The associate producer for this series was Richard Correll who was Harold Lloyd's archivist. (He was also a former child actor who played Beaver's friend Richard in "Leave It To Beaver".) As a steward, Correll worked closely with Lloyd (who had retained ownership of all his old films) to keep most of them all looking good & surviving into the next century. I never thought I'd see episodes from this series ever again! I am so glad this is here!
I used to watch this on TV68, a UHF station from Newark NJ. If I recall correctly, on Thursday nights. A long time silent comedy fan going back to my childhood, before this had never gotten to see more than a few brief Harold Lloyd clips. His films just weren't available like Chaplin or Laurel & Hardy. SOme people might not like the way it was presented, but I found the Pete Smith style narration pretty amusing. Never knew till just now that the narrator was the very well known voice (and sometimes live action) actor Henry Corden.
So many of us loved this series, including me. It may have given us the welcome opportunity to see and appreciate Harold Lloyd but it fulfilled all his fears for his legacy: re-editing, jazzy music, and a facetious commentary. I have nightmares like the first clip - trying like mad to get somewhere and making no progress.
Thank you SO SO MUCH for rescuing this series and posting it! As I mentioned in the comments from another episode you put up, this was my intro to Harold, at the tender age of ten. This really brings back fond memories of my dad and I watching it together and laughing hysterically throughout. My dad died in October 2020 and I so wish I had discovered these in time to share them with him! Regarding the program itself, I think the music and effects hold up extremely well (and of course I’ll always love the obscenely catchy and memorable theme song no matter what!). The narration, not so much, but it’s all part of the package at this point. Regarding this episode’s featured clips, I’ve always thought that DOCTOR JACK is a pretty brilliant and hilarious comedy, sadly underrated next to other Lloyd feature films. This one is like THE CIRCUS, an unsung gem that just doesn’t get the acclaim of THE GOLD RUSH, CITY LIGHTS or MODERN TIMES. As for NEVER TOUCHED ME, well, I’d never seen it nor even heard of it, not until now! Absolutely hysterical, and I hope a restored version of it can be released at some point, perhaps using this fine looking element as a basis…? Dave, any chance of a Kickstarter Blu-ray release of this along with some other rarely-seen Lloyd one-reelers?
Thanks WB. I have some more episodes I'll be sharing one day. Not sure the series is worthy of a Blu-ray release but his rarer shorts certainly would be.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear, I meant a release of a restored version of NEVER TOUCHED ME along with other rare Lloyd shorts. Although, now that you mention it, I’m totally in for a Blu of Harold Lloyd’s World Of Comedy episodes!
Great that you have posted these episodes. Tom Dardis in his 1983 Lloyd biography claims that these were "horrendously edited", shown at the wrong speed and surrounded by a framing device. That's what happens when you criticize films you haven't seen! The picture quality is nice and clear, the speed is correct, and there is clearly no framing device. The feature film version of Safety Last only has a couple of gags deleted for racist content ( something I'm sure Harold would have whole- heartedly approved). And personally I think think that the 1920s-style music suits these movies to a T. A very underrated TV series.
Wow, I've never seen NEVER TOUCHED ME in such a complete form before. An dthe print is miles ahead of the dupey 16mm copy that had been circulating before. Thanks, Dave!
These compilation films bring me right back to my childhood love them and wish they were still available. The reissues of the films with the Carl Davis Orchestra R2 gloomy in my opinion
These are great, Reminds me of snuggling with my parents when I was a boy watching these on the sofa... good times... I wonder if you are able to upload more of these if you have them they are amazing... Thanks mate. Incidentally how many episodes did they make if these do you know...? 👍👍
This show with this narration was shown in the UK in the early 1980s on BBC2, and fondly remembered by many of my contemporaries I'm sure. I'm surprised to find that it doesn't seem to be listed on IMDB. Was this recut from Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy (1962), or newly compiled from the original movies? How many episodes were there? IMDB also doesn't seem to credit the scriptwriter Peter Durston with anything else.
Newly compiled from the original movies. The 1962 film "Harold Lloyd's World Of Comedy" was quite diffrent from this TV series. The 1962 film included some sequences of Lloyd's later sound films. This series was compiled in the early 70's for syndication & featured highlights from Lloyd's earlier silent shorts & features.. Mostly from The Hal Roach studios.. (or the Rolin Film Company as it was known in it's early days-- ) Info on this series is so scarce, I had wondered if I dreamt the show.. I wrote a comment on the other posted episode talking about this; I had written a letter to Time-Life Television back in about 1999 & asked them if the series was avalible for home video. They wrote back saying the show was not in their holdings. It seems as if no one remembered this one at all...
I think Warner Films own these 1970s versions. The original Time-Life lease ran out in 1987 and I don't think the Lloyd estate has any interest in negotiating any re-release deal. A shame - they're a great showcase for the best scenes from these classic comedies, especially for youngsters (with the intertitles replaced by narration). This, of course, was unique to the TV series...the time-life features retained the original titles.
Sadly forgotten. A great many of us grew up with these even in later years, but the snowflake generation won't entertain many of the "issues" they "like" to find in these. Great comedy style, lost but thankfully not forever, on RUclips.
This is the show that introduced me to Harold Lloyd back in the 80’s. Still my favorite!
The associate producer for this series was Richard Correll who was Harold Lloyd's archivist. (He was also a former child actor who played Beaver's friend Richard in "Leave It To Beaver".) As a steward, Correll worked closely with Lloyd (who had retained ownership of all his old films) to keep most of them all looking good & surviving into the next century. I never thought I'd see episodes from this series ever again! I am so glad this is here!
Thanks for the info and very glad you've enjoyed seeing these jewels again.
