Editing Ormer Locklear (section)

==Film career==
[[File:Ormer Locklear.jpg|thumb|Locklear performing one of his famous stunts.]]
The Locklear Flying Circus performed throughout the United States. When they came to the attention of [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]], Pickens arranged for Locklear to appear as a stunt man in film work.<ref name="Century"/> This opened the way to a movie career in California for Locklear, now considered the foremost "aviation stunt man in the world". [[Carl Laemmle]], head of [[Universal Pictures]], agreed to purchase all of Locklear's future air show dates in July 1919 in order to have him on contract for a proposed two-film series.<ref>Farmer 1984, p. 13.</ref> Locklear was signed to star in ''[[The Great Air Robbery]]'', a film depicting pilots flying [[air mail]].<ref name="Locklear">Farmer 1984, pp. 10, 16.</ref>

Principal photography for ''The Great Air Robbery'' began in July 1919 at DeMille Field 1, [[Los Angeles]], California, owned by producer [[Cecil B. DeMille]]. Besides being used as a base for flying,{{clarify|date=April 2015}} Locklear's [[Curtiss JN4|Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny"]] aircraft was also mounted on a raised wooden platform at the airfield in order to film closeups. ''The Great Air Robbery'' was primarily an opportunity to showcase the aerial stunts that had made Locklear famous. The studio promotion was extensive, with Laemmle declaring the film was "... the most amazing and unbelievable photodrama of all time."<ref>Pendo 1985, p. 59.</ref> The promotional campaign included a premiere at the Superba Theatre in Los Angeles, and a two-month personal appearance tour with Locklear.<ref name="Farmer 1984, pp. 20–21">Farmer 1984, pp. 20–21.</ref>

Reviews were generally favourable, as ''The Great Air Robbery'' was the first of a cycle of postwar films dealing with the exploits of stunt pilots. ''[[The New York Times]]'' review focused on the exciting elements of the film. "Lieutenant Locklear swings from one airplane to another and crawls out on the tail of a flying machine several thousand feet, presumably, above the earth. The melodrama's use of airplanes for midnight mail deliveries, highway, or rather highair, robberies, and battles between the forces of law and lawlessness adds excitement."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9407EEDD1131E03ABC4E52DFB466838B639EDE "Movie Review: The screen."] ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 16, 1920. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.</ref>

Although ''The Great Air Robbery'' was a commercial success, Laemmle did not take up the option for a second film starring Locklear, prompting his $25,000 lawsuit against Universal. Unwilling to go back to the air show circuit, Locklear wanted to continue his Hollywood career, and in April 1920, he was signed to star in ''[[The Skywayman]]'' (1920).<ref>Farmer 1984, p. 20.</ref>

Principal photography on ''The Skywayman'' began on June 11, 1920, with DeMille Field 2 as the main base of operations.<ref name="Pendo p. 5">Pendo 1985, p. 5.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Producer Cecil B. DeMille owned two airfields engaged in commercial aviation, in [[Los Angeles]], California.<ref>Wynne 1987, p. 10.</ref>|group=N}} Despite Locklear's public claim that new stunts "more daring ever filmed" would be involved, the production would rely heavily on models and less on actual stunt flying.<ref name="Farmer 1984, pp. 20–21"/> Two stunts, a church steeple being toppled by Locklear's aircraft and an aircraft-to-train transfer were both problematic and nearly ended in disaster.<ref name="Pendo p. 5"/>