I’m pleased to announce that I’ve recently signed a contract with BEarManor Media, a publisher based in Orlando, Fla., to write the biography of silent film pioneer Al Christie.
BearManor specializes in books about the entertainment industry and has many titles that deal with the silent film era. I’ve been asked to submit a manuscript by November 2022 and the book is scheduled for publication sometime in 2023.
Christie, who was born and raised in London, Ont., is credited with directing the first comedy film within the boundaries of Hollywood. He later established the first film studio there and over a 20-plus-years career directed and produced hundreds of silent short and feature films. He also made several short sound films during the 1930s.
Christie, who died in 1951, was considered by many to be among the top three comedy film producers in the 19 teens and 20s, along with Hal Roach and fellow Canadian Mack Sennett. He ahs a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.