Showbiz milestones when The Freeman was born in 1919
It was in 1919 that The Freeman began publication, sharing news stories around Cebu, including compelling articles of celebrities and the entertainment industry. As the country’s longest-running regional newspaper celebrates its 105th anniversary, let’s take a look back at some of the showbiz milestones in the same year that The Freeman was born:
Shortest Hollywood marriage of all time
The Guinness World Record for the shortest Hollywood marriage was set in 1919 by film stars Jean Acker and Rudolph Valentino.
Acker locked Rudolph out of their honeymoon room in a popular Hollywood hotel, effectively ending their marriage before it even began.
The couple met at a party in 1919 and decided to marry two months later, despite Acker’s relationship with actress Alla Nazimova, both of whom belonged to a circle of secretly bisexual and lesbian actresses.
As a result, Acker came to regret her decision. On their wedding day, November 6, she locked Valentino out of their room. After 20 minutes of knocking, the groom finally gave up and accepted his ejection.
Dalagang Bukid
On September 12 of the same year, the Philippines released the first Filipino-produced film, “Dalagang Bukid” (Country Maiden), directed by the Father of Philippine Cinema, Jose Nepomuceno.
Atang de la Rama and Marceliano Ilagan starred in the adaptation of Hermogenes Ilagan’s zarzuela. Atang de la Rama is known as “The First Star of Philippine Cinema” for being the first Filipino actress to appear in films.
“Dalagang Bukid” tells the story of Angelita, a flower vendor who is forced to marry Don Silvestre, an old loan shark, despite her feelings for Cipriano, a poor law student.
The silent film had English, Spanish, and Tagalog subtitles. During Dalagang Bukid’s theatrical run, de la Rama needed to perform the singing parts live, along with the violin, cornet, and piano players, which they had to repeat for each screening in Metro Manila.
Harry Houdini in Paramount
World-renowned escape artist Harry Houdini signed a contract with Paramount in 1919 and starred in “The Grim Game” and “Terror Island.”
Houdini, also known as the Handcuff King, is an American magician, escape artist, and illusionist best known for his daring, life-threatening tricks and illusions.
“The Grim Game” is a 1919 silent drama film in which Houdini plays Harvey Hanford, a young journalist falsely accused of killing his uncle. In this film, Houdini used his expertise as a magician and escape artist to evade police custody in order to find those who framed him.
Prior to “The Grim Game” in January 1918, Houdini had a four-thousand-pound elephant vanish in the Hippodrome Theater in New York, which became a hit and a highlight of his career. — Kassandra Venice Broca, Cnu Intern (FREEMAN)
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