Denis Condon
@deniscondon.bsky.social
A lot of this will be about cinema. My interests are global but my research is mainly on Ireland a century ago. Lecturer at Maynooth University.
On 20 November 1925, Dublin's Masterpiece was bombed during the run of Ypres (UK: British Instructional Films, 1925), the first copy of which had been stolen from the cinema by armed raiders the previous week. Images: Evening Herald. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
On 20 November 1925, Dublin's Masterpiece was bombed during the run of Ypres (UK: British Instructional Films, 1925), the first copy of which had been stolen from the cinema by armed raiders the previous week. Images: Evening Herald. #EarlyIrishCinema
17 Nov 1925: Dublin Metropole had The Phantom of the Opera (US: Universal, 1925), "unquestionably the most amazing film that has been produced up to the present time. It is an astounding spectacular achievement and a masterpiece of characterisation." Images: Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 17, 2025 at 3:29 PM
17 Nov 1925: Dublin Metropole had The Phantom of the Opera (US: Universal, 1925), "unquestionably the most amazing film that has been produced up to the present time. It is an astounding spectacular achievement and a masterpiece of characterisation." Images: Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
On 16 November 1925, Drogheda's Boyne Cinema offered The White Sister (US: Inspiration, 1923), with Lillian Gish, whose "restrained conception of the difficult role of Sister Angela stands at the top of her many famous characterisations." Images: Drogheda Independent & Wikipedia. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 16, 2025 at 2:34 PM
On 16 November 1925, Drogheda's Boyne Cinema offered The White Sister (US: Inspiration, 1923), with Lillian Gish, whose "restrained conception of the difficult role of Sister Angela stands at the top of her many famous characterisations." Images: Drogheda Independent & Wikipedia. #EarlyIrishCinema
On 15 November 1925, Dublin's Corinthian began a run of College Days (AKA The Freshman; US: Lloyd, 1925), starring Harold Lloyd in "a clean, wholesome picture that will make you laugh all the time." Images: Evening Herald and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
On 15 November 1925, Dublin's Corinthian began a run of College Days (AKA The Freshman; US: Lloyd, 1925), starring Harold Lloyd in "a clean, wholesome picture that will make you laugh all the time." Images: Evening Herald and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
#OTD 1925, Dublin's La Scala offered its last screenings of the Irish Pilgrimage film and the Grafton its last of Confessions of a Queen (US: Metro-Goldwyn, 1925), directed by Victor Sjöström, and starring Alice Terry. Images: Evening Herald and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 14, 2025 at 9:50 AM
#OTD 1925, Dublin's La Scala offered its last screenings of the Irish Pilgrimage film and the Grafton its last of Confessions of a Queen (US: Metro-Goldwyn, 1925), directed by Victor Sjöström, and starring Alice Terry. Images: Evening Herald and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
On 13 November 1925, the 900-seat Rinn cinema opened in Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin, with a bill headed by That Devil Quemado (US: Robertson-Cole, 1925) and live singng and comedy. Images: Irish Times, Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM
On 13 November 1925, the 900-seat Rinn cinema opened in Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin, with a bill headed by That Devil Quemado (US: Robertson-Cole, 1925) and live singng and comedy. Images: Irish Times, Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
This week 1925, armed raiders stole the copy of Ypres (UK: British Instructional Films) due for a run at Dublin's Masterpiece. The management acquired a new print from Thursday, and "thousands flocked around this popular picture house." Images: Evening Herald. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 11, 2025 at 12:03 PM
This week 1925, armed raiders stole the copy of Ypres (UK: British Instructional Films) due for a run at Dublin's Masterpiece. The management acquired a new print from Thursday, and "thousands flocked around this popular picture house." Images: Evening Herald. #EarlyIrishCinema
On 10 November 1925, Kells's Cinema offered "the most ambitious screen programme ever shown locally," beginning with America (US: Griffith, 1924), followed by The Moon of Israel (Austria/UK: Sascha, 1924) later in the week. Images: Meath Chronicle and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 10, 2025 at 9:17 AM
On 10 November 1925, Kells's Cinema offered "the most ambitious screen programme ever shown locally," beginning with America (US: Griffith, 1924), followed by The Moon of Israel (Austria/UK: Sascha, 1924) later in the week. Images: Meath Chronicle and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
