A meeting of a bachelor's society prepares to initiate Edward Boulden into their number. They sing various songs -- they are the Edison Minstrels, after all -- whack a blindfolded Boulden and then tell him he is to die for the honor of the society and give him a bottle of booze, telling him it is poison.
It's a light-hearted Kinetophone film and moderately amusing for the era. While the Edison Minstrels appeared only in the Kinetophone films, Boulden (1879-1937) was a veteran film actor and comedian, with appearances on the screen that dated back to 1905's THE GAY SHOE CLERK. Although his career was not robust after Edison ceased film production, he appeared in features as late as 1924.
It's a light-hearted Kinetophone film and moderately amusing for the era. While the Edison Minstrels appeared only in the Kinetophone films, Boulden (1879-1937) was a veteran film actor and comedian, with appearances on the screen that dated back to 1905's THE GAY SHOE CLERK. Although his career was not robust after Edison ceased film production, he appeared in features as late as 1924.
