Lawrence "Larry" Semon (February 9, 1889 â€" October 8, 1928) was an
American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter during the silent
film era. In his day, Semon was considered a major movie comedian, but
he is now remembered mainly for working with both Stan Laurel and
Oliver Hardy before they started working together.He is also sometimes
noted for directing (as well as appearing in) the 1925 silent film The
Wizard of Oz, which had a slight influence on the better-known 1939
talkie The Wizard of Oz released by MGM. The film was included in the
2005 three-disc DVD version of the 1939 film, along with other silent
Oz movies.Born in West Point, Mississippi, Semon was the son of a
travelling Jewish vaudeville magician Zera Semon, who billed himself
as "Zera the Great". His mother, Irene Semon (née Rea) worked as his
assistant. Along with his older sister, Semon joined his parents' act
until his father's death. After completing his education in Savannah,
Georgia, Semon moved to New York City, where he worked for The New
York Sun and later The New York Morning Telegraph as a cartoonist,
comics artist and graphic artist. While working as an artist, Semon
appeared in monologues in vaudeville, where he attracted the attention
of Vitagraph Studios. In 1915, he was offered a contract with the
company.After signing with Vitagraph, Semon worked behind the scenes
as a scenario writer, director, and film producer for actor Hughie
Mack's films. He occasionally cast himself in bit parts in the films
he worked on. When Mack left Vitagraph, Semon began playing the lead
roles. He usually played a white-faced goof in derby hat and overalls
who would enter any given setting (a bakery, a restaurant, a
construction site, a prison camp, etc.) and cause chaos, with people
being covered with debris and property being destroyed. His short
slapstick comedies were made and released quickly and prolifically,
making Semon very familiar to moviegoers.
American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter during the silent
film era. In his day, Semon was considered a major movie comedian, but
he is now remembered mainly for working with both Stan Laurel and
Oliver Hardy before they started working together.He is also sometimes
noted for directing (as well as appearing in) the 1925 silent film The
Wizard of Oz, which had a slight influence on the better-known 1939
talkie The Wizard of Oz released by MGM. The film was included in the
2005 three-disc DVD version of the 1939 film, along with other silent
Oz movies.Born in West Point, Mississippi, Semon was the son of a
travelling Jewish vaudeville magician Zera Semon, who billed himself
as "Zera the Great". His mother, Irene Semon (née Rea) worked as his
assistant. Along with his older sister, Semon joined his parents' act
until his father's death. After completing his education in Savannah,
Georgia, Semon moved to New York City, where he worked for The New
York Sun and later The New York Morning Telegraph as a cartoonist,
comics artist and graphic artist. While working as an artist, Semon
appeared in monologues in vaudeville, where he attracted the attention
of Vitagraph Studios. In 1915, he was offered a contract with the
company.After signing with Vitagraph, Semon worked behind the scenes
as a scenario writer, director, and film producer for actor Hughie
Mack's films. He occasionally cast himself in bit parts in the films
he worked on. When Mack left Vitagraph, Semon began playing the lead
roles. He usually played a white-faced goof in derby hat and overalls
who would enter any given setting (a bakery, a restaurant, a
construction site, a prison camp, etc.) and cause chaos, with people
being covered with debris and property being destroyed. His short
slapstick comedies were made and released quickly and prolifically,
making Semon very familiar to moviegoers.
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