U2208

Silent Screen Stars

Keystone Cops 

Collins Cover Announcement 

STARS OF THE SILENT SCREEN

KEYSTONE COPS AND RUDOLPH VALENTINO

One of those unasked questions was answered for me during my research for this COLLINS Cover project. Where did the name Keystone Cops come from? It turns out that from 1914 to 1920, famous early director Mack Sennett made his movies at the Keystone Studio. Thus, the familiar array of funny and frustrated police officers were dubbed the "Keystone Cops". Their crazy antics and wild chases kept audiences howling with laughter.

My hand-painted cachet has as its locale police headquarters. The chief is sitting at his desk and speaking on the phone. It must be an interesting call because over his shoulder the entire force of nine Keystone Cops is trying to listen in and overhear his conversation.

The second "Silent Screen" cover offered now features perhaps the most legendary of all early movie stars -- Rudolph Valentino. He was the idol of millions of women and the mere mention of his name -- Valentino -- was like a touch of verbal magic. It is hard today to imagine what it was like. My hand-painted cachet captures Rudy in one of his most famous roles -- "The Sheik". His film legacy also includes many other acclaimed works such as "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" and "Blood and Sand".

Both of these covers have the border that I created just for this issue to set the mood for early films. This fancy and busy border makes this superb set and each individual cover within it instantly recognizable as a COLLINS. Join once again those lovable Keystone Cops as a hilarious escapade is being hatched as they gather around their chief (Item #U2208). Join once again the great one from yesteryear -- Valentino -- as "The Sheik" sweeps the fainted heroine into his arms and is about to carry her into his desert tent (Item #U2201). Step back in time to the Stars of the Silent Screen. $10.75 each.