Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
to
to
Exclude
Only includes titles with the selected topics
to
In minutes
to
1-50 of 60
- Cyrano de Bergerac is a joyous and witty poet filled with plenty of charisma and bravado in 17th-century France. He has only one flaw: an unusually long nose which makes him unattractive to any woman.
- Short
- We see two little children playing near a cliff when suddenly one of them falls over the precipice to the deep chasm below; the other child frightened, runs off for help, and naturally asks the aid of the first man she meets. This happens to be the outlaw. Well may he suspect it is a trap to capture him but so strong is the little one's appeal that he goes to the aid of the child. He carries the injured little one all the way back to the house and, notwithstanding his good motive, it leads to his capture; but the parents of the child, realizing what a sacrifice he made for their little girl, lose no time in making a strong effort for his release. The case is too strong for the humane jury of westerners and he is acquitted. This action touches him deeply and after a series of incidents we at last see him with not only a new leaf turned over, but an entirely new book; married and a well-respected citizen in the community.
- New York hotels are not noted for their modest rates and the action of the guests of the one our snorer selected for his abode, in bodily ejecting him for disturbing their slumber, was surely excusable mid warranted in view of the facts. A Turkish bath was his next place for attack; he got his bath, and to use a popular expression of the day, he got the goat of his fellow bathers. But how is a stranger to know that the public parks are used as a resting place for our guardians of the peace and that their meditations must not be disturbed under penalty of the law. Lawbreakers must suffer the consequences of their misdeeds and Snorer was promptly arrested for disturbing the peace. But innocence is mighty and right will prevail and after a short incarceration Snorer was promptly discharged; the entire reserves in the station house participating, assisted by the captain and lieutenant. If any one of them missed getting a good punch or kick in on our Snorer, it was purely an oversight. Some kindly and well-meaning citizen not knowing the enormity of Snorer's past offenses, assisted him to the hospital. There his cuts and bruises were ably dressed and treated and as rest is an important factor in the recovery of one's health, the Snorer was introduced to the comforts of a nice sleep-compelling bed, much to his gratification. Mistakes will happen and the doctor had diagnosed his case incorrectly. His trouble lay in his respiratory organs and this was not that kind of a hospital, therefore Mr. Snorer was firmly if not gently forced to seek proper treatment. So interested were the inmates in his case that each and every one of them assisted in his departure. In fact, several were so thoughtful they volunteered the use of their crutches, which they were obliged to throw after the late patient, Snorer's haste being great. We are told there is no rest on this earth for the weary. Snorer after his many recent experiences quite agreed with the statement. However, every cloud has a silver lining and A. Snorer bethought himself of that ancient and comforting motto, "Requiestant in peace," and a happy thought occurred to him. Where do we all at last find rest? Why in the cemetery of course, and thereto our exhausted hero hied himself, but the departed ones arose in their wrath and drove the interloper from their rightful domain.
- Bidding good-bye to his parents a young minister leaves his eastern home to spread the glad tidings of religion to the people removed from its influence on the western prairies. Arriving at his destination he is treated to a warm reception by some cowboys lounging about the station; asking how many miles to go he is directed and hires an old rig which, however, succeeds in getting stuck in the mud and he is obliged to tramp off fifteen miles across the burning alkali. Faint from hunger, thirst and fatigue, he at last sights an old shack. A girl comes out; she is naturally suspicious of strangers, but seeing his plight, helps him to food and drink. He tells the poor child the simple story of the Savior's love for his children. She seems mystified and enthralled, and out of the shadow of her ignorance a light of hope breaks. They are surprised by the entrance of a man who proves to be a horse thief; he proceeds to tie the stolen property. The minister is quite a joke to him. He tries to get fresh with the girl; the minister has a hard struggle to keep his mother's good advice in preserving his temper but at length human nature can endure no longer. He knock the rascal down. Fortunately, the girl's father enters at this moment or the minister's life would have paid the penalty of his rashness. A large reward has been offered for the capture of the horse thief and the people are naturally not slow in trying to get it. Taking advantage of their preoccupation he quickly mounts his horse and dashes off, leaving the stolen animals tied to the shack. The posse arrives shortly after, seeing the brands of the horses they immediately come to the conclusion that the father of the girl is guilty of the theft. In desperation the daughter and the minister try to explain, but the evidence is too convincing. He is led off to a tree, the noose is about his neck and he is about to be strung up, when the minister and the girl dash in and make a desperate plea for his release. This serves but as an aggravation to the angry men, and but for the opportune arrival of the sheriff, who has caught the horse thief, they would have made short work of him. Explanations follow, the sheriff is an old friend of the father and orders his release. The minister and the girl are congratulated for having been able to stay the execution.
