Of Paresis and Paddy McGuire

Irish-American comedian Paddy McGuire (born ca. 1884) died this day in 1923 — a century ago today.

McGuire’s career was short but prolific: nearly 80 films in a little over five years. But it’s likely that the cause of his death (syphilis, a common one in that day) had interfered much earlier. The front half of his career (1915-17) showed lots of promise. By the last couple of years he was down to walk-ons. His last film was in 1920.

Irish-born McGuire (originally spelled McQuire) started out on the stage, performing in musical comedies and burlesque. Having built up a reputation for himself there he broke into pictures in the best possible way: he was hired to be part of Charlie Chaplin’s stock company at Essanay. McGuire was a reliable part of Chaplin’s ensemble through most of the star’s movies of 1915, including well remembered classics like The Tramp, The Bank, and A Night at the Show.

When Chaplin moved to Mutual the following year, McGuire graduated to his own starring comedies, portraying a character named Bungling Bill in a series of shorts for Vogue. He also appeared in dozens of other comedies at the studio, working with the likes of Ben Turpin,Rube Miller, et al. In 1917 he moved over to Fox, where he cut up under the wing of Charley Chase. He also worked for Roach and Sennett in his last couple of years, mostly in bit parts. His later films included The Village Smithy (1919) with Chester Conklin, Louise Fazenda, James Finlayson,Kalla Pasha, Phyllis Haver, George Jeske, and Billy Armstrong; Jiggs in Society (1920); and A Broadway Cowboy (1920) with William Desmond.

Then of course the insanity, paralysis and institutionalization that came with syphilis and finally death. McGuire was only 38 or 39 at the time of his passing. It’s a particular shame because there was a real vogue for Irish comedies in the last days of silents and the early days of talkies, when Charlie Murray and Polly Moran flourished, and people lined up to see things like The Cohens and the Kellys, The Callahans and the Murphys, and Abie’s Irish Rose. He’d have been a natural to ride that Emerald Wave!

For more on silent comedy film history please see Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube.