The Billboard 1909-06-05: Vol 21 Iss 23 (1909-06-05)

The Billboard Nature to Shock the Sensibilities of Exhibitors’ Patrons—The News of the Motion Picture Field. Following is a list of late films, by leading | dog. manufacturers and dealers, for early release: BIOGRAPH. WHAT DRINK DID.—Alfred Lucas, an industrious wood carver, is a dutiful husband and a loving father. The happy little family of father, mother and two girl children—one six and the other eight—are seen enjoying their morning meal prior to his departure for work. A fond adieu and Lucas is on his way. Assiduously working at his bench, he strongly contrasts the drones, whose faces are noticeably seared with the lines of dissipation. At noontime, luncheon is served, and kettles of beer are brought in by some. Lucas becomes a butt of ridicule on account of his refusal to imbibe, and after a deal of persuasion is persuaded to take just one drink. That was his is over, it takes but mild encourageng to make him yield to the invitation to go to the saloon. family anxiously waiting for him at home, into whose presence he finally reels in in an awful state of intoxication. Ob, what an awful sight the scene presents. The amazed apd almost heartbroken wife, with her frightened children. Well, the seed is planted, and the noxious weed, nurtured by drink, The blight of rum changes the stamp of nature, turning the heretofore good-tempered man into a veritable demon. Night after night he comes home more the beast than human, until one evening he is later than usual and the oldest one of the two girls goes in search of him. From tavern to tavern she goes until at last she finds him, but her pleading is vain, and she is driven out by the drunken father. However, last plea, for the father, crazed by drink, hurls her aside, and the poor child falls against the bar. This arouses the sympathy of the waiter, who reproaches the father for his brutal assault. The father resents his interference with a blow, and the waiter retalistes with a pistol, firing it just as the little one has risen and run to her father, receiving the bullet in the head, and shedrops, lifeless, For an instant the father doesn’t seem to realize the head, and she drops, lifeless, to the floor. the awful truth is clear to him and he becomes a raving maniac. Shortly after we find him back at his work, a changed man. He is cured of the awful disease, but the scar is perceptible. He has resolved to live his life for the welfare and peace of his faithful. wife and remaining child. HIS DUTY.—Jack, the younger brother, Bob, end the mother comprise the little family of Jack Allen, the policeman. Today is Bob's twenty-first birthday and mother and Jack make him a present of a cap, with his initials, ‘“‘B. A.,”" on the lining. Jack goes out on his ; j Result: The innocent nephew herited, while the poor butcher boy, of any wrongdoing, is rudely treated. In all, we believe this reel will be accepted is disininnocent |} as an exceptional comedy issue, and one which will appeal to all lovers of humor. VITAGRAPH. HE COULDN’T DANCE, BUT HE LEARNED. —Mr. Wallflower, attending a ball, is seen leaning against the side of the building acting very He can not dance, watches the others and, endeavoring to get out of their way, is upset several times. The host intro | duces him to several ladies and to them he ex | paper, | insists that he undoing, for he likes the taste, and when work | Teaches home and sits down, Several drinks make him forgetful of | ¥ plains his inability to dance. The dancers turn away laughing and as festivities are resumed, the host introduces him to a young lady who make an attempt. He tries, ending up by knocking over the punch bow! and the table. He rushes madly from the house, disgusted with Suddenly, in the gaze: “‘Why be himself, and lights his pipe. this article meets his | a wallflower? Professor Miracle teaches dancing in one lesson. Special hypnotic method.""” He |; at once decides to become an adept, and starts thrives. | | self. in! to the floor. | beat and Bob leaves the house, seemingly highly pleased with the present. During the evening. Jack is called to the scene of the robbery of a jewelry store. While going over the place for a possible clue he finds a cap, on the inside of which are the telltale letters ‘“‘B. A.”’ Crushed beyond measure, he seeks Bob out at their home, and it is all too true. Bob is inclined to brave the situation, and the poor old mother’s heart is breaking, but Jack’s duty is plain. Bob is carried to prison. ESSANAY. THR SUEBPING TONIC.