- After a sojourn in Europe, Pa and Ma Belmont, with their pretty daughter Hazel, return to New York. Among the passengers who disembarked at the dock there appeared a strange-looking East Indian who carried a mysterious bundle. He approached the Belmonts and explained that he was anxious to show his collection of Oriental jewels and novelties to possible American buyers. Pa Belmont extended his card and suggested that the Yogi call at the family residence at an early date. A few days later, mother and daughter were eagerly inspecting a rare and odd collection of Oriental curiosities which the Yogi brought. Among the lot they came upon a pearl-studded casket in which reposed a beautiful necklace having a peculiarly shaped locket attached. This, the Yogi explained, was a lucky charm and would bring good fortune to the wearer. Ma Belmont being slightly superstitious, was ready to purchase the trinket, but Pa objected, first, because the price asked was exorbitant, and again, because he did not believe in hoodooisms. Naturally Ma and daughter were disappointed and angry, and the Yogi likewise evinced his wrath by vowing vengeance as he left the room. After completely wearing herself out by sobs and tears, Ma fell asleep and dreamed the Yogi appeared in a cloud of vapor and produced the wanted necklace, which he mysteriously transferred to her neck, locking it on with a small padlock. Then he disappeared as suddenly as he had come. Smilingly she seated herself in a comfortable chair, when lo! the chair vanished and precipitated her on the floor. Other articles of furniture also disappeared as she touched them. Screaming with fright, she alarms the household, and one by one they rush in, only to vanish mysteriously as Ma touches them. Frantically she dashes from the house and down the street. Everywhere she goes there follows the elimination of people and objects. A streetcar, a train of cars and even a huge sight-seeing auto on Riverside Drive vanish at her touch, leaving astonished passengers in a tumbled heap on the pavement. At intervals, the Yogi appears in a cloud of smoke and beckons her on. At last they reach the same ship on which she arrived home, and just as she is about to follow her spirit-guide into the sea, she awakes in her own room.
- Nora Harrigan is the idol of Parisian opera lovers, much to the envy of her rival Flora Desimone. Edward Courtlandt finds himself attracted to Nora, but she rejects him in favor of Herr Rosen. When Nora is mysteriously abducted, she denounces Courtlandt as her abductor, although he is never charged with the crime. To recover from her ordeal, Nora sojourns to the south of France with her parents where, at Colonel Wester's, she again meets Courtlandt. Her father becomes great friends with him, but Nora remains obdurate, although she has lost interest in Herr Rosen. Subsequently, Courtlandt discovers that Rosen was responsible for Nora's abduction and orders him out of the country. Just as romance is about to spring up between Nora and Courtlandt, Nora's father discovers that Flora and Courtlandt were married at one time and then separated. However, Flora's husband intervenes, forcing his wife to explain the misunderstanding and thus clearing all obstacles from love's path.
- Judith was the usual, the everyday type, that has always predominated, the trembling, cringing, pleading woman who humbly submitted herself in all things to her lord and master. Her husband, big, brutal and selfish, made her life one of abject misery and torment. He evinced a particular hatred of his mother-in-law and took every occasion to wound his wife's feelings in respect to her. Judith worked hard all day tidying up the house, thinking to please John when he returned home in the evening. Once, strange to say, he entered the door with a smile, the first she had seen in weeks, but only for an instant. His glance rested on a picture of Judith's mother which she had unconsciously placed on an easel in a conspicuous place. Stamping like an enraged bull he emitted a torrent of abuse, and tearing the picture from the easel demanded to know why he must everlastingly be confronted with that hated face. "Man must rule and not woman" he exclaimed, and suiting the action to the word he produced from the mantel a picture of his father and placed it on the easel instead. Judith accidentally reads Ella Willow Wheelcock's "Advice to Abused Women" and decides to follow it at the first opportunity. About this time, mother-in-law arrives for a long visit. She is met at the door by John and promptly kicked down the steps and warned to stay away. Judith seizes the opportunity she has been waiting for, and wades into her brute hubby with such fire and zeal as to literally take him off his feet with wonder and amazement. She teaches him a lesson he will not forget and he finally agrees "The new woman" in his household had come to slay.
