Remembering Karl Dane

I always find it a little pointless to say 'so and so woulda been 100 something today' as obviously very few people pass the age of 100 (Doris Eatons of the world excluded). I guess if Charlie Chaplin were still alive nearing 120 I'd still marry him...somehow that logic doesn't extend to Valentino and I don't know why.

Rambling aside, had Karl Dane lived he would have been just a little older, turning 122 today. As ya'll know we here at FTT love Karl. Karl was by far one of the greatest Comedians I have ever seen, and he never quite got his due. Well he did...he made several extremely popular films with Lillian Gish, John Gilbert, and Renee Adoree. He took part in the second best selling silent of all time (only behind Birth of a Nation): "The Big Parade". He also took part in "Son of the Sheik" in which he was just excellent (and got bit by Vilma Banky!)

In the late 1920s he formed a comedic duo with George K Arthur, becoming "Dane & Arthur". They were extremely successful, and made several talkies. Thanks to well known asshole Kenneth Anger the rumor that Dane's voice did him in is just that...rumors. Dane was Danish (ha!) and did have an accent...but you can hear for yourself here. Personally I found him delightful, as always.

Unfortunately by the 30s Dane was fighting with studios, and heavy into personal and health problems (he hurt himself on set, nearly loosing his life). He gave up film, lost his savings to a less then trustworthy business partner, ended up working any and every job he could...but getting fired (one example: he worked at a cafe as a waiter but the owner fired him when an old celebrity failed to attract customers). He begged for a studio job but they wouldn't give it to him. His final screen role was in 1933 as part of a Bela Lugosi serial. You can see it here. No matter what had happened to him by that point Dane was still amazing.

Unfortunately (ala Marilyn, Valentino, Olive, and Elvis) his death is more known then his life (thanks again Anger...jerk). In April 1934, pickpocketed of the last of his money the day before, Dane hit the end of his rope and killed himself. Jean Hersholt insisted MGM pay for a burial, which they did at Hollywood Forever.

Now Dane's name and career is usually regulated to that little paragraph...only with more focus on sentences like "Killed himself because he was not suitable for talkies" which is not true. Poor Karl is never given his due. Although Laura Peterson Balogh has completed a biography on him, which has found a publisher and will hopefully be out in the next year or so.

I'm a staunch candidate for remembering life. Too many people (in what easily is the kooky world of silents) focus on the death and supposed afterlife of these long gone stars. Don't get me wrong...I hold my own personal spiritual beliefs. Yet I find forgetting the person (and focusing on the death, and their image) a bit pointless and disrespectful. It is always good to remember, but it is bad to forget as I said with Valentino the simple fact that they were indeed HUMAN.

Karl was a brother, son, and father. He was also married 3 times, tragically losing the love of his life (and his baby daughter) in childbirth. Everyone remembered him as the nicest guy, who could be a little flirty (but damn he was just so sweet you let him anyways!) Considering his later life its obvious he was just a very sweet good man trying to make his way in the world. He definitely deserves to be remembered.

So if your not in the LA area my suggestion would be to throw on any number of his DVDs...especially "Son of the Sheik". "La Boheme" is another favorite of mine but AHHH its depressing. You can also leave virtual roses and thoughts in his honor at Find a Grave. I highly recommend it.

Live Again Mr. Dane. We remember!