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A Reckless Romeo (1917)
This film was not shot in Los Angeles, it was shot in Fort Lee NJ
The film was shot at Palisades Amusement Park in Fort Lee NJ (owned by Nick & Joe Schenck from 1910-1935) and also on Main Street in Fort Lee outside the exterior wall of the Triangle Studio which Arbuckle used to shoot films for Keystone in 1915-1916 such as He Did and He Didn't and The Waiter's Ball. Mack Sennet, who worked with DW Griffith in Fort Lee from 1909-1912 and formed Keystone Studio in Fort Lee in the summer of 1912 prior to the move west, sent Arbuckle to Fort Lee to his Triangle Studio in 1915-1916. Arbuckle directed and starred in some of his best shorts including some with Mabel Normand. Fort Lee was a crucial spot for Sennett in that he starred in and likely directed portions of the first American slapstick comedy, 1909's The Curtain Pole. This film by Griffith for Biograph, was also shot on Main Street in Fort Lee.
The Narrow Road (1912)
Film actually shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey
Though Griffith shot films in California during his "Fort Lee" period with Biograph - this film is one shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey. We are in the process of doing a frame by frame analysis of many of these Biograph films and we will match them to the locations as they exist today in Fort Lee.
Griffith used some of the same exteriors in Fort Lee from film to film - perhaps an alteration of the storefront here or there but essentially the same locations. One of the famous exterior shots from this period is the storefront in "The Musketerrs of Pig Alley" that was dressed to resemble the Lower Eastside of Manhattan but in fact was Main Street in Fort Lee.
The Fort Lee Film Commission is very much involved in the research of locations from this period. Also, nice to see Max Davidson in this film - Max would go on to play a character in one of the "Our Gang" shorts - the classic "Moan & Groan."
Her Awakening (1911)
Charisma of Mabel jumps off the screen
This film showcases a very young Mabel Normand. Mabel's charisma jumps off the screen 95 years later. The streets of Fort Lee are used effectively and as a member of the Fort Lee Film Commission I can safely say we are all great fans of Mabel. Both Mabel, Mack Sennett and Roscoe Arbuckle worked on these streets in Fort Lee and American comedy was born in these long ago days on these dusty streets of Fort Lee, New Jersey.
Mabel went on to make many other films in California but this early film shows a star in the making. Mabel died too young but her legacy can be seen in this film which showcases her spirit and personality.