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Charles W. Dill (c. 1889 – February 19, 1939), known as King Zany, was an American poet, lyricist, and actor.

Early life

Zany was born around 1889 in Ohio.^[1] He had a brother (Joseph) and a sister.^[2]

Film career

Zany starred in several films throughout the 1920s, including Hollywood, Broadway or Bust and The City Gone Wild.^[3] His acting career came to an end in the late 1920s, following back injuries sustained after horseriding.^[2]

Poetry career

Zany was a popular poet within Southern Californian literary circles, speaking and reading his poems at various clubs throughout the state.^[4] He portrayed himself as a "desert poet",^[5] with his poetry collections being made from desert objects like Joshua tree wood.^[6]

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.^[7] His poetry was featured on a 1936 KNX radio show by Jimmy McMasters.^[8]

Personal life

Zany's wife, Florence,^[2] assisted in the physical creation of his poetry collections.^[6] They lived in a "desert shack" at Pearblossom,^[6] but later moved to a ranch in Ramona.^[2] The couple had a son, Charles L. Dill.^[2]

Zany died on February 19, 1939, in Ramona,^[1] aged around 50.^[2]

Works

Films

Hollywood (1923) as Horace Pringle^[9]
Broadway or Bust (1924)^[10]
The City Gone Wild (1927)^[11]
The Danger Rider (1928)^[12]
The Rainbow (1929)^[13]

Poetry collections

Star brew from a lean-to (1936)^[14]
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)^[15]

References

^ ^a ^b "Charles W. Dill". Daily News. February 21, 1939. p. 32. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ""Poet of Desert" Dies at Ramona". Weekly Times-Advocate. February 24, 1939. p. 7. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "King Zany". BFI. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "King Zany to Speak at City Club". Oakland Tribune. August 12, 1937. p. 15. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "Mourn Death King Zany". The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. February 23, 1939. p. 9. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "King Zany". The Los Angeles Times. February 23, 1939. p. 4. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "The King Not Abdicating". The Los Angeles Times. December 5, 1936. p. 4. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "Desert Poet". The Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1936. p. 14. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "All Players of Movieland Shown in Supporting Cast in Film Hollywood". The Selma Times-Journal. November 4, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "Hoot Gibson in Hilarious Play". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. December 27, 1924. p. 9. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "Fanny Ward at the Albee". The Standard Union. February 5, 1928. p. 10. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "The Picturedome". Lincolnshire Standard. September 7, 1929. p. 9.
^ "Strand". The Miami Herald. February 3, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "Desert Bard Sings Again Despite His Worries and His Pain". The Los Angeles Times. May 4, 1936. p. 4. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
^ "Archie Bleyer's Quaint Arrangements". The Era. June 4, 1930. p. 15.