Volume II: Filmography

THEODORE'S TERRIBLE THIRST

(Falstaff)

March 14, 1916 (Tuesday)

Length: 1 reel (995 feet)

Character: Comedy

Director: William A. Howell

Assistant director: William Sullivan

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cameraman: George K. Hollister

Cast: Riley Chamberlin (Theodore), Frank E. McNish (his son), Walter Hiers, Isolde C. Illian, Louise Emerald Bates, Violet Hite

Location: Jacksonville, Florida

Note: Production of this film commenced on Wednesday, January 26, 1916.

ARTICLE, The Sunday Times-Union, January 30, 1916:

"William A. Howell is starting this week on a new Falstaff comedy that promises to be one of the funniest yet. Riley Chamberlin and Fatty Hiers lead in the funmaking. It's called Theodore's Terrible Thirst. Riley is Theodore and to cure his 'terrible thirst' they maroon him on a desert island. There are some very funny situations in the play, a great many of the scenes which are to be taken at Charles S. Hemenway's estate. In one of the scenes Riley starts to swim off the island only to meet a friendly or perhaps what will be an unfriendly alligator. Mr. Howell is on the lookout for trained alligators as Riley refuses to do the scene with any amateurs."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, March 11, 1916:

"Clarence, the son of Theodore, was a model youth. He read the classics and never drank anything stronger than buttermilk. But Theodore - well, the villagers pitied the son on the many occasions they saw him standing at the door of the village saloon, peering in with a pathetic smile and moaning: 'Father, dear Father, come home with me now.' Father had a terrible thirst, and spent most of his time trying to quench it. Theodore had a sister, who lived some distance away. She died leaving all to her brother and his son, providing that they both became abstainers. A week of continued abstinence would be proof of their proper living. Clarence could qualify without any difficulty, but Theodore couldn't and wouldn't. The very thought made him thirsty. The son was engaged to be married, and he was so busy being a model young man that he had never worked. The young man solved the problem by kidnapping father and placing him on a desert island for a week. There were alligators in the water, at least Theodore thought he saw them, and he remained a week in retirement, alone with nature and without alcohol. When the legacy was paid over the son bought the island, and there lives with his wife and his father. Theodore no longer has a terrible thirst and is gradually getting along so that he does not miss his old boon companions, or the snakes and lizards who used to frolic about with him."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, March 25, 1916:

"A comedy number, containing some good humor of the quiet sort. The son places his father on a desert island to make him stop drinking, so they obtain the inheritance money. The scheme works in spite of the father's protest. This will get a number of smiles."

# # #