Post by Terry Harbin on Jun 2, 2005 23:49:02 GMT -5
The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford
After completion of the Pearl White serials, the
Whartons began production on July 14th 1915
on a comedy based on George Randolph Chester's
mythical character James Wallingford.
The stories ran in the Hearst owned Cosmopolitan
Magazine several years earlier. The local papers
announced that it would be 14-40 chapters in
length possibly based on The Whartons recent
success in the Elaine series.
The first episode of the series had to establish
the characters Jim Wallingford, Blackie Daws
and Fanny Warden several other characters
would be encountered as the episodes continued.
The Whartons had secured The Lehigh Valley's
best train the Black Diamond for the filming.
On the train would be Fredric DeBellville as
Wallingford, Max Figman as Blackie Daws
and Figmans' off screen wife Lolita
Robertson played Violet Warden.
Miss Frances White a local girl making good
with the Whartons was portraying Violet's
sister Fanny Warden.
Frances White starred in many of Whartons
1914 productions. She doubled for Pearl White
in the Romance of Elaine serial which was just
finishing filming in the Renwick park studios.
The first three episodes are really worth talking
about because they were all filmed and completed
when it was learned that Fredric DeBellville had
abandoned the part of Jim Wallingford.
A veteran actor, Burr McIntoch, then filled the
role. The filming continued with McIntoch now
in the fourth episode.
The first three chapters were released to
the theaters. Now this is where things get
a little jumbled. In the Library of Congresses'
copyright catalog of films the first three
episodes are listed separately by title and
also as episodes of the serial.
So what who really cares?
The problem is that many still images exist
from the film and many of the images are
from the first three episodes.
And if you look at the Wallingford character in
the stills you will see that it is Burr McIntoch
in the pictures.
How could this be if he did not appear until
episode #4 entitled The Master Touch.
In the movie magazines reviews of the early
episodes mention Burr McIntoch as
playing Wallingford.
Maybe DeBelleville had finally read his script
and saw what was going to happen in the
next episode.
He had recently been treated to a mud bath
for the third episode. The first five episodes
also have something else special about them. .
The appearance of a young Oliver Hardy in
these episodes marks his debut in serial films.
Look at the pictures of him in this group, with
moustache and without one and in the interesting
mud-bath stills. No film footage exists from the
early episodes.
Episode # 5 The Lilac Splash has been located.
It has an appearance by Oliver Hardy who plays
a would be burglar who gets caught in the act.
He then has to play cards with his captors to
secure his release.
This rare footage filmed in Ithaca along with
one reel from episode # 7 "The Bang Sun Engine"
and a complete episode # 13 The Missing Heir
are all that remain from the 14 chapters filmed
in Ithaca.
Now back to why did DeBellville leave the series?
In episode # 4 the Whartons needed skunks
and they brought 30-40 of them with them
when then returned from NYC. But that was
still not enough skunks. Luckily a skunk farm
in nearby Caroline was able to supply many
extras for the filming.
You can see that the skunks were going to be
real and that they would really did stink!
DeBellville must have drawn the line somewhere
he left the series not having to meet the skunks.
Yes, a few skunks did get away but nobody
was tracking them down or recapturing them.
In this picture taken in the park at the main
pavilion you can see the cast members eating
and scenting the skunks in the area.
And here is Ithaca High school student Harold
Urband being thrown off the trolley car with
huge tongs you can also notice that everyone
is holding their noses.
Many Ithacans & Cornell students appeared
in the film, one who is mentioned in the
papers outweighed the less plump Oliver Hardy.
John Matson was well over 300lbs as seen
here and in the trolley picture.
Harold "Red" Urband located on the far left
of this image was still a Ithaca High school
student at this time. He played small parts
in this film and would also be used in later
productions in the years to come.
The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford
was well received and enjoyed in the theaters
and many advertisements appeared in the
movie magazines to promote it.
The Whartons were mentioned in almost all
of the advertising done for the picture. I
mention this only because Hearst had interests
in its success but he did not have control over
the production.
The Pathe company had been using the Wharton
Inc. for its productions for more than a year.
Hearst had arranged with Charles Pathe the
extensive use of his media outlets to advertise
Pathe film productions and in turn Pathe would
accommodate Hearsts' desires on some productions.
In 1916, Hearst would do it all by himself, by
forming The International Film Service. He also
would continue to use the Whartons as producers
and directors knowing of their recent successes.
