The New School Teacher | 1924 | Comedy
Library last generated: 2026-01-14 04:05 LOCAL
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Title: The New School Teacher | 1924 | Comedy
Director: Gregory La Cava
Studio: C.C. Burr Productions
Starring: Charles “Chic” Sale, Doris Kenyon, Mickey Bennett, Russell Griffin, Robert Bentley, Harlan Knight
Based on: Short stories by Irvin S. Cobb
Release Date: June 1 1924
Runtime: 52 minutes
Format: Silent black and white
Country: United States
Language: Silent with English intertitles
Genres: Comedy
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Chapters:
00:00:00 Arrival of Professor Timmons in town
00:10:00 First day of school and classroom chaos
00:20:00 Antics of the pupils escalate
00:30:00 Timmons falls for Diana Pope
00:40:00 Schoolhouse fire breaks out
00:50:00 Heroic rescue and redemption
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Summary:
The New School Teacher is a 1924 American silent comedy in which mild-mannered Professor Timmons arrives in a small rural community to take up a position as schoolteacher, only to find himself relentlessly terrorized by mischievous pupils. His inept attempts at discipline make him the laughingstock of the town, but when the schoolhouse catches fire, Timmons unexpectedly becomes a hero by rescuing the children.
The film blends slapstick classroom humor with a heartfelt arc of personal growth and romantic interest, as the once-timid teacher wins the admiration of his students and the affection of Diana Pope.
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Background:
Directed by Gregory La Cava and produced by C.C. Burr Productions, The New School Teacher was distributed by Associated Exhibitors as part of the boom in independent silent comedies of the early 1920s. The screenplay was adapted from short stories by Irvin S. Cobb and showcases the distinctive rural humor typical of that era, with a focus on slapstick and character-driven gags.
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Trivia:
The film stars Charles “Chic” Sale as the hapless Professor Timmons, a role that played to Sale’s vaudeville strengths.
The New School Teacher survives in prints and has been released on home video formats including DVD and Blu-ray.
The classroom fire and rescue sequence provide a dramatic turning point from comedy to heroism.
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Public Domain / Rights:
Original Release: June 1 1924
Original Studio / Distributor: C.C. Burr Productions / Associated Exhibitors
Copyright Status: Public Domain
Renewal: Unknown
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Hashtags:
#TheNewSchoolTeacher #1924Film #SilentComedy #GregoryLaCava #ChicSale #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain