King-Bee Films

"The Hero" (1917) poster

King-Bee Films Corporation was a film production company in the U.S. that released two-real short film comedies during the silent film era. The company's stars included Billy West, a Charlie Chaplin imitator. Louis Burstein was the company's president and general manager. He established it in 1917 after the breakup of Vim Comedy Company[1] to produce comedies starring West. Oliver Hardy and Ethelyn Gibson also acted for the company. It operated a studio in Jacksonville, Florida,[2] then Bayonne, New Jersey and finally at 1329 Gordon Street in Hollywood, California.[2] Its offices were in New York.[3]

History

King-Bee had offices in New York and Hollywood, California.[3] The company's production sites included Jacksonville, Florida.[4] Arvid E. Gillstrom directed for King-Bee. Members of the company on their way to Hollywood were entertained in Chicago by members of the Standard Films Corporation.[5]

King Bee's Billy West comedies were in such demand it wanted him to work on two at a time.[6]

Filmography

• The Hero 1917 a Billy West comedies film[7]
• The Villain 1917 a Billy West comedies film[8]
• The Slave 1917 a Billy West comedies film[9]
• The Pest 1917 a Billy West comedies film[10]
• The Millionaire 1917 a Billy West comedies film[11]
• Dough Nuts 1917 a Billy West comedies film[12]
• The Candy Kid 1917 a Billy West comedies film[13]
• Back Stage a Billy West comedies film[14]
• The Pest (1917), extant[15]
• The Orderly 1918 a Billy West comedies film[16]
• The Stranger 1918 a Billy West comedies film[17]
• The Messenger 1918 a Billy West comedies film[18]
• His Day Out (1918), extant

• King-Bee Films posters
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References

1. Miller, Blair (April 10, 2013). Almost Hollywood: The Forgotten Story of Jacksonville, Florida. Hamilton Books. ISBN 9780761859963 – via Google Books.
2. Slide, Anthony (February 25, 2014). The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry. Routledge. ISBN 9781135925543 – via Google Books.
3. "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com.
4. McIVER, STUART. "OLLIE'S DAYS IN THE SUN". Sun-Sentinel.com.
5. "Motography". 1917.
6. "Dramatic Mirror of the Stage and Motion Pictures". Dramatic Mirror Company. November 24, 1917 – via Google Books.
7. "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
8. "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Feb 7, 1918, p. 16". NewspaperArchive.com. 7 February 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
9. "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Feb 21, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 21 February 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
10. "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Mar 21, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 21 March 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
11. "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Sep 19, 1918, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 19 September 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
12. "Piqua Daily Press Newspaper Archives, Aug 29, 1917, p. 6". NewspaperArchive.com. 29 August 1917. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
13. "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Jan 10, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 10 January 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
14. "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Dec 20, 1917, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 20 December 1917. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
15. "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". www.silentera.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
16. "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, May 2, 1918, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 2 May 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
17. "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, Mar 7, 1918, p. 15". NewspaperArchive.com. 7 March 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
18. "Mckinney Daily Courier Gazette Archives, May 30, 1918, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 30 May 1918. Retrieved 13 June 2020.