Split Reel

Split Reel Split Reel LLC publishes books and other media related to the performing arts.

We specialize in silent film with a focus on providing detailed, deeply researched works that highlight lesser-known aspects of the entertainment industry.

Well, LUKE isn't so LONESOME!  The response to the LONESOME LUKE'S LIVELY LIFE Kickstarter has been fantastic, or should...
04/10/2025

Well, LUKE isn't so LONESOME! The response to the LONESOME LUKE'S LIVELY LIFE Kickstarter has been fantastic, or should I say amazing, or perhaps wonderful... and for sure absolutely much appreciated. But wait... there is still time to pledge. We have just over three days to go, so if you haven't already done so go ahead and join the fun with a pledge.

LONESOME LUKE'S LIVELY LIFE, a new book by STEVE MASSA that looks at the early years of Hal Roach, Harold Lloyd and the Rolin Film Co.

A new KICKSTARTER campaign featuring a great new book about Hal Roach, Harold Lloyd and the Rolin Film Co. Written by ST...
03/24/2025

A new KICKSTARTER campaign featuring a great new book about Hal Roach, Harold Lloyd and the Rolin Film Co. Written by STEVE MASSA, the book: LONESOME LUKE'S LIVELY LIFE is a must to get. Click the link below and get your pledge in today.

LONESOME LUKE'S LIVELY LIFE, a new book by STEVE MASSA that looks at the early years of Hal Roach, Harold Lloyd and the Rolin Film Co.

01/16/2025

by JIM KERKHOFFFollowing the rapid growth of “talking pictures” in the early 1930s, hundreds of gifted stage performers flocked to Hollywood to gain a foothold in its booming entertainment industry. Among them was Virginia Karns, a young singer-actress with years of experience touring in musical...

01/16/2025

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Film historian Jim Kerkhoff has authored a biography of singer-actress Virginia Karns, best known for her portrayal of M...
01/16/2025

Film historian Jim Kerkhoff has authored a biography of singer-actress Virginia Karns, best known for her portrayal of Mother Goose in Laurel &Hardy’s 1934 classic “Babes in Toyland” (aka “March of the Wooden Soldiers”). With its foreword written by Randy Skretvedt, “HOMETOWN TINSEL” delves into Virginia’s early years touring with musical comedy troupes; her subsequent work in motion pictures during Hollywood’s golden era; and her extensive career as a popular radio-TV personality. Very notably, an entire chapter is devoted to friendships she forged later in life with countless members of the Sons of the Desert at national conventions and local Tent meetings. Based on considerable research – and with access to Virginia’s personal scrapbook – this is a highly informative look at the life of a very charming and talented entertainer. Jim has pledged that all proceeds he receives from the book’s sale will be donated to the Norman Studios Silent Film Museum in Jacksonville, Florida, in honor of Babe Hardy who began his screen career in that city.

“HOMETOWN TINSEL” is available for purchase through the book’s publisher, Split-Reel LLC (split-reel.com) or Amazon (amazon.com).

Only about 14 hours left to make a pledge on the POKES & JABBS BLURAY Kickstarter! Thanks to the continued support after...
09/22/2024

Only about 14 hours left to make a pledge on the POKES & JABBS BLURAY Kickstarter! Thanks to the continued support after we reached our goal we will now include TEN comedies instead of eight originally planned. And if you missed the big news, after the Kickstarter the disc, in both BluRay and DVD format will be distributed by UNDERCRANK!
Still time, pledge if you haven’t done so yet. Also a great way to get the POKES & JABBS book at a discount.

A Blu-Ray (or DVD) featuring eight Pokes & Jabbs comedies, all from 35mm prints and with new musical scores.

09/12/2024

We are just now half way through the Pokes & Jabbs BluRay/DVD campaign and we are already fully funded! Thank you to those that have supported this campaign, but there is still time to participate....

