Al St. John studio portrait, 1920
Al St. John (1893–1963) was an American comic actor who appeared in 394 films between 1913 and 1952. Starting at Mack Sennett 's Keystone Film Company , St. John rose through the ranks to become one of the major comedy stars of the 1920s, though less than half of his starring roles still survive today. With the advent of sound drastically changing and curtailing the two-reel comedy format, St. John diversified, creating a second career for himself as a comic sidekick in Western films and ultimately developing the character of "Fuzzy Q. Jones", for which he is best known in posterity.
Starring St. John
St. John's first starring roles were made at Keystone, but most of these were made at the very end of the history of the company, just as Mack Sennett was abandoning the "Keystone" moniker in order to extricate himself from the Triangle Film Corporation partnership. St. John got a second chance at solo stardom starting in 1919 with Paramount Pictures and the early Warner Bros. studio, and this led to extended series of 2-reel comedies for Fox Film Corporation and Educational Pictures . Al St. John starred in more than 70 2-reel comedies through 1932. This is the most important part of his personal legacy, but it remains the least accessible part of his activity. Changes to this list are inevitable, and are welcomed.
Title
Release Date
Director
Support Cast
Silent/Sound
Studio
Distributor
Status
Ref
Shot in the Excitement
1914-10-26
Unknown
Alice Howell
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
LoC[ 1] [ 2]
The Moonshiners
1916-5-14
Roscoe Arbuckle
Alice Lake
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Extant
Fragment at LoC[ 3]
The Stone Age
1917-1-9
Ferris Hartman
Vera Reynolds
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Lost
The Grab Bag Bride
1917-1-28
Ferris Hartman
Vera Reynolds
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Extant
LoC[ 4]
A Winning Loser
1917-2
Ferris Hartman
Rose Pomeroy
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Lost
[ 5]
A Self-Made Hero
1917
Ferris Hartman
Mary Thurman
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Extant
GEH
Speed
1919-11-30
Al St. John
silent
Warner Bros.
Paramount
Lost
Cleaning Up
1920-3-28
Al St. John
silent
Paramount
Paramount
Lost
She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
1920-11-29
Al St. John
Polly Moran
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Aero-Nut
1920
Unknown
silent
Warner Bros.
Paramount
Extant
Fragment[ 6]
Fired Again
1920
Al St. John
silent
Warner Bros.
Paramount
Extant
LoC Fragment
The Slicker
1921-1-3
Al St. John
Polly Moran
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Simp
1921-3-13
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Big Secret
1921-3-27
Ferris Hartman
Larry Bowes
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Hayseed
1921-6-5
Ferris Hartman
Alice Davenport
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Ain't Love Grand?
1921-8-14
Al St. John
Hilliard Karr
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Small Town Stuff
1921-9-2
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Book Agent
1921-9-25
Unknown
Claire Sedgwick
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Fast and Furious
1921-10-2
Gilbert Pratt
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Happy Pest
1921-11-9
Ferris Hartman
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Fool Days
1921-12-12
Gilbert Pratt
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Extant
Fragment[ 7]
The Paper Hanger
1921
Herman C. Raymaker
Cliff Bowes
silent
Warner Bros.
Extant
MOMA, Blackhawk Films
Three Good Pals
1921
Nate Watt
Billy Bowes
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Straight from the Farm
1922-2-5
Gilbert Pratt
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
A Studio Rube
1922-3-19
Gilbert Pratt
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Extant
MOMA
Special Delivery
1922-4-30
Roscoe Arbuckle
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Extant
MOMA
The Village Sheik
1922-6-4
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
All Wet
1922-9-3
Al St. John
Otto Fries
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Extant
MOMA
The City Chap
1922-10-15
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Out of Place
1922-11-19
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Extant
LoC, EYE Film Institute, the Netherlands
The Alarm
1922-12-17
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Young and Dumb
1923-1-28
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Salesman
1923-3-11
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Author
1923-4-29
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
A Tropical Romeo
1923-1-17
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Tailor
1923-8-26
Al St. John
Victoria Louise Kerner
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Full Speed Ahead
1923-9-30
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Slow and Sure
1923-11-18
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Spring Fever
1923-12-30
Archie Mayo
Jean Arthur
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Highly Recommended
1924-1-6
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
Be Yourself
1924-2-10
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
His Bitter Half
1924-6-15
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
His First Car
1924-7-27
Al St. John
Doris Deane
silent
Tuxedo Comedies
Educational
Extant
Never Again
1924-8-24
Al St. John
Carmencita Johnson
silent
Tuxedo Comedies
Educational
Extant
Lobster Films, 1 reel
Stupid, But Brave
1924-10-26
Roscoe Arbuckle
silent
Tuxedo Comedies
Educational
Extant
MOMA
Lovemania
1924-12-28
Al St. John
Doris Deane
silent
Tuxedo Comedies
Educational
Extant
Discovered in Europe
Rapid Transit
1925-3-10
Al St. John
silent
Tuxedo Comedies
Educational
Lost
Red Pepper
1925-4-5
Arvid E. Gillstrom
Judy King
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
MOMA
The Iron Mule
1925-4-12
Roscoe Arbuckle, Grover Jones
George Davis
silent
Tuxedo Comedies
Educational
Extant
MOMA, DVD, Blackhawk Films
Dynamite Doggie
1925-5-9
Roscoe Arbuckle, Grover Jones
silent
Tuxedo Comedies
Educational
Extant
Fares, Please!
