Volume II: Filmography

DEACON DEBBS

December 15, 1911 (Friday)

Length: 900 feet

Character: Comedy

Location: Some scenes were filmed at Coney Island

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, December 9, 1911:

"A young New Yorker has 'expectations,' the same being a wealthy uncle who lives in the country, and who had signified his intentions of making the young man his heir. While he and his wife were entertaining some friends at a bridge party in their home one evening, they are shocked on receiving a telegram from a friend in the country, informing him that uncle is on his way to town, intending to visit the young man and find how he is withstanding the temptations of great city. The nephew sees that something must be done at once, and having little time at his disposal, hastily adjourns the bridge party, and organizes his laughing friends into a literary society, so as to make a 'front' with uncle. The elder man arrives and is thoroughly impressed with the fact that his nephew is a serious-minded youth, possessed of all the virtues we read about. As the days pass, this conviction becomes deeper, for the nephew and his wife take the uncle on a round of sight-seeing, seeing the most solemn things and hearing the most highbrowed lectures.

"Finally, when they go to a particularly deep discourse, they get away by a ruse, leaving uncle alone to enjoy the lecture, while they run off and have a real 'city time' by themselves. Having spent a jolly afternoon, they return and take uncle home again, pleased with the thought that he had not been neglected. One evening after uncle had gone to bed, carrying an encyclopedia to read if he should wake during the night, the young couple steal into the sitting room. From its hiding place behind the row of books, the nephew produces a decanter, and a box of cigars. Chatting gaily with his wife, he prepares for a drink and a smoke. Suddenly his uncle stands glaring behind him. He takes the glass of strong liquor from the young man's trembling hand, the cigar from his left. The young man tries to explain; the elder with a nod, indicates a note on the table. It is from the uncle to his would-be heir, and contains the information that he, uncle, has had the most dreary time in the world. He had come to the city for a good time, but all that came his way were lectures no person could or would want to understand and he wound up by telling his nephew that he was a mutt and was disinherited. The uncle watched the young folks while they read this letter. Then he winked and drank liquor prepared for the nephew. He next lighted the cigar and, finding this good, forgave the culprits. Then they took uncle out to 'see the town.'"

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, December 17, 1911:

"Views of the Coney Island Mardi Gras procession which the young bride and groom attend while the latter's uncle is left at the dull lecture, enliven this photo-comedy and give it an interest apart from the story involved. The offering in toto is most creditable to the makers and evidences care in its presentation and action. The theme is old, though ever amusing. The sudden arrival of the rich uncle throws the bridge whist party into a high state of worriment, and all of the guests as well as the host and hostess speedily feign a deep love for deeper literature. Later the young folk take the uncle to a lecture on 'The Esoteric Being of Prehistoric Fish,' where he is the sole survivor of the learned discourse, the bridal pair making an escape on the pretext of searching for the supposed lost purse of the bride. They attend the Mardi Gras and return for uncle, who that night is about to depart in disgust, stating that he will leave his money to folk who know how to spend it, when all is discovered and the party of three jubilate over the fact."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, December 23, 1911:

"A situation developed here has been seen once or twice before; but there is enough freshness in it to keep it alive, as a picture if not as a comic story. Besides, there is a good series of views of the recent Coney Island carnival included, and they are very interesting. Deacon Debbs was Jack's uncle. He was on his way to pay Jack and his wife a visit. Mother had wired ahead to let them know and had told them to give him a good time. When the telegram came there was a great hiding of decanters and cigars. Poor Deacon Debbs had a dull time. They took him to a lecture on 'The Esoteric Nature of Prehistoric Fish' and then, by a ruse, slipped away to the merry isle for a lark. Uncle wrote a note, after he had packed his grip, telling them that he was going to leave his money to someone who would know how to spend it. As he was slipping out, he came upon Jack having a quiet drink and smoke and relieved him of cigar and glass. Then he began to enjoy himself. There is fun in it, but it isn't the best comedy Thanhouser has turned out."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, December 20, 1911:

"This bright little comedy, that has been deftly handled, managed, and put on, presents as an added feature the carnival at Coney Island, including the parade - another instance of this company's enterprise and ability in combining a feature and story. The young married couple is in the midst of a bridge party when they learn that their relative, the deacon, is to pay them a visit. The party is at once turned into a literary society. The two at once become very pious, lest the deacon think them frivolous and not leave them his money. They take him to a lecture on prehistoric fish and pretend to return for a purse, while in reality they visit Coney Island. The deacon becomes disgusted with them and leaves a note to the effect that they are too good, and that he will leave his money to someone who knows how to spend it. They discover their error and all is well."

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