Volume II: Filmography

ARTY THE ARTIST

August 30, 1914 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel (1,021 feet)

Character: Comedy

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: Vic Forsythe (Archibald Atkinson, otherwise known as Arty, a caricature artist), Lydia Mead (May, in love with Arty), Fan Bourke (Miss Smythe, an old maid), Justus D. Barnes (Mr. Miles, May's father), Gardner Crane (city editor), Alice Turner

Notes: 1. Vic Forsythe, a well-known cartoonist who played the title role, was not a regular Thanhouser actor. 2. Certain trade publication schedules, those in The Moving Picture World, August 8 and 15, 1914, for example, erroneously gave August 16th as the release date for this film.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, August 22, 1914:

"Arty has a fatal gift for caricature. He is a skillful artist, but loses several positions because he cannot help being funny. On one occasion he lands a fat job as a drawing master in a girl's boarding school. But the humorous points in the principal's make-up are too much for him. He draws a caricature of her which convulses the pupils, and being caught in this unpardonable offense, is instantly dismissed. Another time, while trying to be a good fellow at the hotel bar, he gets in wrong by making a comic portrait of Mr. Taft. With great presence of mind, however, he placates his angry audience by transforming the likeness to that of William Jennings Bryan.

"Arty is successful in selling some humorous drawings to a newspaper. The same day he meets on the street May Miles, one of his former pupils at the boarding school. She takes him home with her and announces to her father that Mr. Archibald Atkinson will come daily to teach her art. Father accepts this state of affairs on one condition - that the lessons be conducted right there in that room, and that neither of them shall speak a word. The young pair show some disappointment, but soon brighten up. Arty places his easel and surreptitiously starts on a humorous sketch of Father Miles. This he follows up with another drawing in a more ardent vein. It resembles a huge valentine with two arrow-pierced hearts. May and Arty, on bended knee, supplicate Mr. Miles with the art offering. Their cleverness in getting round the technical difficulties of their case so please the old man, that he gives them his blessing."

REVIEW, The Bioscope, December 31, 1914:

"A lively little comedy, introducing a clever American cartoonist, who plays a leading part therein, and incidentally executes lightning cartoons - accomplishing both feats with much facility, although he is naturally more of a draughtsman than an actor. Quite light and bright and merry, and of some novelty."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, September 12, 1914:

"A comedy number featuring 'Vic,' the cartoonist, creator of the well-known Axel and Flooey series. Vic hires out as a draughtsman at a girl's school and gets in trouble. He has further adventures in a saloon, and with his sweetheart's father. This makes an amusing number. The artist draws numerous sketches in the course of the film."

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