- Tony the barber, with aspirations above his calling, has had ample opportunity, during the periods between customers, to acquaint himself with the fact that the over-production of American heiresses and shortage of titled noblemen, is commented upon in daily papers. Reading of Lawncrest, a mountain resort, being unusually well supplied in this respect. Tony conceives the foolish idea of masquerading as an Italian Count in the hope of capturing an heiress for a wife. He purchases an impressive outfit at a second-hand clothing parlor, sends a telegram to the leading hotel, reserving a suite of rooms, and sallies forth in his quest for wealth. At Lawncrest, preparations for a hay ride were in progress when the bogus Count's telegram arrived. The landlord, proud of the distinction of entertaining the nobility, announces the fact to his guests. The hay ride is immediately postponed by the girls, much to the chagrin of the boys, who do not hesitate to show their displeasure. The girls proceed to array themselves in their best in anticipation of the Count's arrival, and indeed make a decided impression when he appears upon the scene, as the events following bear out. A woman's privilege is to change her mind, and when, after being formally introduced by the landlord to the assembled guests, the Count states that a hay ride would be a new experience to him, the girls immediately insist upon the original program being carried out, but now without any enthusiasm on the part of the boys. During the ride the Count is the center of attraction, the girls showering him with their attentions. Arriving at the picnic grounds, the girls treat the Count with the utmost consideration, while the boys are kept busy with the chores. Believing in the old adage, "Make hay while the sun shines," the bogus Count, taking advantage of the opportunities offered him, proposes to each of the girls in turn. But it's a long lane that has no turn, and the boys are soon to come into their own again, and in a manner both satisfactory to them and embarrassing to the girls. Bob, a brother of one of the girls, decides to spend a few days with his sister. Arriving at the hotel and learning of her absence, he decides to join the party. He is enthusiastically welcomed by the boys, and the girls, proud in their possession of a real live Count, all wish to be the first to present him to Bob. The introduction fills Bob with mirth and the Count with consternation, and Bob loses no time in divulging the fact that the Count is none other than Bob's barber, Tony. Imagine the mortification of the girls and picture the exultation of the boys, who in retaliation drive off and leave the girls alone with their Count. There is no anger like that of a woman scorned, or fooled, either, and what those girls did to Tony would require pages to relate. Really, Tony did deserve a coat of tar and feathers; well, he received a substitute for it. A cushion furnished the feathers, and, in the absence of tar, the girls employed the jam forming a part of the interrupted luncheon, and treated the Count of Noaccount to a coat of jelly and feathers.
- James Ravencroft was a well-to-do broker whose name in financial circles was one to conjure with during the palmy days of his career; he becomes gradually reduced to poverty, but manages to keep his financial condition a secret to his family. He conceives the idea of forming a "Beggar Trust" as a means of revenue. From this time on Ravencroft leads a dual life. At home he is the same lovable husband and kind father. In the underground rendezvous of the beggars he is the scheming, crafty king of petty sharpers and fakirs. His kindness towards a homeless waif, one of the beggars, wins for him her friendship and his life is saved when the band becomes mutinous and decides to elect another king. Ravencroft amasses a fortune through his system of employing beggars and escaping secretly when the police raid the beggars' haunt, he returns to his room with the girl, through a secret panel, secures his hidden hoard from a cleverly concealed safe in the fireplace and hurries home to his family, the beggar crew being hustled oft to police headquarters meanwhile. At the Ravencroft home the girl is adopted and everyone seems happy, except the master of the house, who, in his escapades with the beggars, contracts a severe cold which develops into consumption. Day by day his ailment grows worse. Two of the beggar crew escape from the police and discover a connection between their former king and the broker, Ravencroft. They call at his home and demand money. Ravencroft orders them from the house, whereupon they notify the police that the King of Beggars is none other than the broker. Ravencroft's weakened condition is no match for the shock of arrest, and he drops dead when a detective arrives at his home.
- Mr. Schmidt and several cronies are wont to meet in the back room of a neighboring saloon on Sunday evenings, at which time various brass instruments are produced and sounds unknown to musical ears drift out on the still night air. It's a good thing to have confidence in your own efforts, even if nobody else has. Imbued with the desire to cultivate the musical taste of the public and incidentally earn a livelihood in the pleasing, easy life of the strolling player, the Little German Band invest their savings in startling uniforms and sally forth on their glorious mission. But things unforeseen are always happening; their first adventure taking place in the backyard of a tenement. Almost anybody can appreciate music, perhaps none better than the Irish, but one Casey, sleeping off the remnants of a last night's "jag" has no soul for music early in the morning, throws his mattress on them. Their discomfiture is but temporary and they start with renewed vigor a couple of blocks away, where a "lady of color" showers them with ashes; another neighbor throws the contents of a tub on the Germans; a gouty individual "peppers" them with a shotgun; a bartender has the street cleaner drench them with water: an ever increasing crowd frightens them so much they take to their heels and never stop until they reach the dock; missiles of every description follow them as they jump into the river, where they seek refuge from further persecution.
