Film Booking Offices of America (FBO), registered as FBO Pictures Corp., was an American film studio of the silent era, a midsize producer and distributor of mostly low-budget films. The business began in 1918 as Robertson-Cole, an Anglo-American import-export company. Robertson-Cole began distributing films in the United States that December and opened a Los Angeles production facility in 1920. Late that year, R-C entered into a working relationship with East Coast financier Joseph P. Kennedy. A business reorganization in 1922 led to its assumption of the FBO name, first for all its distribution operations and ultimately for its own productions as well. Through Kennedy, the studio contracted with Western leading man Fred Thomson, who grew by 1925 into one of Hollywood's most popular stars. Thomson was just one of several silent screen cowboys with whom FBO became identified.
Frederick Clifton Thomson was an American silent film cowboy who rivaled Tom Mix in popularity before dying at age 38 of tetanus.
The Noose is an American silent drama film adaptation of the Willard Mack play The Noose, which was released in 1928 by First National Pictures. It stars Richard Barthelmess, Montagu Love, Robert Emmett O'Connor, and Thelma Todd. It was directed by John Francis Dillon and Richard Barthelmess's performance was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. The movie was adapted by Garrett Graham and James T. O'Donohoe from the play. The play was also the basis of the Paramount Pictures film I'd Give My Life (1936).
William Courtright was an American film actor.
Edna Murphy was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 80 films between 1918 and 1933. Murphy was voted "Most Photographed Movie Star of 1925" by ScreenLand Magazine.
My Man is a 1928 black and white sound part-talkie American comedy-drama musical film directed by Archie Mayo starring Fanny Brice and featuring Guinn "Big Boy" Williams. In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score and sound effects along with English intertitles. The soundtrack was recorded using the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system.
Blackbirds is a 1920 silent film crime drama produced and distributed by Realart Pictures, an affiliate of Paramount. It is based on a 1913 Broadway play Blackbirds by Harry James Smith. A previous 1915 version starred Laura Hope Crews who starred in the play. This version stars Justine Johnstone and William "Stage" Boyd.
Jesse James is a 1927 American silent Western film produced by Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky and released through Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starred cowboy star Fred Thomson whose wife Frances Marion wrote the scenario under the nom de plume Frank M. Clifton.
Hard Boiled is a 1919 American comedy silent film directed by Victor Schertzinger and written by John Lynch and R. Cecil Smith. The film stars Dorothy Dalton, Billy Mason, William Courtright, Gertrude Claire, Walter Hiers, and Nona Thomas. The film was released on February 2, 1919, by Paramount Pictures.
The Go-Getter is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Edward H. Griffith and written by Peter B. Kyne and John Lynch. The film stars T. Roy Barnes, Seena Owen, William Norris, Tom Lewis, Louis Wolheim, and Fred Huntley. The film, which is based upon the short story "The Go-Getter" by Peter B. Kyne, was released April 8, 1923, by Paramount Pictures. A fragmentary print of the film is held in a private collection.
The Pioneer Scout is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and Alfred L. Werker and written by Garrett Graham and Frances Marion. The film stars Fred Thomson, Nora Lane, William Courtright, and Tom Wilson. The film was released on January 21, 1928, by Paramount Pictures.
Kit Carson is a surviving 1928 American silent Western film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and Alfred L. Werker and written by Frederic Hatton, Frances Marion and Paul Powell. The film stars Fred Thomson, Nora Lane, Dorothy King, Raoul Paoli, William Courtright and Nelson McDowell. The film was released on June 23, 1928, by Paramount Pictures. It is loosely inspired by the life of the frontiersman Kit Carson. A sound film biopic Kit Carson was released in 1940.
Hands Across the Border is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by David Kirkland and starring Fred Thomson, Bess Flowers, and Tyrone Power Sr.
All Around Frying Pan is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by David Kirkland and starring Fred Thomson, James A. Marcus, and Clara Horton.
The Tough Guy is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by David Kirkland and starring Fred Thomson, Lola Todd, and Robert McKim.
Lone Hand Saunders is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Fred Thomson, Bess Flowers, and Frank Hagney.
A Regular Scout is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by David Kirkland and starring Fred Thomson, Olive Hasbrouck, and William Courtright.
Don Mike is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starring Fred Thomson, Ruth Clifford, and Noah Young. It is set in Old California.
Silver Comes Through is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starring Fred Thomson, Edna Murphy, and William Courtright.
Arizona Nights is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starring Fred Thomson, Nora Lane, and William Courtright.
