Alkali Ike is a series of short comedy films released during the
silent film
A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...
era by
Essanay Studios
Essanay Studios, officially the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, was an early American motion picture studio. The studio was founded in 1907 in Chicago by George Kirke Spoor and Gilbert M. Anderson, originally as the Peerless Film Manufactu ...
and later by
Universal Pictures
Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...
.
Gilbert M. Anderson was involved with producing them and directed several.
Augustus Carney
Augustus Carney (1870–1920) was an American actor during the early 20th century. Born in Ireland in 1870, he got his start in vaudeville before entering the film industry. In his short seven-year career he appeared in over 130 films, mostly sho ...
portrayed Alkali Ike, and
Harry Todd
Harry Todd (born John Nelson Todd;Kiehn, David (2003). Broncho Billy and the Essanay Film Company'. Berkeley, CA: Farwell Books. p. 291. . December 13, 1863 – February 15, 1935) was an American actor.
Early life and career
A native ...
co-starred in the film series as the character Mustang Pete.
Margaret Joslin
Margaret Joslin (August 6, 1883 – October 14, 1956), born Margaret Lucy Gosling, was an American film actress. She appeared in more than 160 films between 1910 and 1923. She was born Cleveland, Ohio and died in Glendale, California. She wa ...
and
Lily Branscombe
Lily Branscombe (born Lillian Rodman, February 28, 1876 – September 26, 1970) was a stage and film actress from New Zealand.
Biography
Branscombe was born as Lillian Rodman in Carterton, in the North Island of New Zealand, and educated in N ...
also appeared in many installments of the series.
The Library of Philadelphia has an advertisement for the ''
"Alkali" Ike's Auto'' episode.
At Universal
Universal poached Carney and used the character renamed Universal Ike for a series of comedic films. It was part of its Joker Comedies series.
Other uses and adaptations of the name "Alkali Ike"
*There is a song titled "Alkali Ike Rag".
*Baseball player
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland Alexander (February 26, 1887 – November 4, 1950), nicknamed "Old Pete" and "Alexander the Great", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played from 1911 through 1930 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, an ...
was nicknamed "Alkali Pete" by combining part of the names of the two lead characters in the film series: ''Alkali'' Ike and Mustang ''Pete''.
*Marvel Comics'
Earth-616
In the fictional Multiverse (Marvel Comics), Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 is the primary continuity (fiction), continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place.
Origins of the term
The designation "Earth-616" has its origins in ...
has a character named Alkali Ike.
Filmography
*''
Alkali Ike's Auto
''Alkali Ike's Auto'' is a 1911 American silent short comedy film directed by Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson. The film is the first in the " Alkali Ike" series.
Cast
* Augustus Carney as Alkali Ike
* Harry Todd as Mustang Pete
* Marg ...
'' (1911)
*''Alkali Ike's Motorcycle'' (1912)
*''Alkali Ike Plays the Devil'' (1912)
*''Alkali Ike's Boarding House'' (1912)
*''Alkali Bests Broncho Billy'' (1912)
*''Alkali Ike's Pants'' (1912)
*''Alkali Ike's Misfortune'' (1913)
*''Alkali Ike's Gal'' (1913)
*''Alkali Ike and the Wildman'' (1913)
*''
Universal Ike Gets a Goat''
See also
*
Snakeville
References
{{authority control
Silent American comedy short films