Lawrence Semon (1889 - 1928)

Born 9 Feb 1889 in West Point, Clay, Mississippi, United States

Ancestors

Died 8 Oct 1928 at age 39 in Victorville, San Bernardino, California, United States

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Biography

Larry Semon is Notable.

"Lawrence 'Larry' Semon (February 9, 1889 – 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.

....

After returning to Los Angeles, Semon was admitted to a sanatorium in Victorville, California, where on October 8, 1928—at the age of 39—he died of pneumonia and tuberculosis. His wife Dorothy Dwan was reported to be at his bedside when he died.

In its obituary for Semon, the trade paper Variety speculated that ongoing stress related to his dire financial circumstances was a contributing factor in his demise, alluding to the 1925 production of The Wizard of Oz as the major cause of his money woes..." (wikipedia excerpt).

Sources

• "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXY4-9RY : 12 December 2014), Lawrence Semon, 1917-1918; citing New York City no 23, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,754,135.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #7124013
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Semon, more sources here
• Frank Cullen, Vaudeville old & new: an encyclopedia of variety performances in America, Volume 1, p. 1005-1006.
• http://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php?title=Larry_Semon
• Wizard of Oz (Semon, 1925) : https://youtu.be/Lz2rnKDv1OI
• Larry Semon - The Bakery (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/gaXjAyJsUDA
• Larry Semon: The Rent Collector (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/4J62FHfoXX4
• THE SHOW (1922) -- Larry Semon, Oliver Hardy: https://youtu.be/f1N8rVDitpQ
• Larry Semon-The Grocery Clerk (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/ggY3Dglq4xw
• Larry Semon: The Hick (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/GnpIxLzBViI
• Larry Semon: Wizard Woman Party (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/vU2nkIY5i6o
• Larry Semon in HORSESHOES (1923) (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/M7AvS2qCqKU
• Larry Semon - Dunces and Dangers (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/315cvCZKU0o
• Fraud and Frenzies 1918-Larry Semon and Stan Laurel (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/QdikSvgU4TY
• Larry Semon: Bears and Bad Men (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/NCZ44qTn2mE
• Jimmy Aubrey - Hash and Havoc (1916) Larry Semon Film: https://youtu.be/w-yPjWEue6k
• Larry Semon: School Days (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/jBjUnaPaczY
• THE GOWNSHOP (1923) - Larry Semon, Oliver Hardy (VERSION #2): https://youtu.be/75wyC0ZSHO8
• THE DOME DOCTOR Larry Semon 1925: https://youtu.be/jYkDZBkbhV0
• Ridolini Esploratore - Larry Semon (Laurel & Hardy): https://youtu.be/GHtvSpz4Z44
• THE STAR BOARDER (1919) - Larry Semon (updated Mk III version!!): https://youtu.be/On_sJoTo2Lc