- The last wish of a dying mother to her fatherless boys, both of tender years, was that they always treasure her memory and try to live as she had taught them, to be honest, truthful and manly. She bade them take a photo of herself, the only one she had ever owned, and cut it in two, each of the boys to retain one half. Then she passed away and the boys began their struggle with the world, friendless and alone. Years come and go until we take up the thread of the story again. Here we have a picture of plenty and prosperity on one side, enjoyed by the younger brother who forged ahead and made for himself a fortune and fame and the dregs of degradation, the depths of sin on the other, in which the elder brother played a prominent part. In a low gambling den, reeking with vice and filth, a game was in progress. In stalked a roughly-dressed, drink besoddened wreck of humanity and staked his last dollar on a card, and lost. Then, from an inner pocket he drew a gold watch and chain and presented it for a loan. Through the door at his back stepped a policeman accompanied by a man who identified the man at the table as the one who stole his watch. Well, he was caught with the goods, and sent up for a year, which was reduced three months by good behavior, and he was released to again prey on society. And this was the elder brother. The younger brother had just closed a successful business deal, netting him many thousands and he was returning from the office in a happy mood. Passing a beggar on the corner he stopped long enough to take a ten-dollar note from a well-filled wallet and dropped it in the outstretched hand and then hurried home to a warm fire and the loving wife and child who awaited him. The beggar looked in amazement at the crisp, new greenback in his hand. Surely, a man who carelessly gives away large sums to beggars on the street must be very wealthy, he thought. Why should he have plenty and another suffer poverty, was the trend of his thoughts. So the beggar followed the other man and learned where he lived. That night, the younger brother's butler came into the library where he sat, after the family retired, and excitedly told him there was a burglar in the house. Cautioning him to remain silent, the man of the house secured his revolver and secreted himself behind a screen to await developments. Soon the folding, glass doors were pried open from without and a man stepped in, to fare a drawn revolver and hear the command, "Hands up!" While they were waiting for the police to come, the burglar sat by a center table cursing his fate. Suddenly his eves rested on a half-picture, leaning against the reading lamp. Reaching in his pocket he brought to light a piece of dirty newspaper wrapped around some object within. Unwrapping it carefully he produced something which he held beside the half-picture on the table and then burst into tears. Two brothers had met again. Outside the police were coming. It was but the work of a moment to send the butler for a lounging robe and to place the burglar in a comfortable chair with a lighted cigar in his mouth. When the police came they were told the burglar had escaped. Anyway, the bad brother changed his ways and the good brother placed him on his feet. On the first anniversary of his marriage the bad brother, now good, held a little reception but he refused to join in the toast drank to his health.
- The escape of a huge chimpanzee from Bostock's at Coney Island and the havoc wrought by this near-human member of the simian family was the theme seized upon by the Atlas Company for a comedy production. A wild chase through Coney Island, among the screaming children and hysterical women, the holding up of street cars, automobiles and other traffic are among the incidents which serve to show the limits to which an energetic moving picture director will go in order to secure a realistic and genuinely funny film; in fact, so much excitement prevails as a result of their efforts that the New York World devoted a column topped with glaring headlines to the story of "An Escaped Gorilla," which among other depredations committed, boarded a street car and started a panic among the passengers, who broke windows and doors in their haste to escape.
- The depredations committed by, or attributed, to the Black Hand, have been chronicled by the newspapers frequently and at length. Almost daily some act of this band has filled its threatened victims with terror. Countless prosperous Italian merchants have paid tribute to this mysterious organization, for immunity against its threats, and those who have failed to heed its commands have paid a terrible price. Scores of lives have been sacrificed in the effort to break up the law-defying Black Hand band. The concerted action by the police of every city in the United States and Europe has had little if any effect in accomplishing the desired result. Almost insurmountable difficulties have been encountered in the apparently vain effort to decisively wipe the Black Hand from the face of the earth. However, such an affront to modern civilization could not be tolerated forever. Determination and persistency will accomplish anything. How the Black Hand was finally and completely eradicated forms one of the most mysterious and clever detective stories ever shown upon the screen.