1925-5-10
Stephen Roberts
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Lost
Curses!
1925-5-17
Roscoe Arbuckle, Grover Jones
Bartine Burkett
silent
Tuxedo Comedies
Educational
Extant
DVD
Dumb and Daffy
1925-6-5
Al St. John
silent
Sunshine Comedies
Fox
Lost
The Live Agent
1925-8-10
Al St. John
Bartine Burkett
silent
Biff Comedies
Bischoff
Extant
Fair Warning
1925-9-27
Stephen Roberts
Virginia Vance
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
MOMA
Fire Away
1925-11-8
Stephen Roberts
Lucille Hutton
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
Bundesarchiv
Service
1925-12-10
Al St. John
John Sinclair
silent
Biff Comedies
Bischoff
Lost
Live Cowards
1926-1-10
Stephen Roberts
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
EYE Film Institute, the Netherlands
Rain and Shine
1926-1
Al St. John
John Sinclair
silent
Biff Comedies
Bischoff
Lost
His Taking Ways
1926-2-2
Al St. John
John Sinclair
silent
Biff Comedies
Bischoff
Extant
Hold Your Hat
1926-2-14
Stephen Roberts
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Lost
Sky Bound
1926-3-28
Stephen Roberts
Otto Fries
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Lost
Who Hit Me?
1926-7-11
Stephen Roberts
Estelle Bradley
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
MOMA
Pink Elephants
1926-10-2
Stephen Roberts
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Lost
Flaming Romance
1926-11-21
Stephen Roberts
Aileen Lopez
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
LoC reel 2 only
High Sea Blues
1927-1-2
Stephen Roberts
Estelle Bradley
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
Listen Lena
1927-2-13
Stephen Roberts, Clem Beauchamp
Lucille Hutton
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
Hot Lightning
1927-3-6
Stephen Roberts
Clem Beauchamp
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
Grapevine video VHS
Roped In
1927-3-20
Charles Lamont
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Lost
Jungle Heat
1927-4-24
Stephen Roberts
Clem Beauchamp
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
No Cheating
1927-6-26
Stephen Roberts
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Lost
High Spots
1927-7-31
Stephen Roberts
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
LoC reel 2 only
Racing Mad
1928-1-8
Stephen Roberts
Estelle Bradley
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
Lobster Films
Call Your Shots
1928-9-16
Stephen Roberts
Otto Fries
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Lost
Hot or Cold
1928-12-2
Stephen Roberts
Harold Goodwin
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
Smart Steppers
1929-3-3
Stephen Roberts
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Lost
Hot Times
1929-5-26
Stephen Roberts
silent
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Lost
Western Knights
1930-4-30
Stephen Roberts
Eddie Lambert
sound
Mermaid Comedies
Educational
Extant
Two Fresh Eggs
1930-7-6
Monte Carter
Jimmy Aubrey
sound
E.B. Derr Productions
Pathé
Extant
Honeymoon Trio
1931-8-30
Roscoe Arbuckle
Walter Catlett
sound
Cameo Comedies
Educational
Extant
That's My Meat
1931-10-4
Roscoe Arbuckle
sound
Cameo Comedies
Educational
Extant
Bridge Wives
1932-2-21
Roscoe Arbuckle
Fern Emmett
sound
Cameo Comedies
Educational
Extant
Fuzzy Q. Jones appearances
"Fuzzy Q. Jones" was developed when Al St. John filled in for actor Fuzzy Knight on a film Knight was unable to make. St. John made more than 80 western films in this character, which proved indispensable to the PRC studio and so popular that "Fuzzy Settles Down" (1944) remains the only American B-Western that is titled after the sidekick. In post-war Germany, where Fuzzy was especially popular, he was always billed in the title of his pictures, despite the presence of the hero. It was as Fuzzy—whom Al came to regard as a separate person, apart from himself—that St. John finished out his long film career.
These films had, in many cases, multiple theatrical distributors, and most of the PRCs were re-released in the 1950s by Madison Pictures, though in some instances in cut down versions. In cases where a television vendor is the more likely medium through which one may see a given title, the vendor is listed in the distribution field is given rather than the original theatrical distributor. A listing for a home video does not automatically mean that the title is still available for viewing. All of these films were made in sound, and are extant.