—A_ young office clerk is troubled with insomnia. He can not sleep nights, which, if you have ever experienced the same ailment, you know is rather disagreeable. In one of his waking moods at 3 o’clock in the morning he chances to pick up a paper and, as luck would have it, he spots an advertisement of one Dr. G. W. Lacey, who positively assures people suffering from insomnia that be can cure them and make them sleep as sound as a baby. The next morning the young man visits the aforesaid doctor and receives a dose of the wonderful medicine. Whatever this tonic may contain, it indeed has a wonderful effect. He sleeps on the street; he sleeps in the streetcar: he sleeps in the office; he sleeps at the theatre; in fact, he sleeps every place he can find. At last he spots a beautiful fountain with a a concrete wall around it. He thinks this a nice place to sleep. He uses his hat for a pillow and the wall for a bed, and finally snoozes off, and in rolling around he, of course, falls into a cold bath. The scenes are built in rapid succession, each one being more laughable than the preceding one. + THE DOG AND THE SAUSAGE.—A young man advises his favorite uncle that he has a nice little dog for him. Poor uncle, who has always longed for a dog around the house, is very much elated, and immediately sends word to his nephew that he wants the dog. He calls a messenger boy and instructs him to go for the dog. The dog, after being carefully placed in a market basket, is given to the messenger boy. He starts on the way to the new owner of the troublesome prize. We now find a butcher putting up an order of sausage. He unconsciously uses identically the same kind of a basket in which the dog has been placed. Both the butcher boy and the messenger encounter a number of street urchins engaged in a crap game, in which they become very much Interested, and at the conclusion of the game the Inevitable result shows the butcher bor and the messenger each securing the wrong basket. The result js easily to be imagined. The uncle receives the sausage—the cook gets the | for the professor's. The latter enters as Wallflower enters and explains his mission. The pro fessor hypnotizes him. Wallflower leaves and outside tries some intricate buck steps, and is elated over his proficiency. He dances down the street and around the corner, where he runs into an old man. The old gent watches for a moment, and then begins dancing him Further along they come upon an old maid. Wallflower abandons the old man and commences dancing with her. In front of a | cigar store they are doing their steps wh she returns and makes her | 4 _ the Indian image standing fever and starts. A stuffed bear standing before a fur store also gets under the spell and dances with the Indian. A peliceman who endeavors to stop the proceedings gets the habit and joins the merry throng. They all dance along until they come to a restaurant and, entering, the customers get the habit, and before long the place is a total wreck. Back to Wallfiower’s apartments. He is seen to tip his chair backward, his pipe drops from his mouth, he picks it up, draws furiously on it, but finds no fire. He then sits in the chair with an attitude of despair, realizing that he has bad a pipe dream. in front gets the SELIG. THE MOONSTONE.—The idea for this beautiful picture was suggested by Wilkie Collins’ novel, The Moonstone. The first scene is laid in the Palace Gardens of the Prince, who is entertaining the English officers. The second scene occurs three months later, the Sepoy Rebellion at Serangapatam suppressed by Col. Herncastle. Then we have exterior of the Temple, where occurs the action that supplies the motive for this famous story. The taking of the Moonstone scene transports the audience from the commonplace of this workday world into the mystic pagan symbolism of India. We travel with the characters to “London,” where we see the pleasure loving fiancee of Herncastle with a party of friends at a game of Baccarat. Next we see the party of Hindoos at their suite of apartments in the Hotel Cecil. A daughter of one of the faithful is put into a hypnotic sleep and while in this condition describes the present location of the Moonstone. Herncastle is seen in the act of transferring the diamond to his flance in a vision. Interest now centers on Herncastle’s sweetheart, who places the diamond under her pillow when she retires for the night. She is a somnambulist, and the weighty responsibility of the ‘‘Moonstone’s”’ care makes her restless, she rises in her sleep, takes the ‘‘Moonstone’’ from beneath her pillow, and seeks a more secure hiding place. She mounts the stairs leading to the roof and there secretes the treasure beneath a loose brick in the chimney, her maid hearing a noise. follows her. On