Top of page

Notice
Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Due to inclement weather, The Library will open the reading rooms to researchers at 9:30 AM following the one (1) hour delayed arrival for staff.

Film, Video Levi & Cohen, the Irish comedians Levi and Cohen, the Irish comedians

Digital viewing copy

About this Item

Title

  • Levi & Cohen, the Irish comedians

Other Title

  • Levi and Cohen, the Irish comedians

Summary

  • Opens on a vaudeville or variety stage with a flat painted curtain of a stone fence and garden. On the right side of the stage sits a sign that reads "Zuzu Daffy, Singing Soubret." A boy in an usher's uniform crosses the stage and replaces the sign with one that reads "Levi and Cohen, Irish Comedians." The boy exits, and the curtain rises to reveal a painted backdrop of a pharmacy storefront. Two men strut onto the stage; one in a black beard, black coat with tails, light-colored pants, and a black top hat, and the other with a bald pate and large nose, dressed in a dark coat and vest, plaid pants, and a bowler, and carrying a cane. The pair go into their act, which seems to consist of the bearded man repeatedly knocking the bowler off the head of his partner while enthusiastically telling a joke or story. The unfortunate man finally has enough, and jumps his bearded friend. The "audience" of this act are apparently displeased with the performance, and two men sitting between the camera and the stage stand up and begin pelting the comedians with eggs or vegetables. While Levi and Cohen try to shield themselves from the barrage, both of them--as well as the set--are soon splattered with stains.
  • "Showing two typical concert hall knock-about teams in a very poor performance. It ends up being in their being egged by the audience. Very realistic and very funny. 61 feet"--Biograph bulletin no. 55.

Names

  • Bitzer, G. W., 1872-1944, camera
  • American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
  • Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)

Created / Published

  • United States : American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, 1903.

Headings

  • -  Impersonation--Humor
  • -  Jewish comedians--Humor

Genre

  • Filmed burlesque acts
  • Comedy films
  • Silent films
  • Short films
  • Nonfiction films

Notes

  • -  H33281 U.S. Copyright Office
  • -  Copyright: American Mutoscope & Biograph Co.; 8July1903; H33281.
  • -  Original main title lacking.
  • -  Duration: 0:58 at 17 fps.
  • -  Biograph production no. 2409
  • -  Paper print shelf number (LC 0711) was changed when the paper prints were re-housed.
  • -  Additional holdings for this title may be available. Contact reference librarian.
  • -  Sources used: Copyright catalog, motion pictures, 1894-1912; Niver, K. Early motion pictures, p. 182; AFI cat.: film beginnings, 1893-1910, 1995; Biograph bulletins 1896-1908, 1971, p. 89, 193; Biograph photo catalog, v. 5 [MI].
  • -  Camera, G.W. "Billy" Bitzer.
  • -  Filmed June 30, 1903, in the Biograph New York City studio.
  • -  Early motion pictures : the Paper Print Collection in the Library of Congress / by Kemp R. Niver. Library of Congress. 1985.

Medium

  • viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (23 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • viewing print 1 film reel of 1 (58 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
  • dupe neg pic 1 film reel of 1 (23 ft.) : si., b&w ; 16 mm.
  • dupe neg pic 1 film reel of 1 (58 ft.) : si., b&w ; 35 mm.
  • paper pos 1 roll of 1 (ca. 60 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm.
  • paper pos (copy 2) 1 roll of 1 (ca. 60 ft.) : b&w ; 35 mm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • FLA 3725 (viewing print)
  • FEC 1474 (viewing print)
  • FRA 0972 (dupe neg pic)
  • FPE 7559 (dupe neg pic)
  • Box 0541C (paper pos)
  • Box 5576E (paper pos, copy 2)

Repository

  • Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA dcu

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 96521894

Online Format

  • image
  • video

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is not aware of any U.S. copyright or other restrictions in the vast majority of motion pictures in these collections. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse.

In rare cases, copyrighted motion pictures are made available by special permission to the Library and may be used only for educational purposes. For example, the Gershwin home movies fall within this category. Rights assessment is your responsibility. No registration information exists for some titles, and reproduction of some titles may be restricted by privacy rights, publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Additionally, some works may still be protected by copyright in the United States or some foreign countries. The written permission of the copyright owners in materials not in the public domain is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions.

Whenever possible, we provide information that we have about copyright owners and related matters in the catalog records, finding aids and other texts that accompany collections. You should consult the catalog information that accompanies each item for specific information. This catalog data provides the details known to the Library of Congress regarding the corresponding item and may assist you in making independent assessments of the legal status of these items for their desired uses. You should also consult restrictions associated with donations to the Library.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division.

More about Copyright and other Restrictions.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Bitzer, G. W., Camera, American Mutoscope And Biograph Company, and Paper Print Collection. Levi & Cohen, the Irish comedians. United States: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, 1903. Video. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/96521894/.

APA citation style:

Bitzer, G. W., American Mutoscope And Biograph Company & Paper Print Collection. (1903) Levi & Cohen, the Irish comedians. United States: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. [Video] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/96521894/.

MLA citation style:

Bitzer, G. W., Camera, American Mutoscope And Biograph Company, and Paper Print Collection. Levi & Cohen, the Irish comedians. United States: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, 1903. Video. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/96521894/>.