Long considered one of the three greats of silent film comedy, Harold Lloyd made a career inciting laughter from millions of moviegoers. The scene of the young man in horn-rimmed glasses hanging from a clock on the side of a building is perhaps the most remembered moment in silent film. But Lloyd’s screen persona started out much differently than that ‘glasses’ character. Along with fellow bit player Hal Roach, Lloyd struggled to make it in Hollywood. Eventually Roach started the Rolin Film Company with Lloyd as his star comedian.

After a few failed attempts Lloyd’s first gained fame as the screen character known as Lonesome Luke. Yet little has been written about this earlier character. Lonesome Luke’s Lively Life takes a look at the beginning of Harold Lloyd’s fame, and how he (and his collaborator and eventual boss — Hal Roach) made it in the movies. With extensive research and hundreds of amazing photos the book is a must read for any and all fans of silent comedy. Written by highly regarded silent comedy expert Steve Massa the book adds to his string of great books on silent comedy.s

Illustrated with more than a hundred photos from the Harold Lloyd Estate, Lonesome Luke’s Lively Life is available in hardcover and softcover editions, and features a foreword by Harold Lloyd’s granddaughter Suzanne Lloyd with a special remembrance by Richard Simonton Jr.

Companion book: Lonesome Luke’s Picture Book.

This book is available directly from . . .