Volume III: Biographies

LADY *

Dog (1915-1916)

Advertisement for OUTWITTED, released February 16, 1916. (F-970)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Lady, a collie, appeared in Thanhouser films in 1915 and 1916.

Biographical Notes: Lady was the successor to Shep (to whom refer). For her services, the Thanhouser studios paid her owner $25 per day. A photo feature about Lady appeared in the Motion Picture Mail, May 27, 1916, at which time she apparently was working for the studio, the story reprinted below notwithstanding.

The New Rochelle Pioneer, January 1, 1916, told of an unfortunate situation: "H. S. Gatchell, of 206 West 43rd Street, New York, owner of Lady, one of the best educated collie dogs that was ever trained, stood before Judge Swinburne in the local court Tuesday morning on a charge of cruelty to animals preferred by Special Officer Graham, agent for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"It was charged that while Mr. Gatchell was having his dog perform for a picture that is being produced by the Thanhouser Film Corporation, the dog was forced to extinguish a candle with his paw, and when the dog had burnt his paw he refused to go near the candle again. Because the dog so refused, it was alleged that Gatchell beat the animal. Mr. Gatchell was found guilty of the charge and released on probation. His services were dispensed with at the motion picture studio."

The following article, from the Motion Picture Mail (supplement to the New York Evening Mail), appeared on February 2, 1916 and gives the impression that Lady was in Jacksonville at the time. It is not certain if this dog was the same "Lady" referred to earlier: "How I Earn $4 Every Week - And Spend It. Lady, the Thanhouser Collie. I hate to talk about myself, but while I am only four years and five months old, I bid fair to win a name in the movies all of my own. Truthfully speaking, I am the only canine actually on the payroll of a moving picture company. My salary, of course, doesn't compare with the fabulous sums drawn by other feminine stars, but I get every cent of it - something not a great many other actresses can brag about. How do I spend it? Well, three of it goes to my meat market in Jacksonville, and the remainder I spend for milk.

"This is my first appearance in the movies, and, as I say, while I do hate to talk about myself, everybody tells me, yes, everybody from the director down to Jimmy, the carpenter, that I made some hit. It goes without saying that I am a comedienne. What's that? No, I have never been engaged, although when the right dog comes along - well, you know, one never can tell!"

Note: A "Lady, the dog" appeared in the 1916 Famous Players film, A Daughter of MacGregor, and in the 1917 Fox release of Unknown 274. The name was a common canine appellation.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1915: Toodles, Tom and Trouble (Falstaff 12-23-1915)

1916: A Clever Collie's Comeback (Falstaff 2-1-1916), Outwitted (2-16-1916)

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