Curtis 'Snowball' McHenry (April 4, 1899 – July 24, 1934) was an American stuntman and comedian who appeared in
Larry Semon
Lawrence Semon (February 9, 1889 – October 8, 1928) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter during the silent film era. In his day, Semon was considered a major movie comedian, but he is now remembered mainly for working ...
comedies in the 1920s. He was sometimes billed as G. Howe Black.
Early life
According to his
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
draft card, McHenry was born in
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a small city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The 2020 population was 22,166. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex region and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Ruston is the prin ...
, on April 4, 1899. However, his death certificate said he was born on "April 4, 1900".
Career
He started in films in 1920, after working in circuses and became known as 'Snowball'. He specialised in comedy at movie studios
Chadwick Pictures
Chadwick Pictures was an American film production and distribution company active during the silent and early sound eras. It was originally established in New York by Isaac E. Chadwick (1884 – 1952) in 1920 to release films, but from 1924 also ...
and
Christie Film Company
Christie Film Company was an American pioneer motion picture company founded in Hollywood, California by Al Christie and Charles Christie, two brothers from London, Ontario, Canada. It made comedies.
While Charles served almost exclusively in ...
.
He appeared in several Larry Semon films like '' Lightning Love'' (1923) and ''
The Perfect Clown
''The Perfect Clown'' is a 1925 American silent slapstick comedy film starring Larry Semon and Kate Price. It features an early screen appearance by Oliver Hardy. Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, the screenplay was written by Thomas J. Crizer, w ...
'' (1925). While his best known role is Snowball in Semon's ''
The Wizard of Oz
''The Wizard of Oz'' is a 1939 American Musical film, musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Based on the 1900 novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum, it was primarily directed by Victor Fleming, who left pro ...
'' (1925). His character is a farmhand who travels to Oz with Dorothy and others, spending the latter part of the film dressed as a
Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is depicted as an African lion, and like all animals in Oz, he can speak.
Although he often self-doubt, doubts himself, the Cowardly Lion no ...
. In the movie he is credited as G. Howe Black; in a mainly positive review, a ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' critic admonished Semon for crediting McHenry with the demeaning name writing that McHenry, "deserved better fate".
He is often confused with Spencer Bell (another popular black comedian of the era); with Bell being wrongly identified as appearing in ''The Wizard of Oz'', among other films.
The Gown Shop
''The Gown Shop'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by and starring Larry Semon that featured Oliver Hardy.
Cast
* Larry Semon as Larry, a salesman
* Kathleen Myers as Head saleslady
* Oliver Hardy as Store manager (credited as ...
Horseshoes
Horseshoe is a shoe for horses and by analogy is applied to many things with a similar shape.
Horseshoes (game), a tossing game played with a horseshoe
Horseshoe(s) or Horse Shoe(s) may also refer to:
Places Settlements and jurisdictions
* Horse ...
Robinson Crusoe
''Robinson Crusoe'' ( ) is an English adventure novel by Daniel Defoe, first published on 25 April 1719. Written with a combination of Epistolary novel, epistolary, Confessional writing, confessional, and Didacticism, didactic forms, the ...
The Cloudhopper
''The'' is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the ...
'' (1925)
*''
The Wizard of Oz
''The Wizard of Oz'' is a 1939 American Musical film, musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Based on the 1900 novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum, it was primarily directed by Victor Fleming, who left pro ...
'' (1925) as G. Howe Black
*''
The Blue Blood
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' ...
'' (1925) as G. Howe Black
*''
The Perfect Clown
''The Perfect Clown'' is a 1925 American silent slapstick comedy film starring Larry Semon and Kate Price. It features an early screen appearance by Oliver Hardy. Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, the screenplay was written by Thomas J. Crizer, w ...
'' (1925) as G. Howe Black
*''
The Prince of Broadway
''The Prince of Broadway'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by John Gorman and starring George Walsh, Alyce Mills, and Freeman Wood.
Plot
As described in a film magazine review, middleweight boxing champion George Burke leads a ...
The Lyin' Tamer
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The' ...
'' (1926)
*''
The Great K & A Train Robbery
''The Great K & A Train Robbery'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Tom Mix and Dorothy Dwan. The film is based on the actual foiling of a train robbery by Dick Gordon as ...
'' (1926)
*''
Isle of Sunken Gold
''Isle of Sunken Gold'' is a 1927 American silent adventure film serial directed by Harry S. Webb. The film was long considered to be lost, however, chapters 4, 5, and 6 and reel 1 of chapter 7 were recently discovered in a European archive a ...
The Last Frontier The Last Frontier may refer to:
Film
* ''The Last Frontier'' (1926 film), a Western by George B. Seitz
* ''The Last Frontier'' (serial), a 1932 American film serial starring Lon Chaney, Jr
* ''The Last Frontier'' (1955 film), a Western by Anth ...