With Roscoe Arbuckle and/or Buster Keaton
Al St. John's association with his uncle, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, was central to his film career. Arbuckle first brought St. John to the Keystone set in 1913; over the years to follow, Arbuckle routinely employed St. John in playing rubes, rivals and other parts in support of his popular "Fatty" character. When Arbuckle left Keystone in early 1917 to form the Comique Comedy unit at Paramount, he and St. John were joined by stage comedian Buster Keaton, and the three created a singular cycle of silent comedies that exploited their matched acrobatic abilities and hard-driving capabilities in slapstick. This section represents onscreen appearances in films by St. John with either Arbuckle, Keaton or both, and it remains the most accessible area of Al St. John's silent comedy work. Arbuckle-directed comedies starring Al St. John are listed in the "Starring St. John" section above.[ 35]
Title
Release Date
Director
Arbuckle/Keaton
Silent/Sound
Studio
Distributor
Status
Ref
A Noise from the Deep
1913-7-13
Mack Sennett
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
LoC
The Riot
1913-8-11
Mack Sennett
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
Mother's Boy
1913-9-25
Henry Lehrman
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
His Sister's Kids
1913-12-20
George Nichols
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
In the Clutches of the Gang
1914-1-17
George Nichols
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
[ 36]
Tango Tangles
1914-3-9
Mack Sennett
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 37]
The Knockout
1914-6-11
Mack Sennett
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
Fatty and the Heiress
1914-6-25
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
Fatty's Finish
1914-7-2
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
The Sky Pirate
1914-7-18
Roscoe Arbuckle, Edward Dillon
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
Those Country Kids
1914-7-13
Mack Sennett
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
LoC, National Film Archive, London
Fatty's Gift
1914-8-24
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
The Rounders
1914-9-7
Charlie Chaplin
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
Bombs and Bangs
1914-9-14
Roscoe Arbuckle[ 38]
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
Lover's Luck
1914-9-19
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
Fatty's Debut
1914-9-26
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
Zip, the Dodger
1914-10-17
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
LoC[ 39]
Fatty's Jonah Day
1914-11-16
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
MOMA
The Sea Nymphs
1914-11-23
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
Filmmuseum, Munich, Filmmuseum, Denmark
Leading Lizzie Astray
1914-11-30
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 40]
Shotguns That Kick
1914-12-3
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
Fatty's Magic Pants
1914-12-14
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 41]
Fatty and Mabel's Simple Life
1915-1-18
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
LoC
Mabel, Fatty and the Law
1915-1-28
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 42] [ 43]
Fatty's New Role
1915-2-1
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 44] [ 45]
Mabel and Fatty's Married Life
1915-2-11
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
,[ 42] [ 45] [ 46]
That Little Band of Gold
1915-3-15
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 42] [ 45]
Fatty's Faithful Fido
1915-3-20
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 42] [ 45] [ 46]
When Love Took Wings
1915-4-1
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 47]
Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco
1915-4-22
Roscoe Arbuckle, Mabel Normand
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 44] [ 48]
Mabel's Wilful Way
1915-5-1
Mabel Normand, Mack Sennett
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 42] [ 45] [ 49]
Fatty's Plucky Pup
1915-6-28
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 45] [ 46]
Fickle Fatty's Fall
1915-11-3
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Lost
A Village Scandal
1915-12-12
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Lost
Fatty and the Broadway Stars
1915-12-15
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Lost
Fatty and Mabel Adrift
1916-1-9
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Extant
[ 44] [ 50] [ 51]
He Did and He Didn't
1916-1-30
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Extant
[ 45] [ 46] [ 48] [ 52]
Bright Lights
1916-2-20
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Lost
His Wife's Mistakes
1916-4-2
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Extant
LoC fragment (2 reels of 3)
The Other Man
1916-4-16
Mack Sennett
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Lost
The Waiters' Ball
1916-6-25
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Extant
[ 53] [ 54]
A Creampuff Romance
1916-7-5
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Lost
The Butcher Boy
1917-4-23
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 44] [ 50] [ 55]
A Reckless Romeo
1913-5-21
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 55]
The Rough House
1917-6-25
Roscoe Arbuckle, Buster Keaton
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 44] [ 50] [ 55]
His Wedding Night
1917-8-20
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Triangle
[ 50]
Oh Doctor!
1917-9-30
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 50] [ 55]
Coney Island
1917-10-29
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 44] [ 46] [ 50] [ 55] [ 56]
A Country Hero
1917-7-13
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Lost
A Scrap of Paper
1918
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
Out West
1918-1-20
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 44] [ 50] [ 55]
The Bell Boy
1918-3-18
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 44] [ 50] [ 55]
Moonshine
1918-5-12
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 50] [ 55]
Good Night, Nurse!
