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Primary sourceDocumentary1928

Speedy

Ted Wilde · 1928

A 1928 silent comedy film starring Harold Lloyd, in which Babe Ruth appears as himself in a cameo role.

Ruth appears as himself in this 1928 film, showing his fame extended into popular entertainment.

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About this source

What it is

Speedy is a 1928 film directed by Ted Wilde and starring Harold Lloyd. Babe Ruth appears in the film playing himself. The record shown here is a catalog listing of the film's cast and credits.

Why it matters

By the late 1920s, Babe Ruth was famous enough that filmmakers wanted him to appear as himself in a popular comedy. This shows how Ruth's fame went beyond baseball into popular entertainment and how stars of the era crossed between sports and the growing film industry.

Look closer

  • Why might a comedy film want a real baseball star to appear as himself instead of an actor?
  • What does this tell you about how famous Ruth was outside of baseball?
  • What is missing from this record that would tell you more about Ruth's actual role in the film?

This documentary is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Babe Ruth on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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