King Zany
{{short description|American poet, lyricist, and actor (c. 1889–1939)}}
Charles W. Dill ({{circa|1889}} – February 19, 1939), known as King Zany, was an American poet, lyricist, and actor.
Early life
Zany was born around 1889 in Ohio.{{cite news|title=Charles W. Dill|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91343255/charles-w-dill/|access-date=December 29, 2021|work=Daily News|date=February 21, 1939|page=32}} He had a brother (Joseph) and a sister.{{cite news|title="Poet of Desert" Dies at Ramona|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91345822/poet-of-desert-dies-at-ramona/|access-date=December 29, 2021|work=Weekly Times-Advocate|date=February 24, 1939|page=7}}
Film career
Zany starred in several films throughout the 1920s, including Hollywood, Broadway or Bust and The City Gone Wild.{{cite web|title=King Zany|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba9705694|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229013424/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba9705694|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2021|website=BFI|access-date=December 29, 2021|language=en}} His acting career came to an end in the late 1920s, following back injuries sustained after horseriding.
Poetry career
Zany was a popular poet within Southern Californian literary circles, speaking and reading his poems at various clubs throughout the state.{{cite news|title=King Zany to Speak at City Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91345041/king-zany-to-speak-at-city-club/|access-date=December 29, 2021|work=Oakland Tribune|date=August 12, 1937|page=15}} He portrayed himself as a "desert poet",{{cite news|title=Mourn Death King Zany |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91345306/mourn-death-king-zany/|access-date=December 29, 2021|work=The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet|date=February 23, 1939|page=9}} with his poetry collections being made from desert objects like Joshua tree wood.{{cite news|title=King Zany|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91345201/king-zany/|access-date=December 29, 2021|work=The Los Angeles Times|date=February 23, 1939|page=4}}
As well as writing poetry, Zany published various periodicals, starting with a monthly circular called The Vagabond Voice and then a monthly newsletter of poetry and philosophy called The Desert Breeze.{{cite news|title=The King Not Abdicating|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91347232/the-king-not-abdicating/|access-date=December 29, 2021|work=The Los Angeles Times|date=December 5, 1936|page=4}} His poetry was featured on a 1936 KNX radio show by Jimmy McMasters.{{cite news|title=Desert Poet|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91348778/desert-poet/|access-date=December 29, 2021|work=The Los Angeles Times|date=November 24, 1936|page=14}}
Personal life
Works
=Films=
- Hollywood (1923) as Horace Pringle{{cite news |title=All Players of Movieland Shown in Supporting Cast in Film Hollywood |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91346647/all-players-of-movieland-shown-in/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=The Selma Times-Journal |date=November 4, 1923 |page=1}}
- Broadway or Bust (1924){{cite news |title=Hoot Gibson in Hilarious Play |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91344846/hoot-gibson-in-hilarious-play/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=December 27, 1924 |page=9}}
- The City Gone Wild (1927){{cite news |title=Fanny Ward at the Albee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91346252/fanny-ward-at-the-albee/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=The Standard Union |date=February 5, 1928 |page=10}}
- The Danger Rider (1928){{cite news |title=The Picturedome |work=Lincolnshire Standard |date=September 7, 1929 |page=9}}
- The Rainbow (1929){{cite news |title=Strand |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91349501/strand/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=The Miami Herald |date=February 3, 1930 |page=6}}
=Poetry collections=
- Star brew from a lean-to (1936){{cite news |title=Desert Bard Sings Again Despite His Worries and His Pain |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91347814/desert-bard-sings-again-despite-his/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=May 4, 1936 |page=4}}
- Pity the Dreamless (1937)
- Carols from Cactus Land (1938)
=Songs=
- "All She'd Say Was Umh-Hum" (1920; with Mac Emery and Van and Schenck)
- "Coral Sea" (1920; music by Nacio Herb Brown)
- "Every Now and Then" (1929; with Don McNamee)
- "I'm Laughing" (1929; with Don McNamee, for The Great Gabbo){{cite news |title=Archie Bleyer's Quaint Arrangements |work=The Era |date=June 4, 1930 |page=15}}
References
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