1918-7-8
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 44] [ 50] [ 55]
The Cook
1918-9-15
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
Nederlands Filmmuseum[ 50]
Camping Out
1919-1-5
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
Print combined from two fragments, incomplete
The Pullman Porter
1919-2-16
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Comique
Paramount
Lost
Love
1919-3-2
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
Print combined from two fragments[ 45] [ 46]
A Desert Hero
1919-6-15
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle
silent
Comique
Paramount
Lost
Back Stage
1919-9-7
Roscoe Arbuckle
Arbuckle/Keaton
silent
Comique
Paramount
Extant
[ 44] [ 50] [ 55]
The Scarecrow
1920-12-22
Buster Keaton, Eddie Cline
Keaton
silent
Joseph M. Schenk
Metro
Extant
[ 42] [ 50] [ 55]
Life of the Party (feature)
1920-11-13
Joseph Henabery
Arbuckle
silent
Famous Players–Lasky
Paramount
Extant
LoC
The High Sign
1921-4-18
Buster Keaton, Eddie Cline
Keaton
silent
Joseph M. Schenk
Metro
Extant
[ 50] [ 55]
The General (feature)
1926-12-21
Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman
Keaton
silent
Joseph M. Schenk
United Artists
Extant
[ 42] [ 50] [ 55] [ 57] [ 58] [ 59] [ 60] many others
Buzzin' Around
1933-2-4
Alfred J. Goulding
Arbuckle
sound
Vitaphone
Warner Bros.
Extant
Love Nest on Wheels
1937-3-26
Buster Keaton, Charles Lamont
Keaton
sound
Educational
20th Century Fox
Extant
[ 56] [ 61]
Supporting roles
Shorts
Upon his arrival at Keystone, Al St. John was swiftly absorbed into the Keystone repertory company; he appeared in more 1914 films than Charlie Chaplin did. After Keystone, St. John appeared in support of other comics in 2-reelers up to the end of the silent era. Appearances in films with Roscoe Arbuckle are included in the list above. This list may be incomplete, as the full extent of St. John's appearances of this kind is not known, owing to so many lost films that may serve as possible candidates. For Keystones, the principal actor is included, though in many cases it is unclear who within the film that may be. Owing to the ensemble nature of many early Keystones, there are films which essentially do not have a central comedian as the fixture, and outside of Charlie Chaplin, survival rates on Keystones are less than what would be ideal. Unconfirmed appearances are not included in this list.[ 62]
Title
Release Year
Director
Star(s)
Silent/Sound
Studio
Distributor
Status
Ref
Double Crossed
1914-1-26
Ford Sterling
Ford Sterling
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
LoC[ 63]
Mabel's Strange Predicament
1914-2-9
Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 37]
The Star Boarder
1914-4-4
George Nichols
Charles Chaplin
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 37]
The Passing of Izzy
1913-4-11
George Nichols
William Nigh
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
[ 64]
Caught in a Cabaret
1914-4-27
Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin
Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 37]
Mabel's Busy Day
1914-6-13
Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin
Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 37]
Mabel's Married Life
1914-6-20
Mack Sennett
Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 37]
Mabel's New Job
1914-7-13
George Nichols
Mabel Normand
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
[ 65]
Mabel's Blunder
1914-9-12
Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
Named to the (U.S.) National Film Registry, 2009[ 66]
The New Janitor
1914-9-24
Charles Chaplin
Charles Chaplin
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 37]
Hello, Mabel
1914-10-8
Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 65]
Stout Hearts But Weak Knees
1914-10-24
Unknown
Charles Murray
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
[ 67]
His Talented Wife
1914-11-9
Mack Sennett
Alice Davenport
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
[ 68]
His Prehistoric Past
1914-12-7
Charles Chaplin
Charles Chaplin
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 37]
A Bird's a Bird
1915-2-8
Walter Wright
Chester Conklin
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 69]
Droppington's Family Tree
1915-4-12
Dell Henderson
Chester Conklin
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 69]
Our Dare-Devil Chief
1915-5-10
Charley Chase
Ford Sterling
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 69]
Crossed Love and Swords
1915-5-15
Frank Griffin
Louise Fazenda
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
LoC Paper Print Collection
Those Bitter Sweets
1915-6-7
F. Richard Jones
Mae Busch
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 70]
A Home Breaking Hound
1915-6-14
Charley Chase
Don Barclay
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
[ 71]
Dirty Work in a Laundry
1915-7-13
Charley Chase
Minta Durfee
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
LoC Paper Print Collection[ 72]
A Rascal of Wolfish Ways
1915-8-9
F. Richard Jones, Mack Sennett
Mae Busch
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Lost
[ 73]
Bombs!
