early Los Angeles | comedyfastandfurious

Monty Banks in "Paging Love" (Grand-Asher, 1923). Above the west end of the 3rd Street Tunnel in downton Los Angeles, looking northwest The Rangeley Apartments can be seen in the background to the right. It had a distinctive small upper floor. — Monty Banks does a “Harold Lloyd” in “Paging Love” (Grand-Asher, 1923). Above the west end of the 3rd Street Tunnel in downton Los Angeles, looking northwest The Rangeley Apartments can be seen in the background to the right. It had a distinctive small upper floor. Photo courtesy of Brent Walker, and with thanks to John Bengtson

Launching a new blog devoted to the the wacky world of silent comedy. First on the agenda is Monty Banks. Largely forgotten today, Banks was a popular fellow in 2-reelers from 1920 through 1924, and then in features for the next several years. As with many independent comedians of the silent era, documentation on Banks’ films is scarce. With the help of Steve Massa, Robert James Kiss, Rob Farr, Karl Thiede, and a host of others, a more detailed filmography for Banks’ starring shorts is in the works. Stick around for further announcements.