Deep Archive Finds in the Vein of Jazz and Jailbirds: Cult Guide

Dir: J.A. Howe

Old man Hardscratch, the village nickel-nurser, a hard-hearted mortgage taxer, gives notice to the heroine and her people that unless they pay, he will put them into the street. The girl appeals to Jim for help, Strongarm, the blacksmith, brings Jim to his shop as his apprentice, Strongarm receives a present from his partner Gideon, with a letter, - the trained monkey, Minnie, Minnie gives Strongarm and Jim a chase about - while she sits on the roof of the shop and watches them, Strongarm leaves the shop in Jim's care - and during his absence Jim "shoes" a horse and receives two dollars from the owner for his work. With this money he buys milk for the hungry baby, the old man Hardscratch having refused to give it to the girl. The mean old man Hardscratch, while taking something from his pocket, accidentally drops a roll of bills, which Minnie finds and brings to Jim. There is much comedy business between Minnie and Jim. In the end, Jim has won the gratitude of the girl and her people by using this money to pay Hardscratch and chase him from the house.

Dir: J.A. Howe

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Tramps and Traitors perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J.A. Howe

A swift moving, hilarious comedy of love, politics and war, showing how two assistants to an inventor save his formula for destroying the enemy by feeding them with explosive peanuts, from foreign emissaries.

Dir: J.A. Howe

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Peanuts and Politics perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J.A. Howe

The competition between a rural jitney bus and a trolley car include lifting passengers onto cars with a derrick.

Dir: J.A. Howe

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Sleuths and Slickers perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

The beginning of a perfect day was for Phil to make his own breakfast, take his daily plunge, and be waited on by his valet, who happens to be Brownie the dog. Outside of being a gentleman, Phil was also a dancing professor and taught pretty young ladies how to twinkle their toes. Across the hall from him lived a modiste and her daughter. The daughter was pretty and that's where the story becomes interesting. A pretty girl, a next door neighbor and strict mother all go to make a very deliciously naughty situation. They are about to elope when mother returns and finds her daughter leaving home. She scolds her, and in the rush to get her into her apartment, leaves her grip outside in the hall. Phil grabs his grip and runs back into his room. In the meantime an ex-jail bird has managed to get away with a grip full of jewels; However, the police are right on his heels and chase him into the same house where Phil and the girl live. He rushes up into the hall where he sees the other grip, changes the grips and when the officer gets up to him and searches the grip, all he finds is a collar. The mother realizes the loss of her daughter's grip, goes out into the hall and takes the grip. A general mix-up of grips follows wherein some very funny incidents occur. After a very daring roof chase, the thief is caught and thrown back into prison. Mother forgives the professor and the finis fade out leaves every one in a happy contented mood.

Dir: J.A. Howe

Paul, in the role of a man new at the business, undertakes to wire a house for all kinds of electric devices, with laughable results.

Dir: J.A. Howe

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Off His Trolley perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: J.A. Howe

Here's a film that will upset all your ideas of the Wild West. A parody of the great screen classic, "The Covered Wagon," it treats of the adventures of a band of pioneers who make their transcontinental trip in flivvers, meet with Indians who take the warpath on bicycles, and finally make their escape on a trolley car which runs across the prairie.

Dir: J.A. Howe

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.