1916-10-8
Frank Griffin
Charles Murray
silent
Keystone
Triangle
Extant
[ 74]
At the Old Stage Door
1919-7-13
Hal Roach
Harold Lloyd
silent
Rolin Pictures
Pathé Exchange
Extant
MOMA[ 75]
A Punch in the Nose
1926-1-3
J.A. Howe
Roach All-Star Comedy
silent
Hal Roach Studio
Pathé Exchange
Lost
[ 76]
Life in Hollywood No. 2
1927-5-12
L.M. Be Dell
Documentary
silent
Goodwill Pictures
States Rights
Extant
AFI Murray Glass Collection
Screen Snapshots Series 9, No. 12
1930-5-1
Ralph Staub
John Boles
sound
Columbia
Columbia Pictures
Lost
[ 77]
Marriage Rows
1931-1-18
Roscoe Arbuckle
Lloyd Hamilton
sound
Educational Pictures
Educational Film Exchanges
Lost
[ 78]
Honeymoon Trio
1931-8-30
Roscoe Arbuckle
Walter Catlett
sound
Educational Pictures
Educational Film Exchanges
Extant
[ 79]
Prairie Papas
1938-12-16
Ray Whitley
The Phelps Brothers
sound
RKO
RKO Radio Pictures
Lost
[ 80]
Features
With the dawn of sound around 1930, Al St. John went from appearing almost exclusively in two-reel shorts to appearing almost exclusively in features. While his Fuzzy Q. Jones roles dominate St. John's feature output, he did appear in a number of features in other parts, mostly in Westerns. Some of these, particularly his serio-comic turn as "Uncle Billy" in The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1937), demonstrate a greater range of acting ability than the average Fuzzy Q. Jones role might suggest. Several parts listed here, however, are the tiniest of tiny bit roles.
Title
Release Year
Director
Star(s)
Silent/Sound
Studio
Distributor
Status
Ref
Tillie's Punctured Romance
1914-12-21
Mack Sennett
Marie Dressler
silent
Keystone
Mutual
Extant
[ 81]
The Garden of Weeds
1924-11-2
James Cruze
Betty Compson
silent
Famous Players–Lasky
Paramount
Lost
[ 82]
American Beauty
1927-10-9
Richard Wallace
Billie Dove
silent
First National
First National
Lost
[ 83]
Casey Jones
1927-12-20
Charles J. Hunt
Ralph Lewis
silent
Trem Carr Pictures
Rayart
Extant
LoC[ 84]
Hello Cheyenne
1928-5-13
Eugene Forde
Tom Mix
silent
Fox Film Corp.
Fox
Lost
[ 85]
Painted Post
1928-7-1
Eugene Forde
Tom Mix
silent
Fox Film Corp.
Fox
Lost
[ 86]
She Goes to War
1929-6-8
Henry King
Eleanor Boardman
Part-talkie
Inspiration Pictures
United Artists
Extant
Exists only in 50 min. version (of 105 mi.)[ 87] [ 88]
The Dance of Life
1929-8-16
John Cromwell, Edward Sutherland
Hal Skelly
sound
Famous Players–Lasky
Paramount
Extant
[ 89]
Hell Harbor
1930-3-15
Henry King
Lupe Velez
sound
Inspiration Pictures
United Artists
Extant
[ 90]
The Oklahoma Cyclone
1930-8-8
John P. McCarthy
Bob Steele
sound
Trem Carr Pictures
Tiffany
Extant
[ 91]
The Land of Missing Men
1930-10
John P. McCarthy
Bob Steele
sound
Trem Carr Pictures
Tiffany
Extant
[ 92]
Beyond the Law
1930-11-2
John P. McCarthy
Robert Frazer
sound
Raytone Talking Pictures
Syndicate Pictures
Extant
[ 93]
The Painted Desert
1931-3-7
Howard Higgin
Clark Gable
sound
RKO-Pathé
Pathé Exchanges
Extant
[ 94] [ 95]
Aloha
1931-4-27
Albert S. Rogell
Ben Lyon
sound
Tiffany Productions
Tiffany
Extant
Incomplete[ 96]
A Son of the Plains
1931-7-5
Robert N. Bradbury
Bob Custer
sound
Trem Carr Pictures
Syndicate
Extant
[ 97]
Police Court
1932-2-20
Louis King
Henry B. Walthall
sound
I.E. Chadwick
Monogram
Extant
[ 98]
Riders of the Desert
1932-4-24
Robert N. Bradbury
Bob Steele
sound
Trem Carr Pictures
Sono-Art WorldWide
Extant
[ 99]
Law of the North
1932-5-30
Harry L. Fraser
Bill Cody
sound
Monogram Pictures
Monogram
Extant
[ 100]
His Private Secretary
1933-6-10
Phil Whitman
John Wayne
sound
Screencraft/Showmen's Pictures
Marcy Pictures
Extant
[ 101]
