Reel Life (Mar-Sep 1915)

New Releases on Mutual Program Short Synopses of Current Releases that are Supplied to Exhibitors in the Regular Mutual Program "Shorty's Ranch," second of the three-reel features for release in the regular Mutual Program, is a laugh-provoking Western comedy, featuring "Shorty," Jack Hamilton, star of numerous of these entertaining photoplay comedies. "Shorty" is seen in a new role this time, impersonating an English lord on a visit to the wild and wooly West. He gets away with it, too, for a time. "Shorty's Ranch," produced by Broncho, will be released in the regular Mutual Program, September 15th. SHORTY'S RANCH— BRONCHO T i irkk Reels — September 15, 1915' IThe Pseudo English Nobleman Lights His Cigar .with a Good American Bank Note CAST . Shorty Jack Hamilton Baron Hassenpfeffer Jerome Storm Molly Jackson Elizabeth Burbridge Baron's valet Robert McKim Shorty's valet Clyde Tracy Jackson Milton Ross Sir Cecil Ballymore, an Englishman, owner of a cattle ranch in Arizona, arrives in Tucson on the way to inspect his property. He is accompanied by his valet, James — and is suffering from a bad attack of gout. Sir Cecil takes a suite at the leading hotel. His valet blunders into the wrong room, where he discovers a young woman in dishabille. She attempts to kill the terrified valet with a revolver, but he escapes to his master's apartments. Sir Cecil's gouty foot is worse. He is ordered by the doctor to keep perfectly quiet. Stranded, he advertises for a man to go out and inspect his ranch. Shorty applies and gets the commission. Sir Cecil gives the cowboy a roll of bank bills for expenses. Shorty resolves to rig up and impersonate the wealthy Englishman. At the ranch, Jackson, the superintendent, falls for the hoax. Shorty flirtswith Molly, the superintendent's pretty daughter, orders champagne from Tucson, and prepares to give a big party to all hands. Not hearing from his deputy, Sir Cecil decides, gout notwithstanding, to go on to the ranch. He wires Shorty to meet him at "Prairie Dog Siding" with a rig to take him the ten miles across the desert. Shorty ignores the telegram. Trouble breaks out among the cowboys owing to the fact that considerable stock has been stolen by "rustlers." Jackson fences off the road across the ranch. The neighboring ranchmen protest at Jackson's closing up a public highway. That night they collect a posse and tear down the fence. The superintendent, Shorty and the boys rebuild it next day. The ranchmen have left warning that if the barrier is rebuilt there will be trouble. The next day Sir Cecil and his valet arrive at "Prairie Dog Siding." 'It is only a desert flagging station, and there is no one there to meet them. They are heavily loaded down with baggage. In the rear of the station a rickety wheelbarrow is discovered and pressed into service. With Sir Cecil cursing the gout, the country, and everything in general, they start out over the burning sands. Meanwhile, the ranchmen have attacked Ballymore ranch, and bullets are flying like hailstones. But the sheriff has been warned. He arrives with his posse and puts a stop to the battle. Sir Ballymore and Cecil arrive. At first they have all kinds of trouble proving their identity. Convinced at last by papers on his person that this is the real Sir Cecil, Jackson seizes Shorty, the imposter, and locks him in one of the shacks. The Broncho hero that night gets back into his familiar cowboy togs and succeeds in making his getaway. THE JINX ON JENKS— KOMIC One Reel — September 12, 1915 CAST Max Max Davidson Jenkjs Ffr'ank Dairien The girl .Ann Slater Mrs. Max Pearl Elmore Jenks and his friend, Max, are out celebrating. They separate, and Max goes home to his hotel where he flirts with a pretty young woman in the lobby. Max's wife catches him, and gets a sound beating for his duplicity. Jenks, in the meantime, has broken a window. He is followed to his office, by a detective. He manages to give the sleuth the slip by locking himself in his private sanctum, where he stays all night. In the morning he The Suspicious Wife and Her Friends Spy on the Hapless Jenks is a trifle nonplussed to find the detective waiting in the hall to make the arrest. Jenks phones Max for help. Max's wife has gone away for the day, and her husband is free to enter into any piece of deviltry he pleases. He loses no time in getting hold of a dress belonging to his large mother-in-law and securing a quantity of false hair. These he contrives to pass into the office. Cleverly disguised, Jenks makes his getaway. He meets Max down the street and they repair to the latter's hotel together. A gossip sees them enter the lobby and immediately phones Mrs. Max, who hurries home. Over the transom she sees her husband smoking and drinking with an unknown companion in petticoats. She bursts into the room, and before Max can collect his wits to explain, he is caught up in a hurricane of marital vindictive and violence. f Seven ]