After completion of the Pearl White serials, the
Whartons began production on July 14th 1915
on a comedy based on George Randolph Chester's
mythical character James Wallingford.
The stories ran in the Hearst owned Cosmopolitan
Magazine several years earlier. The local papers
announced that it would be 14-40 chapters in
length possibly based on The Whartons recent
success in the Elaine series.
The first episode of the series had to establish
the characters Jim Wallingford, Blackie Daws
and Fanny Warden several other characters
would be encountered as the episodes continued.
The Whartons had secured The Lehigh Valley's
best train the Black Diamond for the filming.
On the train would be Fredric DeBellville as
Wallingford, Max Figman as Blackie Daws
and Figmans' off screen wife Lolita
Robertson played Violet Warden.
Miss Frances White a local girl making good
with the Whartons was portraying Violet's
sister Fanny Warden.
Frances White starred in many of Whartons
1914 productions. She doubled for Pearl White
in the Romance of Elaine serial which was just
finishing filming in the Renwick park studios.
The first three episodes are really worth talking
about because they were all filmed and completed
when it was learned that Fredric DeBellville had
abandoned the part of Jim Wallingford.
A veteran actor, Burr McIntoch, then filled the
role. The filming continued with McIntoch now
in the fourth episode.
The first three chapters were released to
the theaters. Now this is where things get
a little jumbled. In the Library of Congresses'
copyright catalog of films the first three
episodes are listed separately by title and
also as episodes of the serial.
So what who really cares?
The problem is that many still images exist
from the film and many of the images are
from the first three episodes.
And if you look at the Wallingford character in
the stills you will see that it is Burr McIntoch
in the pictures.
How could this be if he did not appear until
episode #4 entitled The Master Touch.
In the movie magazines reviews of the early
episodes mention Burr McIntoch as
playing Wallingford.
Maybe DeBelleville had finally read his script
and saw what was going to happen in the
next episode.
He had recently been treated to a mud bath
for the third episode. The first five episodes
also have something else special about them. .
The appearance of a young Oliver Hardy in
these episodes marks his debut in serial films.
Look at the pictures of him in this group, with
moustache and without one and in the interesting
mud-bath stills. No film footage exists from the
early episodes.
Episode # 5 The Lilac Splash has been located.
It has an appearance by Oliver Hardy who plays
a would be burglar who gets caught in the act.
He then has to play cards with his captors to
secure his release.
This rare footage filmed in Ithaca along with
one reel from episode # 7 "The Bang Sun Engine"
and a complete episode # 13 The Missing Heir
are all that remain from the 14 chapters filmed
in Ithaca.
Now back to why did DeBellville leave the series?
In episode # 4 the Whartons needed skunks
and they brought 30-40 of them with them
when then returned from NYC. But that was
still not enough skunks. Luckily a skunk farm
in nearby Caroline was able to supply many
extras for the filming.
You can see that the skunks were going to be
real and that they would really did stink!
DeBellville must have drawn the line somewhere
he left the series not having to meet the skunks.
Yes, a few skunks did get away but nobody
was tracking them down or recapturing them.
In this picture taken in the park at the main
pavilion you can see the cast members eating
and scenting the skunks in the area.
And here is Ithaca High school student Harold
Urband being thrown off the trolley car with
huge tongs you can also notice that everyone
is holding their noses.
Many Ithacans & Cornell students appeared
in the film, one who is mentioned in the
papers outweighed the less plump Oliver Hardy.
John Matson was well over 300lbs as seen
here and in the trolley picture.
Harold "Red" Urband located on the far left
of this image was still a Ithaca High school
student at this time. He played small parts
in this film and would also be used in later
productions in the years to come.
The New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford
was well received and enjoyed in the theaters
and many advertisements appeared in the
movie magazines to promote it.
The Whartons were mentioned in almost all
of the advertising done for the picture. I
mention this only because Hearst had interests
in its success but he did not have control over
the production.
The Pathe company had been using the Wharton
Inc. for its productions for more than a year.
Hearst had arranged with Charles Pathe the
extensive use of his media outlets to advertise
Pathe film productions and in turn Pathe would
accommodate Hearsts' desires on some productions.
In 1916, Hearst would do it all by himself, by
forming The International Film Service. He also
would continue to use the Whartons as producers
and directors knowing of their recent successes.