Riders of Destiny
1933-10-10
Robert N. Bradbury
John Wayne
sound
Lone Star
Monogram
Extant
[ 102]
From Headquarters
1933-11-16
William Dieterle, Michael Curtiz
George Brent
sound
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Extant
[ 103]
Public Stenographer
1934-1-10
Lewis D. Collins
Lola Lane
sound
Screencraft/Showmen's Pictures
Marcy Pictures
Extant
[ 104]
She Gets Her Man
1935-8-5
William Nigh
Zasu Pitts
sound
Universal Pictures
Universal
Extant
[ 105]
Wanderer of the Wasteland
1935-9-9
Otho Lovering
Dean Jagger
sound
Paramount Pictures
Paramount
Extant
UCLA Film & Television Archive[ 106]
Midnight Phantom
1935-11-27
Bernard B. Ray
Reginald Denny
sound
Reliable Pictures
States Rights
Extant
[ 107]
The Law of 45's
1935-12-1
John P. McCarthy
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams
sound
Normandy Pictures
States Rights
Extant
[ 108]
Bar 20 Rides Again
1935-12-6
Howard Bretherton
William "Hoppy" Boyd
sound
Reliable Pictures
States Rights
Extant
[ 109]
Trigger Tom
1935-12-15
Harry S. Webb
Tom Tyler
sound
Reliable Pictures
States Rights
Extant
[ 110]
A Face in the Fog
1936-2-1
Robert F. Hill
June Collyer
sound
Victory Pictures
States Rights
Extant
[ 111]
The Millionaire Kid
1936-3-14
Bernard B. Ray
Betty Compson
sound
Reliable Pictures
States Rights
Extant
[ 112]
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936-5-13
Stephen Roberts
William Powell
sound
RKO Radio Pictures
RKO
Extant
[ 113]
Pinto Rustlers
1936-5-14
Harry S. Webb
Tom Tyler
sound
Reliable Pictures
States Rights
Extant
[ 114]
West of Nevada
1936-7-21
Robert F. Hill
Rex Bell
sound
Colony Pictures
States Rights
Extant
[ 115]
Hopalong Cassidy Returns
1936-10-16
Nate Watt
William "Hoppy" Boyd
sound
Harry Sherman Productions
Paramount
Extant
St. John's role cut[ 116]
Trail Dust
1936-12-11
Nate Watt
William "Hoppy" Boyd
sound
Harry Sherman Productions
Paramount
Extant
[ 117]
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
1937-4-16
Christy Cabanne
Preston Foster
sound
RKO Radio Pictures
RKO
Extant
[ 118]
Sing, Cowboy, Sing
1937-5-22
Robert N. Bradbury
Tex Ritter
sound
Boots & Saddles Pictures
Grand National
Extant
[ 119]
A Lawman Is Born
1937-6-21
Sam Newfield
Johnny Mack Brown
sound
Supreme Pictures
Republic
Extant
[ 120]
Saturday's Heroes
1937-10-8
Edward Killy
Van Heflin
sound
RKO Radio Pictures
RKO
Extant
[ 121]
Start Cheering
1938-3-3
Albert S. Rogell
Jimmy Durante
sound
Columbia Pictures
Columbia
Extant
[ 122]
Call of the Yukon
1938-4-18
B. Reeves Eason , John T. Coyle
Richard Arlen
sound
Republic Pictures
Republic
Extant
[ 123]
Frontier Scout
1938-9-16
Sam Newfield
George Houston
sound
Conn Pictures
Grand National
Extant
[ 124]
Exposed
1938-11-4
Harold D. Schuster
Glenda Farrell
sound
Universal Pictures
Universal
Extant
[ 125]
Murder on the Yukon
1940-2-25
Louis J. Gasnier
James Newill
sound
Criterion Pictures
Monogram
Extant
[ 126]
Marked Men
1940-9-30
Sam Newfield
Warren Hull
sound
PRC
PRC
Extant
[ 127]
Li'l Abner
1940-11-1
Albert S. Rogell
Jeff York
sound
Vogue Productions
RKO
Extant
[ 128]
Friendly Neighbors
1940-11-17
Nick Grinde
The Weaver Brothers and Elviry
sound
Republic Pictures
Republic
Extant?
[ 129]
Texas Terrors
1940-11-27
George Sherman
Don "Red" Barry
sound
Republic Pictures
Republic
Extant
[ 130]
A Missouri Outlaw
1941-11-25
George Sherman
Don "Red" Barry
sound
Republic Pictures
Republic
Extant
[ 131]
Arizona Terrors
1942-1-13
George Sherman
Don "Red" Barry
sound
Republic Pictures
Republic
Extant
[ 132]
Stagecoach Express
1942-3-6
George Sherman
Don "Red" Barry
sound
Republic Pictures
Republic
Extant
[ 133]
Jesse James, Jr.
