Lost1910Thanhouser CompanyDocumentary

Roosevelt’s Return

Name: Roosevelt’s Return
Genre: Documentary
Released: 1910-06-18

No copy you can watch online. No print is known to survive. What follows is what does: the release, the cast, the story, and what the trade press said at the time.

Background of the scenario

Thanhouser announced that it would film the return to America of ex-president Theodore Roosevelt, from his game-hunting trip to Africa on June 18, 1910. Earlier, Roosevelt in Africa, a Selig film, had attracted wide attention, and Thanhouser sought to exploit what was a popular subject. Little information appeared in the trade papers concerning this film, but it is believed that it was released, for years later, when Edwin Thanhouser compiled a list of films made under his management, Roosevelt’s Return was listed and was designated as a “special” release. Vitagraph, a competing company, used two steam yachts, one special tug, and two official tugs, and 12 cameras and 24 cameramen to photograph the return of Roosevelt from his foreign trip. He came over on the ship Kaiserina Augusta Victoria and was met by the committee boat Androscoggin. Vitagraph took 5,000 feet of negatives and made a 450-foot film from it.

What the papers said

1 article · 1 advertisement

Article

18 June 1910The New York Clipper1 min

“Roosevelt’s Return. The camera men of the Thanhouser Manufacturing Company [sic], New Rochelle, New York, are making ready to film the return of Theodore Roosevelt, and have completed their arrangements for photographing his arrival and all its incidents at New York, on June 18. It is estimated that the largest crowd in history of even New York crowds will be on hand to greet Mr. Roosevelt. From all sections of the country people are flocking to New York to give him the welcome they feel is his due. The film of this is bound to be the greatest moving picture attraction of the season, with the possible exception of the fight films. Still, fight films are unwelcome to certain citizens, whereas the Roosevelt films have a national appeal. Managers of parks ought to draw patrons by the mere announcement of the exhibition of this film, and the Thanhouser people invited interested persons to write them for particulars about it.”

18 June 1910The Moving Picture World1 min

“Coming—A great Thanhouser Special. ROOSEVELT’S RETURN. The arrival—New York—June 18, 1910. To be filmed in the Thanhouser way, and released immediately after the filming. Exhibitors: write your exchange for it now. Exchanges: wire your orders now. Remember, this is a ‘Special’ and it is imperative that everybody take quick action on it. Get busy!”