reaching the head of the stairs and seeing her mistress in a perilous position near the edge of the roof, she screams, waking her suddenly and causing her to stagger and fall. This tragedy depicting clearly the curse of the “‘Moonstone!"" In a room at Herncastle the master hears the awful fate of his fiancee from | a club friend. His next feeling is one of anxiety, fear for the loss of the stone. He goes to her apartment and remembering her fall from the roof, he feels certain it is there that she secreted the stone. The “Hindoo,”’ with the same idea, is there before him, and discovers the jewel just as Herncastie reaches the roof A struggle fol lows and Herncastle recovers possession of the stone, he has recognized his antagonist and rushes from the scene in a mad endeavor to es cape. The scene shifts to Hampton Roads where a balloon ascension is in preparation The owner of one of the balloons I« a friend of Herncastie’s, who comes into the scene closely followed by the Hindoo. Herncastle, maddened by purenit, jumps into the balloon, cuts the rope and rises into space: believing himeelf free at last, he feverishly throws ont ballast to make the balloon rise more rapidly In hie excitement he has not seen the Hindoo graep the rope and commence a daring hand over hand climb in midair, he turns, still laughing exult ingly over his effectnal escape, to face hia fate in the form of the Hindoo just stepping Into the basket For a second of time they others eyes, realizing it means life and free dom for only one of them, then maddened by the desperation of their perilous position, they clinch The occult power of justice prevail« Herneastle is overcome, the Hindoo secures the Moonstone and Herncastie falle from the bal loon, a victim of his own ecupidity. look into each LUBIN. THE LOST HEIRESS.—The the little girl for a walk. water’s edge the little the hot house where she falls asleep. As soon as the governess misses her little charge she gives an alarm Father and mother and all the servants start on a search. A colored man who stole chickens which he carries in a sack is approached. Thinking his theft had been discovered, be rums away and is chased by the crowd and cornered. When the chickens are found he is given a good trouncing. A fat colored woman does not fare any better. Two tramps who stole a dog meet a like fate. When the searching party gives up all ~~ the gardener discovers the little girl asleep in the hot house and carries her back into the arms of the delighted parents. + FATHER’S GLUE.—Two boys watch father, how he mends things with a most excellent glue which he has prepared. They decide to have some fun with father’s glue, and start on a mischievous trip. They first spread the glue on a bench in the park, which bench is soon occupied by a young couple. When the lover tries to rise he finds he is stuck to the bench. He Is pulled away after great damage to his trousers. The mischievous boys play many more tricks on men and women who all take up the chase. The boys spread the glue over the sidewalk and then run. They are pursued by a crowd who all lose their shoes while running over the glue. At last the boys are caught in their own trap. They are glued to the fence and given a good trouncing. Judging from their smiling countenances, the fun was well worth the lick. ing they received. governess takes While sitting on the girl walk’s away to ARE YOU THE MAN.—A mischievous member of a club proposes the following bet:—‘‘I bet $500 that you cannot ask the first ten men you meet the simple question:—‘Are You The Man?’ without being insulted. One after another reads the paper under great laughter. At last one member accepts the bet and they start out at once to carry it out. The hasty party is soon sorry to have accepted the pro position as he meets with a severe punishment from every one he approaches. When at last in danger of being arrested, he throws up his hands, saying “I give up.’’ His friends who accompanied him on the trip explain matters to the policeman and under great langhter the party is wheeled to the club house upon a pusheart. He acknowledges ‘'! Am The Man” and pays his debt, vowing never to accept another bet. MY FRIEND THE INDIAN.—An Indian coming into town asks for a drink. A hobo seeing a chance for him. sells the Indian to a cigar man as a cigar sign. The trouble soon begins. The Indian runs away and a chase follows as novel as it is funny At last the Indian is canght. He jumps through a chimney into a bedroom and conceals himself in a folding bed. Six policemen who are chasing him close up the folding bed and carry the prisoner away. On the street the bed breaks through, the Indian escapes, while the policemen carry the empty bed in triumph to the station. EDISON THE CURFEW BELL.