This week’s mystery movie was the 1918 film “Mickey,” with Mabel Normand, George O. Nicholls, Laura La Varnie, Lewis J. Cody, Minta Durfee, Wheeler Oakman and Tom Kennedy.
Written by J.G. Hawks, production manager Hampton Del Ruth, photographed by Frank D. Williams, Hugh C. McClung and Fred Jackman, edited by John O’Donnell.
Directed by F. Richard Jones and James Young.
“Mickey” is available on DVD from TCM. It is also on YouTube, though the quality is questionable. The Cinemuseum planned to released “Mickey” in Volume 2 of its Mack Sennett box set, originally planned for the spring of 2020, but evidently not available yet.
This was my week to do a silent film and I picked “Mabel” somewhat at random as a blockbuster of 1918. This was the Mack Sennett film that was intended to launch Mabel Normand’s production company, but the movie had a difficult birth and was the company’s only release. The trades of the era describe a lengthy shoot because of Normand’s illnesses and there are accounts about reels of film being held hostage. Picture Play magazine reported that more than 275,000 feet of film was shot for the movie and the New York Clipper announced that “Mickey” ran 18 reels.
(Lantern Media has vapor lock this morning, so I’m unable to take a deep dive into the trades).
In an early movie tie-in, there was also a popular song by Harry Williams and Neil Moret, performed here by Henry Burr.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent. He seems pleased with such goings-on.
Our mystery jockey is as yet unidentified.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Minnie Devereaux.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have this mystery lawman. You can’t see his badge in this image, but he’s got one.
Update: Our mystery sheriff remains unidentified.
We also have this mystery gent.
Update: This is George Nichols.
Finally, we have this mystery woman. We do not approve of such goings-on with her.
Update: This is Laura La Varnie.
Brain Trust roll call: Sylvia E. (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman).
For “aha Thursday,” we have this mystery gent who does not approve of such goings-on. And not much “aha” about him, either.
Update: This is Clarence Lyndon.
Also this mystery woman.
Update: This is Minta Durfee.
And finally, this mystery cad.
Update: This is Lew Cody.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery Native American and Wednesday’s mystery gold miner), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery Native American and Wednesday’s mystery gold miner) and Sylvia E. (Wednesday’s mystery gold miner and mystery socialite).
Blackwing Jenny: He’s the right era, but he isn’t credited in our mystery film, and I’m a bit doubtful.
For Friday, we have our leading man.
Update: This is Wheeler Oakman.
And finally, our mystery leading lady.
Update: This is Mabel Normand.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery socialite and Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Mr. Fetchit?
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An interesting guess, but, alas, Stepin Fetchit hadn’t made his film debut when our mystery movie was shot.
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Nick Stewart.
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A good guess, but, alas, Mr. Stewart hadn’t entered films when our mystery movie was shot.
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Is that a razor in madam’s hand? Not that knowing this information will help me with guessing.
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Jenny Lee?
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An interesting guess. Right era, but alas, the wrong studio.
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Is Tuesday’s woman Minnie Devereaux?
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I think the movie is “Mickey” 1918
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MICKEY. Minnie Ha Ha (Devereaux) Tuesday, and George Nichols and Minta Durfee today.
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George Nichols and Minnie Devereaux in MICKEY.
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Henry Armetta on Wednesday?
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An excellent guess! But alas, Henry Armetta didn’t make any films in the year our mystery movie was released.
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Still hunting for the name of the comic ‘sleeping’ jockey.
Weds – not sure of the sheriff
image 2 is George Nichols
image 3 is Laura La Varnie
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Is the lawman Frank McGlynn?
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Laura La Varnie tuesday. Clarence Lyndon, Minta Durfee, and Lew Cody today.
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Clarence Lyndon, Minta Durfee and Lew Cody.
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Thurs
Clarence (Larry) Lyndon
Minta Durfee
Lew Cody
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I thought for a quick minute that the sheriff was played (no credit) by Mack Sennett, but the photos I’ve seen of him don’t look like this guy.
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Wheeler Oakman and Mabel Normand.
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MICKEY (1918)
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Oh, fpr heaven’s sake! Mickey! Mabel Normand! Hoorah!
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Friday has Wheeler Oakman and Mabel Normand
Looking forward to seeing your Saturday breakdown.
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Wheeler Oakman and Mabel Normand.
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So curious about the sheriff. Hope you know who he is. He looks like he could be related to Gary Cooper, an Uncle or someone.
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