Reel Life (1915-1916)

“The Romance of the Hollow Tree” In Two Parts, Starring Kathryn Adams and Wayne Arey “The Pendulum of Chance” Two Part Drama with Edward Coxen and Lizette Thorne Inventor Wayne Arey His sweetheart Kathryn Adams Friend Jere Austin Foreign attache Ernest Howard SECRET hiding-places for valuable papers and sums of money have always figured prominently in romantic fiction and drama. The theme is a familiar one, but possesses the great advantage of varied treatment. This basic idea has been used with much skill and originality in the Thanhouser-Mutual two-part drama, The Romance of the Hollow Tree, with Wayne Arey and Kathryn Adams in the principal roles. The story centers around a country girl who had always believed she was well to do, for her father told her he had a large sum of money which he had “hidden away.” He never informed her of the hiding-place, and his sudden death prevented him from telling the secret on his death-bed. In secret she admired a young man who resided on an adjoining estate, had heard reports that he had invented a wonderful submarine boat, and the general belief was that the government would accept it. The plans for the young man’s submarine were temporarily kept in the safe in his study. One night these plans and $10,000 in cash, which the inventor had drawn to pay off some of the workers on his boat, were stolen. It did not develop until later that the thief was a house guest of the inventor, a former college mate of his. This chap, however, was hard up financially and had listened to tempting offers from great European powers. The plans he sent in a letter directed to himself. So he hid the money in a hollow tree on an estate near his home. Unfortunately for the schemer the girl got the money. She had recently received an invitation to visit a cousin in the city, but had been afraid to accept it because her cousin was wealthy and she herself poor. Now the situation was changed. At her cousin’s house the girl met the young inventor. The girl learned in time of the robbery. Her woman’s wit enabled her to locate the thief, and in a dramatic way she recovered the stolen submarine plans, caused the arrest of the wicked friend, and brought happiness to the young inventor, who asked her hand and was accepted. Wayne Arey as the inventor gives a dignified portrayal to a difficult role. Kathryn Adams is an ingenious and simple country lass and will win many new friends by her charming acting in this simple romantic drama. Carl Churchill Edward Coxen Alice, His Wife Lizette Thorne Samuel Pelton Charles Newton Ned Wallace George Field THE stolid business man tied up with the humdrum affairs of his little world who is married to a social butterfly is not an infrequent figure in our current drama. His prosaic and matter-of-fact existence has been a fertile field for dramatists during the past decade. The husband thinks of nothing but his commercial progress, while the wife is entirely wrapped up in her social achievements. It is natural that under such conditions the man should appear to complete the eternal triangle. In the AmericanMutual two-part drama, The Pendulum of Chance, the action centers about this familiar theme. Carl Churchill, admirably played by Edward Coxen, is the everyday man of business. Lizette Thorne portrays the wife with social ambition, and George Field as Ned Wallace is the interloper who attempts to break up the Churchill home. The story follows : The head of his own business, Carl Churchill feels that he is successful. Alice Churchill, his wife, tries vaguely to awaken Carl’s ambition, at least to the point where he will change his business policies. Ned Wallace, formerly in love with Alice, and Carl’s rival, establishes a brokerage business in competition with Carl. He also meets Alice and she instinctively compares his progressive methods with those of Carl. The comparison is not favorable to the latter. Eventually, Carl becomes aware of Alice’s admiration for Wallace. I nder a new plan the first to go is Samuel Pelton, his aged bookkeeper. The old man is cast adrift. Meanwhile Alice turns to Wallace. The old love is awakened. Pelton sees Wallace in company with Alice. He determines to see Wallace and through him endeavor to wreck his vengeance upon Carl. He calls upon Wallace at the exact moment when, having been refused by Alice, he has decided to break Carl to get her. Wallace accepts Pelton’s cooperation. He is sent back to Carl to beg back his position and act as Wallace’s spy. Through Pelton’s aid, W allace ruins Carl. Carl struggles to determine the course to take. He decides at last to go — his fortune gone Alice can have no other use for him. Alice is awake and watching. Her eyes opened to Wallace’s methods she is only too glad to receive Carl’s forgiveness and go with him to start life anew. REEL LIFE— Page Eight