The Real Transcript of W.C. Fields Murder Trial (of a Canary), 1928
Stage Reading, September 15 and 16, 2025, at Actors Temple Theatre, 339 W. 47th St., NYC
(A little-known part of Broadway history with profound implications for the legacy of modern entertainment.
A true story of The People v. W.C. Fields – suspenseful and absurd – that just might have thwarted the Great Man’s Hollywood career in talking pictures, and might never have become the “Icon of American Culture and Humor” as described by the Librarian of Congress in 2000.)
While performing the canary scene in Earl Carroll Vanities on Broadway in 1928, W.C. Fields was arrested in the Theatre for torturing a canary, thrown in jail overnight, and appeared in Court the next day.
Ed Gaynes of Actors Temple Theatre, Terrence Montgomery - Director, Dr. Harriet Fields - Creator/Adaptor/Playwright of The Real Transcript of W.C. Fields Murder Trial (of a Canary), 1928
Cast of The Real Transcript of W.C. Fields Murder Trial (of a Canary), 1928 with creator Harriet Fields.
Not in Photo - Pianist - Raphael D'Lugoff
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INTEREST IN INVESTING, PLEASE CONTACT HARRIET FIELDS AT WWW.WCFIELDS.COM CONTACT PAGE.
Veterans Day Gravestone Flag Placement Ceremony
Honoring W.C. Fields' Parents
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On this Veterans Day, remembering Veterans Day 2023 and ceremony honoring unveiling of the markers for our beloved W.C. Fields parents, James and Kate Dukenfield in Greenwood Cemetery, Philadelphia. After years of research, we found the proper paperwork for James' VA issued Civil War marker (James old marker was destroyed by lightning and Kate's maker stolen many years before.) The inscriptions are W.C. Fields own for his parents - James in 1913 and Kate in 1925.
James brother, George, was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg and is buried there a few feet from Pres. Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. James and George both immigrants with lessons for today. The past is present and for the future we have the comfort of the Timelessness of W.C. Fields Art and Humor.
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W.C. FIELDS in INTERNATIONAL HOUSE AT FILM FORUM, NYC, SUNDAY DECEMBER 7, 2025
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Veterans Day Gravestone Flag Placement Ceremony Honoring W.C. Fields' Parents
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Knights of Pythias – Greenwood Cemetery, 930 Adams Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA - On Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 1:00 PM, Dr. Harriet Fields, granddaughter of the iconic W.C. Fields, will lead a special ceremony at Knights of Pythias – Greenwood Cemetery, located at 930 Adams Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. The event will involve the placement of new gravestones at the resting sites of James and Kate Dukenfield, parents of W.C. Fields.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has issued a Civil War marker for Pvt. James L. Dukenfield, recognizing and honoring his dedicated service during the Civil War. This poignant ceremony, featuring a brief flag placing ritual, serves as a testament to the enduring love and respect passed down through generations. Dr. Harriet Fields, drawing on the legacy of her grandfather W.C. Fields, recognized by the Library of Congress as the "Icon of American Culture and Humor," will commemorate the sacrifice and immigrant heritage of her family.
The ceremony holds broader implications for current events, drawing connections between the historical context of the Civil War and contemporary issues. It highlights the profound impact of individuals like W.C. Fields and his family on shaping American culture and reflects on the enduring themes of love, sacrifice, and resilience.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, November 11, 2023
- Time: 1:00 PM
- Location: Knights of Pythias – Greenwood Cemetery, 930 Adams Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Members of the media are invited to cover this significant and heartfelt event.
Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound Present W.C. Fields - Radio and Film Careers in the Golden Age, program created by Dr. Harriet Fields, the Great One’s granddaughter.
W.C. Fields' Timeless Art in all forms: featured here at REPS (Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound), Seattle, WA, February 5, 2022.
See the recorded event REPS with W.C. Fields and granddaughter Dr. Harriet Fields available on our YouTube WCFieldsChannel...
Slapstick Festival 2022, Bristol UK honors W.C. Fields with screening of Sally of the Sawdust, January 28, 2022, one day before the anniversary of W.C. Fields' birth on January 29.
Dr. Harriet Fields, granddaughter and Patron of the Slapstick Festival 2022, will share a message online with an introduction by Chris Serle. This event includes live piano accompaniment by John Sweeney.
Dir: D.W. Griffith.
Filmed in Astoria Studios, Queens, NY. The year before (1924), W.C. Fields starred on Broadway in Poppy, the stage version of the silent film Sally of the Sawdust. In 1934, W.C. Fields starred in Hollywood in the talking film Poppy.
W.C. Fields is the only Icon who, after touring the world performing, stayed in New York in the 1920's starring on the Broadway stage, with forays across the East River to make his silent films, perfecting his timing, and growing love and admiration of audiences and sister/fellow performers. Of all the Icons, W.C. Fields is the only one to find success in talking films and radio in Hollywood.
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