Cocaine And The Silent Film
Cocaine was all over Hollywood during the silent film era and began showing up in films.
Coke Ennyday, the scientific detective played by Douglas Fairbanks, divides his own time in periods for "Sleep", "Eat", "Dope" and "Drink". In fact, he's used to overcome every situation with drugs: consuming it to increase his energies or injecting it in his opponents to KO them. To help the police he discovers a contraband of opium (which he eagerly tastes) transported with "Leaping Fishes", and the blackmail of a mysterious man who wants to marry the "fish blower" girl. Will Coke be able to free the girl ? Director: John Emerson Writers: Tod Browning, Anita Loos (titles) Stars: Douglas Fairbanks, Bessie Love, Allan Sears
Charlie Chaplin gets cocaine by accident:
In 1912 America felt that absinthe was more dangerous than heroin, cocaine, pot, booze and tobacco combined. Protestants feared their children would become creative and artistic instead of getting a "real job". In those days actors and actresses weren't allowed in the "better places", artists were considered to be avoiding work! The first prohibition in the U.S., was absinthe. A few years ago absinthe was made legal in the U.S. and America braced for a wave of creativity... but it didn't happen. A nation breathed easier.
Photo: Although women were not allowed in most bars, absinthe was served in coffee houses and considered lady like. In bars government workers like firemen would often gather to drink absinthe.
Absinthiana are the trappings and accessories associated with the drinking of absinthe. This anise-flavoured spirit is made from the flowers and leaves of wormwood, green anise, sweet fennel and other herbs. Absinthe has a natural green colour and was referred to as the Green Fairy, although it can also be colourless. Absinthe has a high alcohol level and is normally diluted with water for drinking. It’s also very bitter and was often poured into a glass of water over sugar on a perforated spoon.
Cocaine was banned in the United States for an odd reason. It was said at the time that negroes could not be stopped by police bullets while on cocaine. That’s it. That was the reason. No one asked for proof, no study was done, there wasn’t even an example. But terrified whites demanded it be banned.
Easy Street called on its cast to deal with much darker issues than custard pies in the face and slips on banana skins.
For example, Chaplin saved the beautiful heroine from a local addict after accidentally sitting on the junkie's syringe and being charged with super-human strength and energy.
And, shockingly, the evil addict is shown "shooting up".
Playmates, screened in 1918, is also drenched in drugs. Charlie Chase plays a gay drug addict with an endless supply of cocaine. Best friend Billy West persuades him to throw away his stash - then retrieves the cargo for his own use.
Watch PLAYMATES by clicking this link
Harry Lloyd classic Get Out and Get Under clearly shows the legendary funnyman filling his charabanc with cocaine. The motor immediately springs into life, even leaping down the carriageway.
For His Son dealt with drug use in a much darker way. The plot revolved around a man inventing a soft drink laced with cocaine, Dopocoke. He markets the drink hoping it will secure his son's future, but the lad becomes hopelessly addicted. Coca Cola actually had cocaine as an ingredient when it first started being sold.
Cocaine use was encouraged by the studios during the silent era to keep cast and crew working all night. When cocaine was made illegal, amphetamines took its place. Subscribe for Part 2: The Damage done.