The Definitive Guide Deeply Connected to Telephones and Troubles: C...

Dir: J.A. Howe

At a Red Cross entertainment where pretty girls' kisses are sold to the highest bidder, one of the young women whose kisses are being sold becomes unbalanced, and forgetting that she is already married, promises her hand to two rival suitors, each of whom is to meet her at the depot with a minister. In the mix-up, the number of ministers invited to perform the ceremony increases, and in their eagerness to be in at the finish they take to bicycles in pursuit as the two lovers try to elude each other. Finally the husband of the young woman appears on the scene and puts an end to his wife's flirtations.

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.

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

Dir: J.A. Howe

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

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of All for the Dough Bag perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

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

At the Come On Inn, Jimmy, the waiter, is sweet on Mlle. Twinkletoes. The manager interferes, and Jimmy leads him to believe that it was all part of the act, his loving Mlle. Twinkletoes. I.M. Ruff, warden of the jail, arrives with two of the Ruff family - and Jimmy is assigned to attend him. Through much carelessness and vengeance, Jimmy is finally forced to apologize to the warden. While he is doing so, the Count De Razzbury, picks the warden's pocket book from his pocket, and then, fearing detection, slips it into Jimmy's pocket. Jimmy is arrested - his explanations scoffed at. He is taken to prison. Mr. Ruff and his wife plan a reception, and Mlle. Twinkletoes is hired for the occasion. Count De Razzbury, the guest of honor, accepts the invitation, much to Miss Ruff's steady company's jealousy. While the warden is taking his morning exercise with the convicts, Jimmy manages by a ruse to escape, meets "the steady company" who invites him to take the place of the distinguished guest, and Jimmy does so. Upon being presented to Mr. Ruff, Jimmy receives reminders of the Hoosegow, and the warden suspects but is not sure, and later, when Jimmy's disguise ''slips" he recognizes his naked face. Mlle. Twinkletoes confesses to Jimmy's innocence - and Ruff believing, promises a $1000 could he but right the wrong. Jimmy , although badly beaten after his encounter with Ruff, comes to, and grabs the money before Buff can take back is offer.

Dir: J.A. Howe

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Live Wires perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

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.

Dir: J.A. Howe

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

Monty and Rock, at the beach, meet many girls, but fight over the one girl, and seek the aid of a movie press agent, to settle the dispute, but instead of helping he tells them she belongs to his company. He appoints them both judges of the baby parade, and tells them whom he wants to win; and at the parade, which is the big event of the season, they award it to the one the judge wanted even though the vote is for another. The people chase them, and after much chasing they come upon the agent and the actress, and ask who wins the girl. The agent tells them that the policeman wins the girl. And hands her over to him. The boys disguise themselves to fool the cops, come upon the movie company and try several different times to get admitted, but each time they are barred out. Hearing the director ask for two messengers, the two disguise them selves as such, but again arrive too late. In their effort to get in they are again defeated, but receive a telegram to be delivered which they read, finding that two French comedians are detained. They dress up as the French actors, and arrive at the studio, where they are greeted with much ceremony, They are talking when the two real French actors arrive. After the confusion and chasing, in which the two manage by many tricks and jumps to elude the pursuers, they find the manager willing to make a contract with them to act in comedies. They accept. Finis.

Dir: J.A. Howe

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.