For the first time SPLIT REEL is going to offer a stretch goal to one of its Kickstarter campaigns. So here it is: With an additional 35 backers beyond the 121 that helped us meet our original $4800 goal we will add at least one additional comedy short to the disc. There are some real good and funny Pokes & Jabbs comedies beyond the eight planned for the set, so help get the word out, or sign on as a backer yourself and we can add to the collection.

Finally, some big news…

POKES & JABBS: 8 SILENT COMEDIES will be distributed by UNDERCRANK PRODUCTIONS! That means in addition to Amazon the disc will be available from a wide variety of sources. There is nobody better at getting silent comedies on disc and out to the public than UNDERCRANK, and SPLIT REEL is very pleased to associate with Ben Model.

SPLIT REEL is pleased to announce our first Blu-Ray (and DVD)!!We have just launched a Kickstarter in support of our fir...
09/04/2024

SPLIT REEL is pleased to announce our first Blu-Ray (and DVD)!!
We have just launched a Kickstarter in support of our first disc featuring great and rare silent comedies. You have read through Split Reel books about the esoteric of cinema, and now is your chance to see and enjoy the same. See the information below, click the link below and get your copy of POKES & JABBS

Pokes & Jabbs - silent comedies Blu-Ray (or DVD)
A Blu-Ray (or DVD) featuring eight Pokes & Jabbs comedies, all from 35mm prints and with new musical scores.

The Blu-Ray will contain 8 silent comedy shorts starring Bobby Burns and Walter Stull as the comedy team of Pokes & Jabbs. All the films are from 35mm nitrate prints held at the Library of Congress. Each film will have a newly created musical score created specifically for that film by Andrew Simpson. After the Kickstarter campaign is completed the Blu-Ray will be available for purchase directly from the Split Reel (split-reel.com) website or Amazon(amazon.com). The cover design was created by graphic designer extraordinaire Marlene Weisman.

The line up of titles is yet to be finalized but certainly to be included on the Blu-Ray will be:

A VISIT TO LIVELY TOWN (Lubin, 1912). Burns and Stull in a uniquely shot film made on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. It is pre-Pokes & Jabbs but is too good to leave off the set.

A PAIR OF BIRDS (Vim, 1915). A very early Pokes & Jabbs with Billy Ruge filling in for the absent Walter Stull. Pokes and Runt try to impress a couple of girls at Palisades Park.

UPS AND DOWNS (Vim, 1915). One of the first Vim comedies to be shot in Jacksonville, Florida, and an early Pokes & Jabbs. The beautiful and funny Ethel Burton is the girl in the picture, and Babe Hardy plays the bad guy.

DEVILED CRABS (Jaxon, 1917) Jabbs, as the devil, gets the better of Pokes with some funny results. Shot in Providence, Rhode Island near the end of the series.
.. plus another four comedies sure to please.

A Blu-Ray (or DVD) featuring eight Pokes & Jabbs comedies, all from 35mm prints and with new musical scores.

KICKSTARTER ENDING SOON!Folks!  Time is growing short for this worthwhile Kickstarter campaign!  If you think you know V...
08/24/2024

KICKSTARTER ENDING SOON!

Folks! Time is growing short for this worthwhile Kickstarter campaign! If you think you know Virginia Karns, think again! Previously unknown details about her life and career will be found in this forthcoming biography, including new and intriguing facts about Virginia's work at Hal Roach Studios ... the fact Laurel and Hardy paid a second visit to her home in 1942 and what happened that day ... how she unexpectedly reconnected with Alice Moore years after the two filmed "Babes in Toyland" together ... how she befriended a young performer named Jonathan Winters at the very beginning of his comedy career ... and even her public rivalry with actress Wendy Barrie during the early 1950s! That and more will all be there in black and white! But only if you make a pledge today!

