Silent Armadillos

In honor of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival (I attended Camille and Beggars of Life last night with Cesar and Jeff), I offer this fine photo from the 1920s Czech film journal Studio. Not only does it include Richard Arlen, who along with Louise Brooks and Wallace Beery made Beggars of Life a highly worthwhile experience, but it is the only instance I have ever seen of anyone petting an armadillo.
Armadillos are perhaps best known as animals that seem to get run over frequently on Texas highways (is this somehow, by any chance, related to all the people who are legally executed by the State of Texas?), but I rather like them and they also have their place in surrealism. I gather that one of Dora Maar's more bizarre photographs is merely a portrait of a very young armadillo.
Well, anyhow, the film festival seemed to be packing in the silent-film afficionados and I am guessing that the Castro, which is a pretty large theater, sold out both shows. We were very pleased with both features and also the accompanying shorts. Although... I regret to say that none of us were among the lucky few to find a voucher for a free "Camille" pillow under our seats.