Making A Living

Happy birthday, Billy West.  Not the great voice actor, but the screen comedian born 120 years ago.

Charlie Chaplin released his first film in 1914, and within a year was a huge international star.  There were legions of imitators, and the best was Billy West. In 1917-1918, West made a series of one-reelers that, if it weren't for just a little something missing (such as lack of invention), you could almost mistake for the real thing.

And as the Eric Campbell-like bad guy, you've got Oliver "Babe" Hardy, years before he was teamed up with Stan Laurel (who for a time was another Chaplin imitator--not to mention an old roommate of the actual star).