I used to watch this on TV68, a UHF station from Newark NJ. If I recall correctly, on Thursday nights. A long time silent comedy fan going back to my childhood, before this had never gotten to see more than a few brief Harold Lloyd clips. His films just weren't available like Chaplin or Laurel & Hardy. SOme people might not like the way it was presented, but I found the Pete Smith style narration pretty amusing. Never knew till just now that the narrator was the very well known voice (and sometimes live action) actor Henry Corden.
So many of us loved this series, including me. It may have given us the welcome opportunity to see and appreciate Harold Lloyd but it fulfilled all his fears for his legacy: re-editing, jazzy music, and a facetious commentary. I have nightmares like the first clip - trying like mad to get somewhere and making no progress.
Thank you SO SO MUCH for rescuing this series and posting it! As I mentioned in the comments from another episode you put up, this was my intro to Harold, at the tender age of ten. This really brings back fond memories of my dad and I watching it together and laughing hysterically throughout. My dad died in October 2020 and I so wish I had discovered these in time to share them with him!
Regarding the program itself, I think the music and effects hold up extremely well (and of course I’ll always love the obscenely catchy and memorable theme song no matter what!). The narration, not so much, but it’s all part of the package at this point. Regarding this episode’s featured clips, I’ve always thought that DOCTOR JACK is a pretty brilliant and hilarious comedy, sadly underrated next to other Lloyd feature films. This one is like THE CIRCUS, an unsung gem that just doesn’t get the acclaim of THE GOLD RUSH, CITY LIGHTS or MODERN TIMES. As for NEVER TOUCHED ME, well, I’d never seen it nor even heard of it, not until now! Absolutely hysterical, and I hope a restored version of it can be released at some point, perhaps using this fine looking element as a basis…? Dave, any chance of a Kickstarter Blu-ray release of this along with some other rarely-seen Lloyd one-reelers?
Thanks WB. I have some more episodes I'll be sharing one day. Not sure the series is worthy of a Blu-ray release but his rarer shorts certainly would be.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear, I meant a release of a restored version of NEVER TOUCHED ME along with other rare Lloyd shorts. Although, now that you mention it, I’m totally in for a Blu of Harold Lloyd’s World Of Comedy episodes!
It was a shame the great man never got to see these great reissues
My dear God I was 10 years old when I love to watch this show
Great that you have posted these episodes. Tom Dardis in his 1983 Lloyd biography claims that these were "horrendously edited", shown at the wrong speed and surrounded by a framing device. That's what happens when you criticize films you haven't seen! The picture quality is nice and clear, the speed is correct, and there is clearly no framing device. The feature film version of Safety Last only has a couple of gags deleted for racist content ( something I'm sure Harold would have whole- heartedly approved). And personally I think think that the 1920s-style music suits these movies to a T. A very underrated TV series.
Agreed! This series helped increase the Harold Lloyd fan club! More to come.....
I agree. I first saw this series in 1981 and have live it ever since that year. The audio and visual elements for this one are GREAT!
Brilliant to see a good quality upload of this series. Thanks 🙏👍
Thanks Jonathan :)
Wow, I've never seen NEVER TOUCHED ME in such a complete form before. An dthe print is miles ahead of the dupey 16mm copy that had been circulating before. Thanks, Dave!
Pleasure!
and also the 16mm prints have a reversed image!
This tv show aired years after the death of Harold Lloyd which is a shame because he would’ve watched it
These compilation films bring me right back to my childhood love them and wish they were still available. The reissues of the films with the Carl Davis Orchestra R2 gloomy in my opinion
I agree. Modern day silent film orchestrations and accompanists, are horrible.
These are great, Reminds me of snuggling with my parents when I was a boy watching these on the sofa... good times... I wonder if you are able to upload more of these if you have them they are amazing... Thanks mate.
Incidentally how many episodes did they make if these do you know...?
👍👍
I plan to train my next generation to be comedians like Harold and perform in funny movies including mimes.
Awesome keep em coming
This show with this narration was shown in the UK in the early 1980s on BBC2, and fondly remembered by many of my contemporaries I'm sure. I'm surprised to find that it doesn't seem to be listed on IMDB. Was this recut from Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy (1962), or newly compiled from the original movies?
How many episodes were there?
IMDB also doesn't seem to credit the scriptwriter Peter Durston with anything else.
Newly compiled from the original movies. The 1962 film "Harold Lloyd's World Of Comedy" was quite diffrent from this TV series. The 1962 film included some sequences of Lloyd's later sound films. This series was compiled in the early 70's for syndication & featured highlights from Lloyd's earlier silent shorts & features.. Mostly from The Hal Roach studios.. (or the Rolin Film Company as it was known in it's early days-- ) Info on this series is so scarce, I had wondered if I dreamt the show.. I wrote a comment on the other posted episode talking about this; I had written a letter to Time-Life Television back in about 1999 & asked them if the series was avalible for home video. They wrote back saying the show was not in their holdings. It seems as if no one remembered this one at all...
Any chance of the series getting a dvd/blu-Ray release?
That'd be nice but highly unlikely. It would also be down to the Harold Lloyd Estate and / or Time Life who may still have the original prints?
I think Warner Films own these 1970s versions. The original Time-Life lease ran out in 1987 and I don't think the Lloyd estate has any interest in negotiating any re-release deal. A shame - they're a great showcase for the best scenes from these classic comedies, especially for youngsters (with the intertitles replaced by narration). This, of course, was unique to the TV series...the time-life features retained the original titles.
Sadly forgotten. A great many of us grew up with these even in later years, but the snowflake generation won't entertain many of the "issues" they "like" to find in these. Great comedy style, lost but thankfully not forever, on RUclips.
Is that Harold Lloyd’s voice narrating?
No. It's Henry Corden.