Snub Pollard
(11/09/1889 - 01/19/1962)

Harry "Snub" Pollard (Born Harold Fraser) was a silent movie comedian, popular in the 1920s. Pollard often appeared in short two reelers.

He started off at the Essenay Film Studios in 1911 and briefly worked with the Keystone Kops. Hal Roach took an avid interest and, in 1915, had Snub co-starring with Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels in the highly successful "Lonesome Luke" series, which ran for years (86 films in all).

In 1919, Snub took a chance and ventured on with his own solo one- and two-reelers with sights gags and gimmicks a plenty, one of which, 1923's It's a Gift has become a particular standout. In this short, Pollard plays an inventor of many Rube Goldberg like devices, including a car which runs by magnet power.. Many of them were ably directed by Charley Chase and co-starred Marie Mosquini as his frequent leading lady.

His 'second banana' status, however, was firmly entrenched and his vehicles were met with only a modicum of interest. He also made personal appearances on the farcical stage. His production company, created in 1926, eventually folded and he was relegated to supporting other top comedians again, notably Laurel & Hardy and Andy Clyde, or appearing in povertyrow programmers. By the late 30s he was (ironically) reduced to silent, atmospheric bits in talking pictures. One last hurrah would be his playing of Pee Wee, sidekick to cowboy Tex Ritter, in a series of minor westerns.

For his contributions to motion pictures, Pollard has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6415 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard.

Available Films

It's A Gift (1923) short

Strictly Modern (1923) short

Short Subject Collection #1

The Laramie Kid (1935)

The Utah Tail (1938)