Cinematic Discoveries Resonating with the Themes of Tell It to the ...

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

The scout troop give a circus in which they use the dogs belonging to nearly everybody in town and the owners break up the show by seeking to reclaim their pets.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

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

There is a domestic squabble between two families living in the same house. The wives have a disagreement and the husbands take it up, finally coming to blows. In the midst of the fight they are flabbergasted to find that the wives are again the best of friends.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

When their father is reported missing at the front during World War I, Jane and Katherine are stamped and sent by parcel post across the country to their Aunt Lucille Forrest in New Jersey. The two girls manage to smuggle their dog into the mail bag as well. Aunt Lucille is in love with Lt. Tom Hayes, but she is angry with him after he resigns his commission at the start of the war. She does not know that Tom is in the Secret Service, and she becomes jealous of a female spy whom Tom is trailing. Jane and Katherine's mischievous pranks finally assist in capturing the spy and the secret plans, and getting Aunt Lucille back together with Tom.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

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

Peggy and her father are thrown out on the street by a heartless landlord. They go to the park and find a nice, hard bench to lie on. Pal, their dog, tramps along with them. The park officer does everything in his power to get Peggy and her father to move away, but Peggy is always frustrating his heartless plans. In the park two robbers are looking over their spoils. Peggy, who has been dodging the cop, chances upon them. They throw the spoils over in the comer of a bush when they see the officer, and Peggy picks up the bag and walks off with it. The cop follows the crooks, who are following Peggy - and before they know it they all have walked into the station-house. The crooks are arrested, the jewels are found and Peggy receives a worthy reward.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

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

The historic (and comedic) game between the Snipeville Katydids and the Poseyville Caterpillars, with Lee on the mound for the former and Mike in the box for the latter team, is shown.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

Lee and Fred are the best of pals. Their wives are the best of comrades. The two families live in the same rooms, the same house, and share fifty-fifty on all the furniture. One day they have a quarrel, at least the wives do, and the two families split. One-half of the house belongs to one family, and one to the other. This continues for some time, even going as far as cutting the Ford in half. One fine day after the two husbands get all smashed up they go to their homes, and they find their wives embracing each other. This is too much, and they leave for Reno.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Peggy, Behave! perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

After making all the mischief that she can, Baby Peggy runs away from home. All this because of jealousy. A new baby brother has made his appearance in her home and is taking away a good deal of attention from her. Out in the cruel world she is captured by a junk dealer and set to work. She manages to fill her wagon with junk by going into the yards at night and meowing like a cat. Windows are thrown open and all kinds of things are thrown at her. At the end she escapes and returns home.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

Lee is being tried for his cruel treatment of his mother-in-law. He is supposed to have choked, bound and gagged her and done away with her parrot Clementina. Even the jury shed tears at the sad tale. Lee is sentenced to twenty-five years hard labor, and he is so happy he kisses the judge and shakes hands with the prosecuting attorney. Then he tells the judge how his mother-in-law abused him, and how the parrot followed him day and night. When Lee gets through with his story, the Judge lets him go and forces the mother-in-law to abdicate with her parrot which flies into the courtroom and hides behind the flag for protection.