—Cromwell’« a period of blood and iron, yet the gold thread of romance may be found in some of even the sterner scenes of the dramatic epoch time was Such a one is the story of the loyalist gen tleman, his sweetheart, a gentle lady, and the curfew bell. The lady's father did not look with favor on the gentleman's sult, and to meet they must have appointment at a public inn. Here an accident contributed to have the lady's name brought into question by a roundhead officer, and the gentleman defended it so well that he had to flee for his life. His hidirg place in a mighty ruin was dis covered by Cromwell's men under circumstances which, false though they were, caused the gentieman to believe his sweetheart had be trayed him, and this was indeed a greater blow than the short shrift at the hands of a summary court-martial, which condemned him to death when the curfew rang that night Torn with agony and dispair the gentle lady songht merey for her lover, little should his attack on the officer merit death, coming as it did in resentment of an inenit to her name, but her prayers fell on deaf ears Vainly she besought the sexton who rang the fatal cur few to forego his duty that night, but he was obdurate Despair gave an idea to her mind, the idea to alone prevent that bell from send Ing forth its signal of death and alone she aid In the high belfry she threw herself to the clapper, and as the great bell ewayed back and forth she clung and stayed Ite tongue truised and torn she staggered down to find Cromwell returned, and from him, touched by her wounds, received her lover's life, and the right to leave the country for an asylum tn France with him The gentleman, it t« almost needless to say, was not long In learning that hie bellef in hie eweetheart’« betrayal of him was founded on premises of fal«ity It is one of the most beautiful stories In English history, and has been notably portrayed In thie eplendid film THE HOLD UP HELD UP The Lares and Penates of any crook are not happy or trnetworthy gods at their beet, but those that presided over the destinies of Buck Malley and Spider Burke the day they songht to hold up the careless and wealthy Mr. Shaugnessy muet have hed a partionlar grouch on or heen ae exlled by seporific enemies of eepecal atrength Certain it je however that no eTooke ever found themeelves tangled up in a more unhappy *itnation that did they in thle hold up JUNE 5, 1909. In front of the “Moon-God's’’ sacred Temple, Buck started ‘he ball rolling, He six months later, the Prince assists a beautiful Shauguessy with « bundle of money headed girl from the houdah of a magnificently caparia long walk and followed him with Intent soned elephant. On the steps of the —_ get that money when a suitable location ¢ awaiting the Prince and bis party, we recognize his assault was reached. He cross-countr| the faithful followers who accompanied him in) on Sheugnessy and took refuge behind 4 tr: his search for the recovery of the jewel. ,,, | Almost at the sawe moment the Spider sp Inside the Temple, from the **Moon-God's the promising pedestrian and slipped behind » forehead blazes the great white diamond men | other tree nearer the approaching victim, call the ‘‘Moonstone,’’ and the story ——_ was e« laugh for Buck when he saw this. 1! . = : : closes with a pagan ceremony of marriage, for waited till Spider bad relieved Mr. Shaugnes. Censorship of Films Begins to Tell in Product of all Manufac} cif thus: fhe’ Brince rewards ‘the matden yf" his wealth and then turned. ble. artillery through whose occult powers the stone was Orst the astounded crook. In vain the latter p! . . . . . . ne . e pie turers— Reviews Fail to Disclose Anything of Objectionable } ‘*e ed that they him to ylela uables, but affairs that the hold-up. divide his gun and * intent were the spoils. Buck for the Shaugnessy \ they on their ow they forgot about the victin, §¢ He saw what was transpirng turned, slipped behind a line of bushes, f; which he emerged to hit Buck over the he: seize the cevolver and turn the tables on bot crooks. Shauguessy had an entertaining story to t\! thet nigut to a crowd of listeners at his ¢ vorite club, bat Buck and Spider had anythivg but pleas. .t thoughts or words of commends tion for tir defending gods as they tossed on hard cots ‘n their cells, and the manner in which Spider xpressed bis regard for Buck would have been worthy addition to any ses captain's working vocabulary. CENTAUR. SCRAPPY BILL.