Volume II: Filmography

THE HENPECKED HOD CARRIER

November 30, 1913 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel (882 feet)

Character: Comedy

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: Riley Chamberlin (Jack, the henpecked hod carrier), Carey L. Hastings (Prue, his wife), Belle Chamberlin (Jane, a neighbor), N.S. Woods (janitor), Billy Noel (paperhanger)

Note: "Hod carrier" in the title appeared two different ways in Thanhouser advertisements: as hod carrier and as hodcarrier.

ADVERTISEMENT, Reel Life, November 29, 1913:

"He was the man of all work around the house; there was nothing to be done that he wouldn't do, but the final task that his wife inflicted was too much for even one of his obedient disposition. A Riley Chamberlin masterpiece."

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, December 6, 1913:

"Mr. Henpeck was a hod carrier who could always be depended upon to put in his regular hours each day. His wife encouraged him to keep on working, but she herself spent most of her time looking up bargains and attending the meetings of various societies in which she was interested. One day Mrs. Henpeck had a quarrel with the janitor and decided to move. She found a 'perfect darling flat' on another street, and that evening told her long-suffering husband that the following day he would have to stay home and pack. He obeyed because there was nothing else for him to do, and in the morning had several hours' hard work arranging their belongings for shipment to the new house, while his wife gaily wandered out to attend a bargain sale. Mr. Henpeck moved into the new house all right, and found the paper hangers had gone on a strike; so that in addition to his regular work of setting things to rights he was compelled to paper the house. It was a good hard day's work he had and he was just resting up at night when his wife appeared, told him that he had made a mistake, and had moved into the wrong flat, and that it was absolutely necessary that they get into the right apartment before dawn. It was tough on Mr. Henpeck, but then, of course, he should not have made the mistake."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, December 6, 1913:

"This very amusing playlet is built around 'moving day.' The hodcarrier is honest and hard working - his wife, however, spends most of her time hunting astonishing bargains, and going to 'societies' - stirring up things generally. At last, she has a quarrel with the janitor - and goes househunting. That evening she announces to her weary husband that she has decided to move into a 'perfectly lovely little flat' in another street - and that on the morrow he is expected to pack and move the entire outfit. The next morning he sets patiently to work, carrying out her orders - while Mrs. Hodcarrier is gone all day at the bargain sale. When he gets into the new quarters, he finds that the paperhangers are on strike - there is nothing for him to do but paper the house himself. By the time he has finished, it is dark - and his wife appears with the disheartening announcement that he has moved into the wrong flat. Moreover - they must get into the right place before dawn. Anyone who pines for a good laugh should not miss Mr. Lonergan's latest comedy."

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