1942-3-25
George Sherman
Don "Red" Barry
sound
Republic Pictures
Republic
Extant
[ 134]
Prairie Pals
1942-9-4
Sam Newfield
Art Davis
sound
PRC
PRC
Extant
[ 135]
Along the Sundown Trail
1942-10-10
Sam Newfield
Art Davis
sound
PRC
PRC
Extant
[ 136]
Valley of the Sun
1942-11-6
George Marshall
Lucille Ball
sound
RKO Radio Pictures
RKO
Extant
[ 137]
My Son, the Hero
1943-4-5
Edgar G. Ulmer
Patsy Kelly
sound
Atlantis Pictures
PRC
Extant
[ 138]
Dead Men Walk
1943-4-12
Sam Newfield
George Zucco
sound
PRC
PRC
Extant
[ 139]
I'm from Arkansas
1944-10-31
Lew Landers
Slim Summerville
sound
PRC
PRC
Extant
[ 140]
My Dog Shep
1946-12-1
Ford Beebe
Tom Neal
sound
Golden Gate Pictures
PRC
Extant
[ 141]
Days of Thrills and Laughter
1961-3-21
Robert Youngson
Charles Chaplin
sound
Robert Youngson Productions
20th Century Fox
Extant
St. John only in library footage[ 142]
See also
References
^ DVD Sennett Vol. 2 LOOSER THAN LOOSE MASTHEAD
^ Al St. John YouTube channel Shot in the Excitement (1914) Al St. John – YouTube
^ PSFL entry Silent Era: PSFL: The Moonshiners (1916)
^ New York Concertmeister Blog
^ "A Winning Loser (1917)" . IMDb .
^ Clip in Youngson, Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961)
^ "fragments in The Unreal Newsreel No. 1, a Fox Compilation released 9-20-1923" . Archived from the original on 2014-05-21. Retrieved 2012-04-03 .
^ a b c d Comet Video (VHS)
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc Comet Video (DVD)
^ a b c d e f g h i Grapevine Video (VHS)
^ Reel Media (VHS)
^ a b c d e f g Sinister Cinema (VHS)
^ Hollywood's Best (DVD)
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Alpha Video (DVD)
^ Oktoberfest Video (VHS)
^ a b c United American Video (VHS)
^ a b Liberty Home Video (VHS)
^ a b c Sinister Cinema (DVD)
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u RareSerials.com (DVD)
^ Indies Home Entertainment (DVD)
^ Treeline Films (DVD)
^ VCI Home Video (VHS)
^ Critic's Choice (VHS)
^ Hollywood's Best (VHS/DVD)
^ a b c d Hollywood's Attic (VHS)
^ Retromedia Entertainment
^ a b c Grapevine Video (DVD)
^ Simitar Video (VHS)
^ Hollywood's Best (VHS)
^ Sinister Video (VHS)
^ Teakwood Video (DVD)
^ a b c d e f g h i Stokey Video (VHS)
^ The Video Kart (DVD)
^ RareSerials.com (DVD) (VHS)
^ Although previously listed here, Al St. John does not appear in the following Keystone, according to Brent Walker in Mack Sennett's Fun Factory (McFarland, Jefferson NC 2013): The Gangsters .
^ PSFL entry Silent Era: PSFL: In the Clutches of the Gang (1914)
^ a b c d e f g h Chaplin Keystone DVD Amazon.com: Chaplin At Keystone: An International Collaboration of 34 Original Films: Charles Chaplin, Mabel Normand, Roscoe Arbuckle, Marie Dressler, Chester Conklin, Ford Sterling, Edgar Kennedy, Mack Swain, Minta Durfee, Mack Sennett, Henry Lehrman, George Nichols: Movies & TV
^ Attributed to Arbuckle, according to Brent Walker in Mack Sennett's Fun Factory (McFarland, Jefferson NC 2013).
^ SilentComedyMafia.com • View topic – Rare Arbuckle Keystones in Los Angeles June 9
^ "DVD Talk" .
^ Looser Than Loose Publishing
^ a b c d e f g Reel Media
^ Mill Creek
^ a b c d e f g h i j Grapevine Video
^ a b c d e f g h Laughsmith
^ a b c d e f Mackinac Media
^ Forgotten Films of Fatty Arbuckle DVD
^ a b Sunrise Silents
^ TCM (restoration)
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Image Entertainment
^ Blackhawk Films (8, 16 mm)
^ Unknown Video
^ Two New DVDs From Looser Than Loose
^ Mackinac Media (DVD)
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Kino Video
^ a b A-1 Video
^ Rohauer
^ HBO
^ Madacy
^ Republic Pictures
^ Reelclassicdvd.com
^ Although previously listed here, Al St. John does not appear in the following Keystones, according to Brent Walker in Mack Sennett's Fun Factory (McFarland, Jefferson NC 2013): Soldiers of Misfortune (1914), He Loved the Ladies (1914).
^ YouTube video Double Crossed (1914) Al St. John – YouTube
^ PFSL entry Silent Era: PSFL: The Passing of Izzy (1914)
^ a b Mabel Normand filmography Keystone and Triangle Films: 1914–1916
^ Mabel Normand DVD Silent Era : Home Video : The Actors: Rare Films of Mabel Normand, Volume 3 (1913–1923) Review
^ "Stout Hearts But Weak Knees (1914)" . IMDb .
