Author Archive: Retro

In the little Italian city of Cremona there dwelt Taddeo Ferrari, a violin maker and student of Andrea Amati, the most famous of the craft. Ferrari’s pretty daughter, Giannina, was beloved by one of his apprentices, Sandro. Filippo, a crippled youth and the best violin maker in Cremona, also loved the girl with a pure, holy affection that is more spiritual than material, but realizing his unattractiveness through his deformity, suffers his hopelessness with resignation. Yearly there is a prize of a precious chain of gold awarded to the maker of the best violin, and all the apprentices strive to win it. On this occasion, however, the hand of Giannina is to be bestowed upon the most proficient craftsman, and this induces the young men to make extra efforts to win. Sandro fully appreciates the rare talent of Filippo and feels sure his wonderful skill will win his sweetheart from him. Crushed and despairing he [...]

Edward Jackson brings Polly Riblett to his mother for her blessing, who takes the girl in her arms. The lovers walk away to plan for the future and the venerable woman is lost in thought; her mind reverts to her youth, which is very interesting, and constitutes the greater part of this drama. Mrs. Jackson awakens from her reverie, saddened by the memories. Her face is tear-stained and her body convulsed with sobs. Edward and Polly approach and she turns to them joyfully. She again takes the young girl in her arms and clings to her, admonishing Edward to cherish and protect her. Edward is embraced and extolled as a dutiful son. The young people receive the blessings of the parent.

Mrs. Jones with effusive enthusiasm felt that Eddie dear would appreciate her endeavors to prepare for him a batch of biscuits. That she followed the rules and directions set down in her text books is not questioned, but one bite from the lead-like disks was enough, and getting the dear little creature from the table by subterfuge he throws a full dozen of them through the window, pretending to have eaten them upon her return. Of course she is delighted at his apparent appreciation and when he has departed for the office she puts up a package of them and takes them there, placing them on his desk. Jones is not present at the time, he being in the adjoining room in the throes of indigestion. Visitors to his office, he being a theatrical agent and they hungry actors, espy the inviting looking dough boulders and partake greedily. In a short time the assemblage is [...]

Young Little Billy wants to buy some ice-cream with the dime his mother gave him, but the neighborhood bullies have other plans for that dime.

The action is laid in the seventeenth century, and the costumes, while historically accurate, are most lavishly elaborate. A bitter war is waging between two kingdoms, and as the King and Queen hold court in the throne room of the palace there arrives a courier, who, battered and exhausted, has scarcely strength as he falls at the foot of the throne to thrust into the hands of the anxious King, a message which tells of the disaster and panic that has befallen his forces. The King immediately holds council of war and calls for a trusty messenger to carry to his armies the reassuring intelligence that reinforcements have been rushed to their aid. The lot falls to a brave young courier, lion-hearted and with nerve of steel, who, before setting off, goes to take leave of his sweetheart. He discovers her resenting the unwelcomed advances of his rival, a contemptible scoundrel. The villain departs, swearing [...]

Very funny Conklin short. Dog owners Alice and Chester meet on a beach. After being chased by an obligatory cop, they wind up in a hotel lobby and become involved with some bootleggers.

Two clownish stagehands make life difficult for the manager and cast of a dramatic production.