HOMETOWN TINSEL: The Life, Career, and Friendships of Virginia Karns by Jim Kerkhoff

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/split-reel/new-book-on-hal-roach-studios-actress-virginia-karnsKICKSTARTER CLOSING ...
08/20/2024

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/split-reel/new-book-on-hal-roach-studios-actress-virginia-karns

KICKSTARTER CLOSING SOON!

We are just under ten days from the end of the Kickstarter campaign for the great book HOMETOWN TINSEL. If you are a fan of Laurel & Hardy, or of movies in general, you’ll want this book. The story of Virginia Karns’ career from the stage to her time in Hollywood to her work in radio and television is told in an interesting and engaging way by someone who knew her.

Kickstarter campaigns and are all or nothing! We need you to support this project for it to happen, so please do not hesitate to join in. Split Reel LLC looks to provide access to books on film that are not the “same old, same old” but rather interesting, well researched books on the lesser lights of Hollywood. Supporting this book helps the next one get published. See details below, and do please make a pledge….

A NEW BOOK FOR LAUREL & HARDY DEVOTEES!

Although Virginia Karns' performing career has been primarily defined by her role as "Mother Goose'' in Laurel & Hardy's 1934 comic operetta BABES IN TOYLAND, this multifaceted entertainer's many other accomplishments have been little documented - at least until now! In a new biography of the singer-actress titled HOMETOWN TINSEL, film historian Jim Kerkhoff skillfully chronicles Virginia's fascinating life, career, and friendships with countless show business personalities - some of whom include fellow Hal Roach Studios performers like Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Billy Gilbert, Charley Chase, and Betty Mack.

HOMETOWN TINSEL is written not only from the perspective of a film historian but also from the personal insight of a close friend having access to Virginia's scrapbook. Bolstered by in-depth research that provides details about her intriguing life, HOMETOWN TINSEL is an excellent follow-up to Randy Skretvedt's recent book profiling the making of BABES IN TOYLAND and includes many additional details about her involvement in its filming. In fact, Randy has been kind enough to write the foreword for HOMETOWN TINSEL.

Support this KICKSTARTER campaign launched by Split Reel LLC to get Virginia's book into print and you can obtain an advanced copy by becoming a backer! Not only that, but all proceeds received by the author from this campaign and future royalties will be donated to the NORMAN STUDIOS SILENT FILM MUSEUM in Jacksonville, Florida, in honor of Oliver "Babe" Hardy - a personal friend of Virginia's who began his film career in that great city some 110 years ago! Jim Kerkhoff is on the museum's board of directors and very much dedicated to helping to preserve Jacksonville's silent film legacy!

To learn more about our the KICKSTARTER campaign be sure to go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/split-reel/new-book-on-hal-roach-studios-actress-virginia-karns to make a pledge!
Thank you!

HOMETOWN TINSEL: The Life, Career, and Friendships of Virginia Karns by Jim Kerkhoff

HOMETOWN TINSEL Kickstarter Update!Click the link below and learn more about this great book and how to support its publ...
08/06/2024

HOMETOWN TINSEL Kickstarter Update!

Click the link below and learn more about this great book and how to support its publication with a Kickstarter pledge (and get the book at a discount too!). The Kickstarter campaign is going great but the more early pledges the better!, so do click the link below.

INTERNATIONAL Backers! Yes, we are open to backers from anywhere. So, do not let geography get in the way. Our last Kickstarter had supports from Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom and Japan…. and even Canada!

Thanks to all that are supporting this Kickstarter campaign or any of the past SPLIT REEL Kickstarter campaigns. Here is the link….

HOMETOWN TINSEL: The Life, Career, and Friendships of Virginia Karns by Jim Kerkhoff

A NEW BOOK FOR LAUREL & HARDY DEVOTEES!Although Virginia Karns' performing career has been primarily defined by her role...
07/30/2024

A NEW BOOK FOR LAUREL & HARDY DEVOTEES!

