams, Dr. E. L. Avery, Vernon Locey, and Henry Gerwin. "The Lives We Live" was to be their first production.
On February 4, 1920, the Livingston Republican reported that the Temple Theater was showing the first production of the Howell Motion Picture Corporation and its was titled, "The Battle for Billions".
In a May 5th, 1920 interview, Secretary Dorr Frisbee discussed the future of the Howell Motion Picture Corporation in a stockholders' meeting. He reported that Thomas Faussett held options on two James Curwood stories.
Dorr Frisbee Stockholder meeting(in library use only)
The Howell Motion Picture Corporation was also mentioned in a 1986 article in the LCP.
Howell Motion Picture 1986 LCP Article(in library use only)
"The Rich Slave" was filmed in 1917, and released in 1920. Portions of the movie featured actual Michigan State Police Officers dressed as cowboys and some of this movie was filmed in what is now Kensington Metropark, Livingston-Oakland Michigan.
This film was directed by Romaine Fielding and written by Lloyd Lonergan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rich_Slave
As noted by wikipedia:
"The State Police records include a typed reminiscence of the event. Harriett Faussett Brogan wrote this undated memoir, titled “Early Michigan State Police Movie Heroes.” She stated that her father, Thomas J. Fausett, had formed a movie company with actor Romaine Fielding. Ms. Brogan noted that the company was based in Howell, Michigan, her father's hometown. She recalled that production of The Rich Slave began “about the middle of June 1917” and that much of the movie was filmed in Howell. According to Ms. Brogan, the State Police portrayed cowboys in some action shots, which were filmed “on land now known as Kensington Park near Brighton.” She further wrote, “There was a log cabin there owned by the Labardy family. And this is where the State Police made their debut as movie stars performing admirably all types of outstanding horsemanship.” (At that time, most State Police officers patrolled on horseback, so they were quite skilled at riding.) She noted that the cabin appeared in the film as the Buck Horn Hotel and that “Mr. Labardy also acted in one of the scenes.” Further research indicates that “Mr. Labardy” was likely either Oliver Labadie or his brother, Hubert. These were brothers of Jo Labadie, whose papers are housed at the University of Michigan. The Jo Labadie Collection Web site notes that Oliver and Hubert opened a film studio, which they named the Labadie-Detroit Motion Picture Company. The Web site lists some films made there, with The Rich Slave appearing on the list."
Mr. Thomas J. Fausett's (also spelled as Faussett) obituary did not mention his connection to the film or the film company but newspaper clippings from earlier years did. Mr. Faussett was born in Deerfield Townhip, Livingston, Michigan in 1885, lived most of his life in Livingston County, and died in Chester, South Carolina, in 1961.
Thomas Faussett Obituaryr (in library use only)
Thomas Faussett Obit picture(in library use only)
The Cast of "The Rich Slave" included:
- Mabel Taliaferro - Gladys Claypool
- June Day - Claire Gage
- Romaine Fielding - Whitney Gage
- Joseph W. Smiley - Harrison Frayne
- Arthur Elton - Sneed
- Martha Forrest - Nurse
Harriett Faussett Brogan wrote "Early Michigan State Police Movie Heroes", a four page summary of her father's involvment in the Howell Motion Picture Corporation, which is in the Howell Area Archives Faussett Family History File. This complete summary is on page 281, of the "Howell Bicentennial History: The Photographic Supplement", 1992 edition.
The Temple Theater in Howell showed another film directed by Romaine Fielding, Howell Motion Picture Corporation in 1919; it was titled "For the Freedom of the World", and in June, 1919, another Romaine Fielding Production, "Miss 13". Mabel Taliafarro starred in this movie also.
Mabel Taliaferro Miss 13(in library use only)
For the Freedom of the World(in library use only)
The silent movie, "The Rich Slave" may now be owned by the Jaxon Corporation.Tags actress, deerfield, howell, kensington park, movie, police, silent film, temple theater, theater, unknown -
300 Block East Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan - 1984
This photograph is of the southside of the 300 block of East Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan and was taken as part of documentation for the R/UDAT Study, 1984. This photograph is of the Walking Tour, and shows the storefronts on the 300 block including John Howell Towing Service/Sunoco, Howell Auto Parts, Skip's Hair Place, Howell Theater, the Midget Sandwich Shop and the Offices of the Livingston County Press. The names of the persons in the photograph are unknown.
In 1983, the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce applied for a R/UDAT (Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team) study, an American Institute of Architects program that brought a team of professionals to the city for a four-day period to study Howell's downtown, its ability to compete for regional shopping, and to make recommendations for improvements to re-vitalize the city. The team, in 1984, during the study took photographs, interviewed people, held forums, and in the end provided an outline of strategies.
American Institute of Architects Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team -
300 block of E. Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan - 1984
300 block of E. Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan 1984 View looking west from the Grand River Ave and S. Barnard St intersection. 1984 buildings on the 300 block of Grand River Avenue including the Livingston County Press newspaper office. the Howell Theater, the County Courthouse. Business signage, vehicles.
In 1983, the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce applied for a R/UDAT (Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team) study, an American Institute of Architects program that brought a team of professionals to the city for a four-day period to study Howell's downtown, its ability to compete for regional shopping, and to make recommendations for improvements to re-vitalize the city. The team, in 1984, during the study took photographs, interviewed people, held forums, and in the end provided an outline of strategies.
American Institute of Architects Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team -
300 Block of East Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan, Storefronts
This is a photograph of the southside of the 300 block of East Grand River Avenue. Early cars are traveling. Storefronts include Locey's Recreation and the Howell Theater. Locey's later became the Howell Armory. -
Downtown Howell, Michigan 1984
Downtown Howell, Michigan -1984
South side of Grand River Avenue between Court Street and Barnard St.
315 E. Grand River Avenue - Howell Theater
319 E. Grand River Avenue - Original Sandwich Shop
Movie posters, Pick up truck shown. -
East Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan
This is a photograph of the southside of East Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan. The view is looking west. The Temple theater, barber shop, and hotel/balconey are visible. It is noted that the street is unpaved. The paving of Grand River Avenue occurred in 1915.
The date of this photograph is unknown. -
East Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan, Weimeister Block
This is a photograph of the south side of the 200 block, Weimeister Block, of East Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan. The Temple Theater and hotel are visible.
The date of this photograph is unknown. The street appears unpaved; Grand River Avenue was paved in 1915. -
Hartland Music Hall, Hartland, Michigan
This is a photograph of the exterior of the Hartland Music Hall, 3619 Avon Street, Hartland, Michigan. -
Hartland Music Hall, Hartland, Michigan
This is a photograph of the exterior of the Hartland Music Hall, 3619 Avon Street, Hartland, Michigan.
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