Mabel Norman was born 1893? in Staten Island, NY. By age 14, she was an early Gibson Girl model and at age 16 entered film (1910) with D W Griffith's Biograph Film Company. As a comedienne, she was the best of her era when it came to comedy acting. She at times, out matched Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and her co-stars, Fatty Arbuckle and Charlie Chaplin. Mabel directed Chaplin in his firms and taught him the comedy film business. Mabel made 227 films in her short career, more than one per month over a 17 year span. She also starred in 15 films which she herself directed in 1914-15. Her comedies for Mack Sennett at this Keystone Studios were the artistic high point of her career. Her later career was marred by the death of her close friend and director William Taylor and the career wrecking accusations of a rogue DA against her co-star Fatty Arbuckle who was acquitted 3 times. To further complicate her life, her chauffeur murdered another of Mabel's friends and Mabel always seemed to be entangled in the intrigue. Will Rogers said if there was a murder in Los Angeles, Mabel would be on the list of usual suspects and would be the first to be investigated. Mabel finally slowed down in 1926 and married actor Lew Cody. In '27, she left film forever. The toll of scandals, a bruising work schedule and TB all contributed to her early death in 1930.
Talk of the Town was recorded by Ted Weems and his Orchestra at the Victor Studios, 952 N Michigan Ave. in Chicago December 7, 1929. The music was composed by Chester Conn, Gus Kahn, lyricist. Take 3 was designated the master and was released under Victor label 22304, matrix BVE57237. Vocals by the ever present Parker Gibbs. Weems kept a small orchestra, this recording being the sounds of 3 saxes, 2 trumpets, a trombone, tuba, banjo, and traps.
Interesting to note that the picture at 2:39 shows Marie Dressler, the first ever Academy Award winner for best actress.