El Putnam talks to Joanna Walsh about her book Amateurs: How We Built lnternet Culture and Why It Matters as part of a seminar on Digital Intersections: Exploring Art, Language and Resistance @maynoothuniversity.ie
November 6, 2025 at 1:43 PM
El Putnam talks to Joanna Walsh about her book Amateurs: How We Built lnternet Culture and Why It Matters as part of a seminar on Digital Intersections: Exploring Art, Language and Resistance @maynoothuniversity.ie
On 3 November 1925, Dublin's Corinthian was showing The Unholy Three (US: MGM, 1925) directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney, Victor McLaglen and Mae Busch, "an eerie crook subject, its weightiness being augmented by the magnificent acting." Images: Evening Herald & IMDb #EarlyIrishCinema
November 3, 2025 at 6:21 PM
On 3 November 1925, Dublin's Corinthian was showing The Unholy Three (US: MGM, 1925) directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney, Victor McLaglen and Mae Busch, "an eerie crook subject, its weightiness being augmented by the magnificent acting." Images: Evening Herald & IMDb #EarlyIrishCinema
At the start of November 1925, Irish newspapers reported on the deaths in Paris by suicide or possible murder-suicide of French film comedian Max Linder and his wife Hélène Peters. Images: Sunday Independent, Cork Examiner and Wikipedia. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 2, 2025 at 3:26 PM
At the start of November 1925, Irish newspapers reported on the deaths in Paris by suicide or possible murder-suicide of French film comedian Max Linder and his wife Hélène Peters. Images: Sunday Independent, Cork Examiner and Wikipedia. #EarlyIrishCinema
On 1 November 1925, Roscommon's Provincial Electric Cinema Co. offered The Cowboy and the Lady (US: Paramount, 1922): "more unfortunate than a spinster who cannot get a good husband is a wife who cannot get rid of a bad one." Images: Roscommon Messenger & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
November 1, 2025 at 1:40 PM
On 1 November 1925, Roscommon's Provincial Electric Cinema Co. offered The Cowboy and the Lady (US: Paramount, 1922): "more unfortunate than a spinster who cannot get a good husband is a wife who cannot get rid of a bad one." Images: Roscommon Messenger & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
On 31 October 1925, the Irish Independent reported that Dublin's La Scala had been cautioned and fined for showing a copy of Reveille (UK: Welsh-Pearson, 1924) that included material that had been cut by the Irish film censor. Images: Independent and Bioscope. #EarlyIrishCinema
October 31, 2025 at 5:24 PM
On 31 October 1925, the Irish Independent reported that Dublin's La Scala had been cautioned and fined for showing a copy of Reveille (UK: Welsh-Pearson, 1924) that included material that had been cut by the Irish film censor. Images: Independent and Bioscope. #EarlyIrishCinema
On 20 October 1925, Phyllis Wakely (O'Hara) was charged with having jumped off a moving train between Dundrum and Stillorgan on 15 September to get a shot for Land of Her Fathers (Transatlantic, 1925). Images: Sunday Independent, Evening Herald & Irish Independent. #EarlyIrishCinema
October 27, 2025 at 12:04 PM
On 20 October 1925, Phyllis Wakely (O'Hara) was charged with having jumped off a moving train between Dundrum and Stillorgan on 15 September to get a shot for Land of Her Fathers (Transatlantic, 1925). Images: Sunday Independent, Evening Herald & Irish Independent. #EarlyIrishCinema
#OTD 1925, Dublin's Grand Central advertised its run of Tom Mix's The Deadwood Coach (US: Fox, 1924) by parking a stagecoach in front of the cinema in O'Connell Street, which was still advertising A Woman of Paris (US: Chaplin, 1923). Images: Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
October 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
#OTD 1925, Dublin's Grand Central advertised its run of Tom Mix's The Deadwood Coach (US: Fox, 1924) by parking a stagecoach in front of the cinema in O'Connell Street, which was still advertising A Woman of Paris (US: Chaplin, 1923). Images: Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
This week 1925, Irish newspapers reported on the filming of a reenactment of the burning of Dublin's Custom House in May 1921 as part of the production of Irish Destiny (Ireland: Eppels, 1926). Images: Wikipedia, Irish Independent and Kerry Reporter. #EarlyIrishCinema
October 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
This week 1925, Irish newspapers reported on the filming of a reenactment of the burning of Dublin's Custom House in May 1921 as part of the production of Irish Destiny (Ireland: Eppels, 1926). Images: Wikipedia, Irish Independent and Kerry Reporter. #EarlyIrishCinema
Sarah Arnold delivers a talk on "Irish-Language Broadcasting: Gender, Language and Region" to kick off Maynooth University's Media Studies Research seminar.