Although Virginia Karns' performing career has been primarily defined by her role as "Mother Goose'' in Laurel & Hardy's 1934 comic operetta BABES IN TOYLAND, this multifaceted entertainer's many other accomplishments have been little documented - at least until now! In a new biography of the singer-actress titled HOMETOWN TINSEL, film historian Jim Kerkhoff skillfully chronicles Virginia's fascinating life, career, and friendships with countless show business personalities - some of whom include fellow Hal Roach Studios performers like Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Billy Gilbert, Charley Chase, and Betty Mack.

HOMETOWN TINSEL is written not only from the perspective of a film historian but also from the personal insight of a close friend having access to Virginia's scrapbook. Bolstered by in-depth research that provides details about her intriguing life, HOMETOWN TINSEL is an excellent follow-up to Randy Skretvedt's recent book profiling the making of BABES IN TOYLAND and includes many additional details about her involvement in its filming. In fact, Randy has been kind enough to write the foreword for HOMETOWN TINSEL.

A new KICKSTARTER campaign has now been launched by Split Reel LLC to get Virginia's book into print and you can obtain an advanced copy by becoming a backer! Not only that, but all proceeds received by the author from this campaign and future royalties will be donated to the NORMAN STUDIOS SILENT FILM MUSEUM in Jacksonville, Florida, in honor of Oliver "Babe" Hardy - a personal friend of Virginia's who began his film career in that great city some 110 years ago! Jim Kerkhoff is on the museum's board of directors and very much dedicated to helping to preserve Jacksonville's silent film legacy!

To learn more about our new KICKSTARTER campaign be sure to go to: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/split-reel/new-book-on-hal-roach-studios-actress-virginia-karns (or click below) to make a pledge! Thank you!

Rob Stone
Split Reel
www.split-reel.com
[email protected]

HOMETOWN TINSEL: The Life, Career and Friendship of Virginia Karns

07/12/2024

A Blu-Ray featuring eight Pokes & Jabbs comedies, all from 35mm prints and with new musical scores.

Hey all!  I just posted a story about the new book coming out from SPLIT REEL.  It is a great one on low budget film pio...
07/12/2024

Hey all! I just posted a story about the new book coming out from SPLIT REEL. It is a great one on low budget film pioneers Sig Neufeld and his brother Sam Newfield. It is written by Thomas Reeder and I am sure you will enjoy reading it (so order now, and order often!).

This is the first book that I have published that was written completely by an author not named Rob Stone! Cannot tell you how great a feeling that is, and I thank Tom for entrusting such a fine book with me.

There will be two new Kickstarters launching within the next ten days, so please keep an eye out for those. One of them, POKES & JABBS, will be our BluRay release. The other is an exciting and interesting new book that we will share more on in the coming days.

Thanks to all who support SPLIT REEL and allow us to get the esoteric of cinema a little better known.

All of our book are available at: www.split-reel.com (USA) and we offer free shipping. All are on Amazon too (Worldwide).

SPLIT REEL

SPLIT REEL LLC is pleased to announce the publication of Thomas Reeder’s new book: POVERTY ROW ROYALTY: The Films of Pro...
07/12/2024

SPLIT REEL LLC is pleased to announce the publication of Thomas Reeder’s new book: POVERTY ROW ROYALTY: The Films of Producer Sigmund Neufeld and his brother, Director Sam Newfield.

They were that rarity in Hollywood: independent filmmakers who thrived.

They were the Neufeld brothers, Sig and Sam, filmdom’s most prolific producer-director team of the Twentieth Century. From the tenements of the Lower East Side to Hollywood’s independent film colony, the brothers flourished from the earliest days of the industry in New York until the B-film’s ubiquity came to a flickering end in the late 1950s.

