bjgreen
By Betsy J. Green
The “Flying A” silent movie actors were not the only ones who were caught up in stunts that did not go as planned. Actress Rhea Mitchel was gobbled up by a steam shovel, during the filming of “Overalls.” A nearby railroad was being repaired after having been damaged in a storm, and the studio was able to get permission to use the steam shovel in a scene.
“Advantage was taken of the operations by the gigantic steam shovel, which is removing a hill. It was so arranged in this scene that Miss Mitchell should not observe the shovel as it gnawed its way up to the brink where she was standing. She was caught with several tons of earth and dropped and caught on the edge of the shovel and remained hanging while it swung away. Within a few feet from the ground, she dropped . . . Miss Mitchell was not satisfied with the first try and made it again.” – Santa Barbara Morning Press, January 23, 1916
Betsy’s Way Back When book — Movies & Million-Dollar Mansions — is now available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com. This is the seventh book in her series on the history of Santa Barbara. Learn more at .