October 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Sarah Arnold delivers a talk on "Irish-Language Broadcasting: Gender, Language and Region" to kick off Maynooth University's Media Studies Research seminar.
"What is the Price of a Cinema Seat?" an ad for Velocium tonic asked in the Irish Independent #OTD 1925. "After sitting for hours in a Picture House in used-up air, often hot and thick and germ-infested, is it any wonder the night-wind catches you off guard?" #EarlyIrishCinema
October 16, 2025 at 7:02 PM
"What is the Price of a Cinema Seat?" an ad for Velocium tonic asked in the Irish Independent #OTD 1925. "After sitting for hours in a Picture House in used-up air, often hot and thick and germ-infested, is it any wonder the night-wind catches you off guard?" #EarlyIrishCinema
On 15 October 1925, Dublin's Metropole was showing the early dinosaur special effect epic The Lost World (US: First National, 1925), which "takes us back to the world that existed long before man inhabited it." Images: Evening Herald & Wikipedia. #EarlyIrishCinema
October 15, 2025 at 5:29 PM
On 15 October 1925, Dublin's Metropole was showing the early dinosaur special effect epic The Lost World (US: First National, 1925), which "takes us back to the world that existed long before man inhabited it." Images: Evening Herald & Wikipedia. #EarlyIrishCinema
Stills from two new Irish films featured in the Evening Herald this week 1925: the surviving Irish Destiny and the lost Land of Her Fathers (Transatlantic, 1925), starring Phyllis O'Hara Micheál MacLiammóir and the Abbey Players. Images: Herald and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
October 9, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Stills from two new Irish films featured in the Evening Herald this week 1925: the surviving Irish Destiny and the lost Land of Her Fathers (Transatlantic, 1925), starring Phyllis O'Hara Micheál MacLiammóir and the Abbey Players. Images: Herald and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
#OTD 1925, the Evening Herald published a still from A Woman of Paris (US: Chaplin, 1923), starring Edna Purviance and directed by Charlie Chaplin but not featuring him, in advance of its run at Dublin's Grand Central the following week. Images: Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
October 8, 2025 at 11:43 PM
#OTD 1925, the Evening Herald published a still from A Woman of Paris (US: Chaplin, 1923), starring Edna Purviance and directed by Charlie Chaplin but not featuring him, in advance of its run at Dublin's Grand Central the following week. Images: Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
On 1 October 1925, Dublin's Masterpiece, Talbot Street, was showing The Siren of Seville (US: Stromberg, 1924), starring Priscilla Dean, "the empress of elemental emotions," and accompanied by special music arranged by the orchestra. Images: Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
October 1, 2025 at 3:21 PM
On 1 October 1925, Dublin's Masterpiece, Talbot Street, was showing The Siren of Seville (US: Stromberg, 1924), starring Priscilla Dean, "the empress of elemental emotions," and accompanied by special music arranged by the orchestra. Images: Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
The Sea Hawk (US: Lloyd, 1924) was swashing the buckles of audiences at Powell's Cinema, Roscrea #OTD 1925. Images: Midland Tribune and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
September 28, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The Sea Hawk (US: Lloyd, 1924) was swashing the buckles of audiences at Powell's Cinema, Roscrea #OTD 1925. Images: Midland Tribune and IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
This week 1925, the Irish Free State Prison Board identified "an entirely new class of criminal, composed of half-educated youths, who... have grown up in lawless habits, and the streets and the cinema have been the main sources of their moral education." Image: Irish News. #EarlyIrishCinema
September 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
This week 1925, the Irish Free State Prison Board identified "an entirely new class of criminal, composed of half-educated youths, who... have grown up in lawless habits, and the streets and the cinema have been the main sources of their moral education." Image: Irish News. #EarlyIrishCinema
#OTD 1925, Dublin's Corinthian offered The Epic of Everest (UK: Dafu, 1924), with cinematographer J.B. Noel in attendance, accompanied by seven lamas: "this is the first time in the history of the world that a Lama has set foot in a European country." Images: Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema
September 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
#OTD 1925, Dublin's Corinthian offered The Epic of Everest (UK: Dafu, 1924), with cinematographer J.B. Noel in attendance, accompanied by seven lamas: "this is the first time in the history of the world that a Lama has set foot in a European country." Images: Evening Herald & IMDb. #EarlyIrishCinema