Cinematic Discoveries Following the Footsteps of The Messenger: Cul...

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

Baby Peggy as the mischievous child of doting and fussy parents.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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

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 fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

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

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

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.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Meet Betty's Husband perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

Andrew Sheldon is so busy perfecting a new explosive for the United States' effort in the Great War that he fails to realize that his butler, cook, housekeeper, and chauffeur are all German spies. However, his two mischievous daughters Katherine and Jane make life difficult for the spies by throwing pies at the Kaiser's picture and clipping the butler's long, Prussian-style mustache while he sleeps. When Andrew's wife announces that she is pregnant, he tells the girls that he has written a letter requesting a baby brother for them, whereupon they decide to steal the letter, convinced that two children are enough for their family. Breaking into Andrew's laboratory, they take the "letter," actually the secret formula, but after Andrew reveals that his plans are missing, the butler enters the laboratory and seizes the invention itself. Following an automobile chase and then a battle staged in rowboats on the Hudson River, the butler is apprehended by U.S. agents. Although he is the proud father of a new baby boy, Andrew gratefully blesses the impish little girls who saved his formula.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

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.

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

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

Interrupting the marital troubles of a man whose wife's cooking was not conducive to longevity, comes Jimmie Adams in the role of a book agent. His call is unwelcome and the housewife first calls the poodle dog, then the bull dog. The latter puts the book agent on the run. Two policemen take up the chase and all scamper through a field where straw is heaped in piles and the pursued endeavors to hide, without much success. There is considerable action without humor in the first reel. The second has something to do with the title, since it takes place in a "scout " camp and ends in a swamp, where there are splashes of action, again without humor.

Dir: Arvid E. Gillstrom

Harry is the farmer's helper, while Johnny is the helper to the helper. Johnny has with him some bottles of "Pepo." A few drops of this wonderful liquid puts speed into anything. They drop some into the sheriff's motorcycle and it dashes away. A few drops in the chicken feed and the hens drop their eggs all over the place. At the barn dance Johnny pours some "Pepo" into the ice cream and the old ladies start flirting with the young men and the old boys shine up to the girls. Then they play leap frog and Harry and the farmer's daughter elope.