Skywayman
Level 4 – Charter Web
LOST MEDIA
“Skywayman” is a lost silent film from the 1920s, directed by James P. Hogan and starring Ormer Locklear, a famous stunt pilot. The film is notable because Locklear died during the filming of a stunt for the movie, adding a tragic element to its history. “Skywayman” was released posthumously in 1920, but no known copies of the film have survived. It’s believed that the film was lost due to the common practice of neglecting or destroying silent films in the decades that followed, as well as the nitrate film stock’s tendency to degrade over time. Despite its historical significance, the film remains one of many lost pieces of early cinema.