The Keystone Kops was a series of silent film comedies about a totally
incompetent group of policemen. The movies were produced by Mack
Sennett, for his Keystone Film Company, between 1912 and 1917. The
idea came from Hank Mann, who also played police chief Tehiezel in the
first film before being replaced by Ford Sterling. Their first film
was Hoffmeyer’s Legacy (1912), but their popularity stemmed from the
1913 short, The Bangville Police, starring Mabel Normand.
As early as 1914, Sennet shifted the Keystone Kops from starring roles
to background ensemble, in support of comedians like Charlie Chaplin
and Fatty Arbuckle. The Keystone Kops serve as supporting players for
Marie Dressler, Mabel Normand, and Chaplin in the first full-length
Sennett comedy feature, Tillie’s Punctured Romance (1914), as well as
in Mabel’s New Hero (1913) with Normand and Arbuckle, Making a Living
(1914) with Chaplin in his first screen appearance (pre-Tramp), In the
Clutches of the Gang (1914) with Normand, Arbuckle, and Al St. John,
and Wished on Mabel (1915) with Arbuckle and Normand, among others.
Two Keystone Kop players who starred in the Abbott and Costello Meet
the Keystone Kops (which starred Sennett in a cameo role-as himself)
were Heinie Conklin as a elderly studio Guard; and Hank Mann as a prop
man. Comedian/actors Chester Conklin and Jimmy Finlayson were also
Keystone Kops.
via: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Kops
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