- Willie is sent to the butcher to buy some dog meat for his father's pet mastiff. Two blocks away he came upon a crowd of excited urchins and stopped to whet his curiosity. It developed that a crap game was in progress, the youngsters eagerly trying to win marbles, and other trinkets from each other. Remembering his father's admonition to "hurry back" Willie bravely marched on to the butcher shop and made his purchase, the butcher reminding him that the meat was not intended for human consumption, but dogs only. Returning by the same street, Willie forgets his good intentions for a few moments before and stops to watch the game which is still in progress. His interest waxes stronger and stronger until her finally takes a hand himself, depositing his package of meat on a nearby hydrant. A hungry tramp, attracted by the confusion happens by and scents the meat. Cautiously he steals away with the package and uses a tramp's ingenuity to prepare a hasty meal. Our knight of the road soon begins to cut capers under the influence of his canine diet. Through the streets he ran on all fours, whining and yelping like a dog. Pandemonium breaks loose and the town turns out en masse to capture this strange freak of humanity. Luckily, the dog catcher hoves in sight and is immediately pressed into service. With the aid of his net a capture is effected and our dog-man is hustled off in the dog catcher's wagon.
- The conductor of a freight train finds a hobo in a box car and violently ejects him. Returning home, the conductor finds his babe seated on the hobo's knee on the woodpile. The conductor, enraged, takes baby from the hobo, and as the latter rises, knocks him down and then drives him away. Later, baby wants to accompany her father, the conductor, as he leaves the house, but is told to stay at home. Disregarding her father's injunction, baby steals after him, and crossing a road, calls to him. The conductor turns and is horrified to see his baby fall almost beneath the wheels of an automobile. Unable to reach baby, the father's agony is great, and the revulsion of feeling when he finds she has been rescued by the hobo, causes him to break down utterly. At length we find the hobo the guest of honor, the conductor and his wife waiting upon him. Baby crawls to his knee and the hobo asks "if it is all right." The conductor assures him that it is, and extends his hand in token of sincere gratitude for the rescue of his little darling.
- You have run across him or his counterpart. Remember in the old days at school he swiped your mugs, threw your cap over the fence, stuck his finger in your eye and whistled in your ear? He was always big and husky and how he would pick out the little fellows to have his fun with. He grew up too, even as you and I, and the only change noticeable was that he used more care in selecting his victims. Of course he got married, for did not this bring with it a meek, gentle little woman, always on hand to be nagged, abused, and yes, beaten, too, and with no danger to himself, for she keeps quiet and won't tell; don't want neighbors or relations to know she made a mistake. Our Bully was no different, cast from the same mold and cut after the same pattern. Big, burly, blustering. He owned the town, or thought he did. It was a busy little town and perhaps no one had the time to devote to our Bully. He beat his wife, of course he did, wasn't she his wife, and regularly, too, just a sort of appetizer to start the day with. The little newsboy had no business getting in his way. Well, perhaps he did not know who Mr. Bully was or he would have been on the other side of the street selling his papers; and that same day he did lick a man, honest, a Chinaman. Hop Sing knew who was Mayor of the town but forgot who owned it. Old Tom was blind. It was a pity, otherwise he might have seen the error of his ways and kept out of Bully's way. But we do have strangers visit us occasionally and especially during the summer a stray city chap may drop in on us to spend a vacation. Nancy Lee was one of those real cute, manly chaps that wait on us when we go to the city. You'll generally find him behind some ribbon counter. Nancy was a sure enough stranger, otherwise he would not have dared to stop off in the same town with our Bully. Well, mistakes will happen, poor Nancy got in Bully's way and something terrible happened to him. He burst the seam of a glove, lost a button off his shirt and disarranged his hair. Bully has not stopped running yet, but then Nancy did not know who Bully really was. Bully never came back to our town. He was mortified after his encounter with Nancy. After much pleading on the Bully's part his wife finally joined him in his new home and we are reliably informed that he says yes ma'am and gets his wife's permission to go out.
- Our friend woke up with a grouch, carried his grouch around all day and took his grouch to bed with him. But it's like any other disease; we know when we have it and we want to be cured. Our grouch thought he was incurable; had tried every known remedy; he sure was the champion sour-face until he heard of Old Doctor M.A.K. Ulaf. The doctor's treatment was all he claimed for it; one dose of his famous Risibility Elixir made Groucho a changed man. He laughed at the troubles of others; he ha-ha'd when people slipped or fell, and guffawed at the argument between the police and the suffragettes, and was even filled with boisterous mirth when arrested and jailed for his hilarious demonstrations. But "it's an ill wind that blows nobody good." Our old friend Groucho is now known by his family, neighbors and business associates as "General Geniality."