^ "His Talented Wife (1914)" . IMDb .
^ a b c DVD Keystone Comedies Vol. 1 Keystone Comedies Vol. 1
^ Kartes Video Communications VHS tape, "The Original Keystone Comedies: Volume Seven"
^ PSFL entry Silent Era: PSFL: A Home Breaking Hound (1915)
^ DVD Mack Sennett Volume 7 LOOSER THAN LOOSE PUBLISHING
^ "A Rascal's Wolfish Ways (1915)" . IMDb .
^ "Bombs! (1916)" . IMDb .
^ PSFL entry Silent Era: PSFL: At the Old Stage Door (1919)
^ Silent Comedians Thread SilentComedians.com :: View topic – Need help with photo Archived 2014-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Screen Snapshots Series 9, No. 12 (1930)" . IMDb .
^ "Marriage Rows (1931)" . IMDb .
^ Al St. John YouTube Channel Honeymoon Trio (1931) Al St. John – YouTube
^ "Prairie Papas (1938)" . IMDb .
^ Silent Era review of Tillie's Punctured Romance DVD Silent Era : Home Video : Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914) Review
^ "The Garden of Weeds (1924)" . IMDb .
^ PSFL entry Silent Era: PSFL: American Beauty (1927)
^ "Casey Jones (1927)" . IMDb .
^ "Hello Cheyenne (1928)" . IMDb .
^ "Painted Post (1928)" . IMDb .
^ Em Gee Film Library
^ PSFL entry Silent Era: PSFL: She Goes to War (1929)
^ "The Dance of Life (1929)" . IMDb .
^ "Hell Harbor (1930)" . IMDb .
^ "The Oklahoma Cyclone (1930)" . IMDb .
^ "The Land of Missing Men (1930)" . IMDb .
^ "Beyond the Law (1930)" . IMDb .
^ "The Painted Desert (1931)" . IMDb .
^ amazon.com listing Amazon.com: The Painted Desert: Clark Gable, William Boyd, Helen Twelvetrees, Howard Higgin: Movies & TV
^ "Aloha (1931)" . IMDb .
^ "A Son of the Plains (1931)" . IMDb .
^ "Police Court (1932)" . IMDb .
^ "Riders of the Desert (1932)" . IMDb .
^ "Law of the North (1932)" . IMDb .
^ "His Private Secretary (1933)" . IMDb .
^ "Riders of Destiny (1933)" . IMDb .
^ "From Headquarters (1933)" . IMDb .
^ "Public Stenographer (1934)" . IMDb .
^ "She Gets Her Man (1935)" . IMDb .
^ "Wanderer of the Wasteland (1935)" . IMDb .
^ "Midnight Phantom (1935)" . IMDb .
^ "The Law of 45's (1935)" . IMDb .
^ "Bar 20 Rides Again (1935)" . IMDb .
^ "Trigger Tom (1935)" . IMDb .
^ "A Face in the Fog (1936)" . IMDb .
^ Grapevine DVD The Millionaire Kid
^ "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936)" . IMDb .
^ "Pinto Rustlers (1936)" . IMDb .
^ "West of Nevada (1936)" . IMDb .
^ "Hopalong Cassidy Returns (1936)" . IMDb .
^ "Trail Dust (1936)" . IMDb .
^ "The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1937)" . IMDb .
^ "Sing, Cowboy, Sing (1937)" . IMDb .
^ "A Lawman Is Born (1937)" . IMDb .
^ "Saturday's Heroes (1937)" . IMDb .
^ "Start Cheering (1938)" . IMDb .
^ "Call of the Yukon (1938)" . IMDb .
^ "Frontier Scout (1938)" . IMDb .
^ "Exposed (1938)" . IMDb .
^ "Murder on the Yukon (1940)" . IMDb .
^ "Marked Men (1940)" . IMDb .
^ "Li'l Abner (1940)" . IMDb .
^ "Friendly Neighbors (1940)" . IMDb .
^ "Texas Terrors (1940)" . IMDb .
^ "A Missouri Outlaw (1941)" . IMDb .
^ "Arizona Terrors (1942)" . IMDb .
^ "Stagecoach Express (1942)" . IMDb .
^ "Jesse James, Jr. (1942)" . IMDb .
^ "Prairie Pals (1942)" . IMDb .
^ "Along the Sundown Trail (1942)" . IMDb .
^ "Valley of the Sun (1942)" . IMDb .
^ "My Son, the Hero (1943)" . IMDb .
^ "Dead Men Walk (1943)" . IMDb .
^ "I'm from Arkansas (1944)" . IMDb .
^ "My Dog Shep (1946)" . IMDb .
^ "Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961)" . IMDb .
External links