Producer Sigmund Neufeld and his brother, director Sam Newfield—the modified surname was adopted early on—were permanent denizens of Hollywood’s cinematic underbelly, unflattering known as Poverty Row. While they dabbled in most genres—the comedy shorts of the silent era to the dramas, mysteries, musicals, comedies, and horror films of sound—it was the Western genre that they both thrived in, and are most remembered for. Featuring the likes of such sagebrush heroes as Tim McCoy, Bob Steele, and Buster Crabbe, the brothers were collectively responsible for more than 300 films over their lengthy careers, both as a team and individually. And that’s a modest count: Sig had his hands in countless films from 1911 to 1929 for which he received no credit, and Sam directed many using pseudonyms—we know of two for certain—shunning credit altogether for others, the titles of which remain unknown. And despite the frugal underpinnings of most of their films and the casts of green newcomers and fading has-beens alike, several notables received boosts to their fledgling careers in Sig’s films, Shirley Temple, Alan Ladd, and Julie London among them.

Up until 1948 when the U.S. Supreme Court forced the divestiture of the major film studios’ considerable theater holdings, there co-existed thousands of smaller, independently owned neighborhood and rural theaters. Essentially cut off from the major studios’ more prestigious output, these smaller theaters survived on a steady diet of films from independent producers such as Producers Releasing Corp, Monogram, and dozens of other, in many instances fly-by-night operations. Sig and Sam, benefiting from years of experience in production harkening back to cinema’s earliest days, produced a seemingly endless stream of surprisingly entertaining and reliably affordable fare, the lifeblood of those small, unaffiliated theaters. A nearly half-century presence in the industry, the brothers’ longevity and productivity bears mute testimony to their place in the world of low budget cinema, and their importance to theater owners nationwide.

POVERTY ROW ROYALTY provides a frank and detailed look at the lives and careers of two of Hollywood’s minor (but nonetheless important) mainstays, filmmakers who have been unfairly dismissed over the intervening years, now finally receiving the attention and reassessment they most rightly deserve.

About the author:
THOMAS REEDER is the acclaimed author of MR. SU***DE: HENRY “PATHÉ” LEHRMAN AND THE BIRTH OF SILENT COMEDY; TIME IS MONEY! THE CENTURY, RAINBOW, AND STERN BROTHERS COMEDIES OF JULIUS AND ABE STERN; AND STOP YELLIN’: BEN PIVAR AND THE HORROR, MYSTERY, AND ACTION-ADVENTURE FILMS OF HIS UNIVERSAL B-UNIT.Reeder, a lifelong lover of low budget cinema and silent comedy, has also contributed numerous film-related articles to such publications as Films of the Golden Age, Filmfax, Silent Film Quarterly, and Comique.

Foreword by author and B-movie expert ED HULSE!
Profusely illustrated with hundreds of rare photographs, and thoroughly researched and written by a leading film historian. 7"x10", 550 pages, available in softcover or hardcover (cover design by Marlene Weisman).

Available at split-reel.com (USA only)or on Amazon (Worldwide). The publisher and the author get a large "cut" if ordered through Split Reel.. and the shipping is free.

The POVERTY ROW ROYALTY Kickstarter campaign ended successfully with 115% funding!  Thank you to those that made pledges...
05/16/2024

The POVERTY ROW ROYALTY Kickstarter campaign ended successfully with 115% funding! Thank you to those that made pledges. It will take a few more weeks before the books ships out to Kickstarter backers , and should then will be available for purchase on our website www.split-reel.com or on amazon.com around July 1st.

We have a few more Kickstarters coming up in the near future and hope you will support those too. SPLIT REEL looks to bring into the light the esoteric of cinema and with your support we are accomplishing that mission.

We are fully funded!But still three days to pledge.  So tell your friends, neighbors or strangers you meet on the street...
05/09/2024

We are fully funded!

But still three days to pledge. So tell your friends, neighbors or strangers you meet on the street!

POVERTY ROW ROYALTY: The Films of Producer Sigmund Neufeld and His Brother, Director Sam Newfield

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Culpeper, VA
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