--BIll was a born fighter We first see him pitching pennies and dolag uy a larger boy who was trying to cheat him. A stout woman interferes and Bill puts ber out of commission with one swift punch. A funny and fat German now takes a hand, and Bi!) doubles him up with a punch in the “bread basket.". The German and the woman chase Bill, who upsets old Deacon Jones; then he bowls over an Irish laborer who is just about to enjoy a can of beer. The Irishman pitches into the German and there is a battle royal between the two men, the fat woman mixing up in the fray. Bill leads his pursuers until! he is almost winded. A corner grocery is making a special sale of lard. Bill spreads the lard over the sidewa.k. The German, the Irishman, the woman, a drunk and the Deacon strike the lard and the sidewalk. An excrutiatingly funny mix-up follows, during which Bill escapes. We next see Bill, grown to manhood, at a prize fight. The champion knocks out a profes sional fighter, then a funny coon fighter. Bil! now steps into the ring. After a big, hot fight, Bill knocks the champion out. Rill is next seen In a saloon taking a drink A comedy bum ‘“‘touches’’ Bill for a drink. The bum creates havoc at the lunch counter and is kicked out by the bouncer. Bill protests, an! shows his sympathy for the bum by knocking out the bounces. The bartender gets gay with a club, and Bill pulls him over the bar and lams him. A cop comes in and Bill is com pelled to clean out the place. The cop gets two other policemen to help him. The three are too much for even Bill, and after a tussle they land him behind the bars. But no ordinary jail can hold Scrappy Bill. With a few good punches he knocks a hole through the brick wall and escapes. A black bear has escaped from a circus and attacks Bill's best girl. Bill to the rescue He knocks the bear out in one round. Bill gets married and he now finds he has met his conqueror. Coming home to supper, he finds fault with his wife's cooking. Here follows a furious comedy scene that, we feel sure. has never been equalled in a motion picture. Wife smashes a hot pudding over Bill's head, and then fires all the crockery and everything in the room at Bill. Bill sees that he is overmatched, and on his knees begs Wifie to let up and forgive him, which she does. PHOENIX FILM COMPANY. WEP-TON-NO-MAH, THE INDIAN MAIL CARRIER.—Here is perhaps one of the greatest Indian pictures that has ever been put on the market. The principal character has been enacted by the celebrated Indian actress, Go Won-Go-Mohawk, who starred so successfully throughout the United States and Canada in this play and others. She is well known, an! the mere announcement of her name as having posed for a picture is sufficient to cause the greatest interest. The story of ‘The Indian Mall Carrier’’ tells of the stirring times of the Indians uprising. and at a time when the government troops being surrounded by a band of bowling savages, must send for help. The Indian Mall Carrier, Wep Ton-No-Mah (Go-Won-Go-Mohawk), friendly te the whites, embarks on a mission of ald, for additional troops, and while on the way !s overtaken by a scheming Mexican, who dopes the carrier. As the Mexican ts about to rob the mall pouch, the horse on which the mall carrier has been riding protects his master by a kick ing and encircling the prostrate form. It shows the delivery of the message and the arrival of reinforcements and brings the picture to * happy ending. Go-Won-Go-Mohawk and her ponies, Wongy and Buckskin, trained by herself, take prom Inent parts throughout the action of the picture. and daring feats of horsemanship are depicted COLUMBIA PHOTOGRAPH CO. This company has made a motion picture film of the ecenes attending the wunvelling of the Pennsylvania Monument, near Petersburg Va.. In May. 1909. The pletures show the ar rival of President Taft at the monument, where he mede a apeech: the widow of General Mahone helping to pull the vell: the parade tn Peters burg: the publie «chool girls singing ‘'Ms Country ‘Tis of Thee: al fresco luncheon, show Ing the Davie mansion, where the President was entertained; winding up with a pleture of the President at close range, and a picture of four real live, wiggling opossums CHICAGO FILM EXCHANGE. SWEPTHEART’S CHRISTMAS.—Shows * young man starting out to his sweethearts home On the way he meets some friends They have a few drinks and he becomes Intox Icated He buys some Christmas presents ' take with him, but unable to carry them, bh gets Into a street-cleaner’s basket, who carries him to the house They see he is intoxicat and throw him out + DR, CLAWN.-A little girl doctor preseribes a medicine | vision, sees | enraptured ja alck and The child he a clown performing When she wakes tricks an’ up and fi '*