"cliff-hanger"

[Joel S. Berson]

Thanks for these, Garson; if I ever complete the
article I had planned, I will give you due
credit.  As the earliest instances of
"cliff-hang...", they support my supposition that
"cliff-hang..." derives from "The Perils of
Pauline".  (As did Ben's message of Feb. 10,
which I somehow completely missed.)

At 3/23/2014 08:46 AM, ADSGarson O'Toole wrote:
>"cliff-hanging heroines" Sept 3 1930
>"when cliff hanging was an art" Nov 15, 1930
>
>Perhaps the term "cliff hanger" was crafted by someone based on a
>composite memory of multiple serials. The Sept 3 cite mentions both
>"Perils of Pauline" and "Exploits of Elaine."
>
>[Begin match information in Variety archive; unverified cite]
>
>for the hoke and pull the parents into the neighborhood houses.
>Pitting

Perhaps why the original prints and negatives of
P. of P. are now "lost" -- they were pitting.

>also Into the pattern Is the revival of the serial, with
>Universal and Pa the leading the precession toward cliff-hanging
>heroines. Paths

"Pa the" and "Paths" are, of course, "Pathé".

>Is even reviving the original Installment Alms,
>"Peril* of Pauline" and "Exploits of Elaine." America

I wonder whether this refers to the 1933 "sound
film remake" from Universal, or the reissue by
Pathé on 28mm that was cut, edited, and retitled
from a French version of the 1914 production.

>Published Date: September 3rd, 1930
>
>[End match information]
>
>[Begin match information in Variety archive; unverified cite]
>
>the municipal court, say merchants Delegations of Hollywood mer chants
>and business men have asked the municipal jurists for it and that body
>will vote on the matter this week. Queen of Serials Does Comeback, But
>as Mother Grace Cunard. known as the queen of serials when cliff
>hanging was an art, is in em again. She's playing

Grace Cunard starred in "Lucille Love, Girl of
Mystery", 1914.  Wikipedia says she "quickly
became Universal's serial queen".  "[Pearl]
White's rival at Universal, Grace Cunard, was
described as 'the perfect devotee of motoring'
for whom no speed was great enough" [Shelley Stamp, _Movie-Struck Girls_, 143].

Perhaps Pearl White had some other
appellation.  I have no idea what "Mother" means.

>Published Date: November 15th, 1930
>
>[End match information]
>
>Garson

Joel

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