Ten (nine two-sided, one single) Title/intertitle Cards for silent film, The Uplifters [Club] present: The Uplifterphone directed by William Beaudine and James Horn (L. Frank Baum Theatrics); black on marbled effect card.

Los Angeles: The Uplifters Club , ca 1920. Card. Very good. The Lofty and Exalted Order of Uplifters or simply The Uplifters was an invitation-only social club at the Los Angeles Athletic Club originally founded by Harry Marston Haldeman and L. Frank Baum in 1913. Upon Haldeman's arrival in Los Angeles, he sought to create a mens club similar to The Bugs. Membership included Marco H. Hellman, Sim W. Crabill, Ralph Hamlin, Ernest R. Ball, Byron Gay, Will Rogers, Walt Disney, Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, Busby Berkeley, Leo Carrillo, Harold Lloyd, Darryl F. (truncated) Zanuck, Ferde Grofé, Eugene Biscailuz, Hays Rice, Clarence R. Rundel, Louis F. Gottschalk, and L. Frank Baum. Baum created the group's name, wrote its anthem, "Haldeman," and scripted most of their amateur theatricals until his death. The majority of the Uplifters were successful businessmen; local actors and artists contributed their talents instead of paying dues. L. Frank Baum supplied materials for Uplifter activities and amateur theatricals, including full stage shows for the group’s annual outings.Baum's 'Scarecrow of Oz' was dedicated to the Uplifters: "in grateful appreciation of the pleasure I have derived from association with them, and in recognition of their sincere endeavor to uplift humanity through kindness, consideration and good-fellowship. They are big men — all of them — and all with the generous hearts of little children." While certainly not cast by Baum, but interesting movie tidbit, is that Uplifter member, actor and former Keystone Cop Charles Murray, was in the cast of the 1925 Wizard of Oz movie.The Uplifters met regularly at the Los Angeles Athletic Clubhouse, they also held an infamous annual party, called the Hijinx, first in Los Angeles and later in both Lake Arrowhead and Del Mar. The mens-only affair featured heavy drinking, the staging of lewd plays and outdoor sports including polo and shooting. Eventually the group moved out of the Los Angeles Athletic Club to avoid the scrutiny of prohibition, purchasing a ranch in 1920 near what is now Will Rogers State Historic Park. The Uplifters eventually suspended meetings and dissolved under the pressure of war, growing debt and shifting social attitudes. Meetings were not resumed until 2015, when members of the Los Angeles Athletic Club voted to resurrect the Uplifters and to include women. Well documented are the 'High Jinks' or Amateur theatrics written by Baum (until his death in 1919) - lyrics from many of the songs were published in Alla T. Ford's The High-Jinks of L. Frank Baum,  the songs included were from the 1938 Silver Anniversary edition of The Uplifters' Hymnal. Also included are the tongue-in-cheek by-laws (board executives are the Grand Muscle, the Elevator, the Royal Hoister, the Lord High Raiser, and the Board of Excelsiors), also written by Baum, and a list of every man who attended the first meeting. William Beaudine directed silent films for Goldwyn Pictures (before it became part of MGM), Metro Pictures (also before MGM), First National Pictures, Principal and Warner Brothers. In 1926 he directed 'Sparrows', the story of orphans imprisoned in a swamp farm starring Mary Pickford. Text from cards: Jack Harding was known as a lounge lizard in New York - but [,] in Paris [,] he was just plain lizard. ... Reed Howes. This card has annotated punctuation, perhaps for a later version. Fuzzy Balzar had been a great juggler in his day - -until her learned the simple trick of emptying cognac bottles. ... Harry ToddThe title card with parking information for visitors has F. F. Lamber penciled.

Most cards numbered, initialed, some annotated with names, all with pin holes to corners. Tide mark runs horizontally along group of cards. 9" x 7"" (Inventory #: 1223)