Volume II: Filmography

THE HEAD OF THE RIBBON COUNTER

British release title: THE HEAD OF THE RIBBON DEPARTMENT

June 15, 1913 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Comedy-drama

Cast: Harry Benham (Clarence, the ribbon clerk), Marguerite Snow

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, June 21, 1913:

One of the store's 'best customers' wanted him discharged, another 'best customer' didn't. Each threatened to withdraw her patronage if the proprietor didn't accede to her wishes. How the unhappy proprietor solved this funny problem makes a happy story.

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, June 21, 1913:

The head of the ribbon counter was the most popular clerk in the store. Customers liked him, employees admired him, and even the boss regarded him highly. Rival merchants vainly tried to win him away, but he refused all their offers, being thoroughly happy where he was. There came a day, however, when he found the need of friendship. Much against his will he became involved in an argument with one of the store's best customers, a peevish, wealthy woman. She finally indignantly descended upon the proprietor of the store, telling him that unless the clerk was discharged she would withdraw her custom. What could the poor proprietor do? He tried to make everybody happy by publicly discharging the clerk and privately re-engaging him. To dodge the customer's wrath, however, he supplied the clerk with a disguise and joining him to whenever danger approached. A new crisis came along soon when the disguised clerk ran afoul with the same disagreeable woman. She did not recognize him, but wanted him discharged just the same. Fortunately for him, another patron took his part, and the hapless proprietor had a worse problem to tackle than any that ever came before King Solomon. If he discharged the clerk, he would lose the patronage of one of his best customers. If he retained him he would lose the patronage of another good customer. He couldn't afford to do either, but he so managed things that he did not lose any trade. It took some skillful work to accomplish this, but the proprietor was resourceful and his novel plan was ably seconded by the versatile head of the ribbon counter.

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, June 22, 1913:

This is a very acceptable comedy in which Marguerite Snow and Harry Benham play leading roles. The head of the ribbon counter is a popular young man and invaluable to the firm. One day a haughty dame comes in and vents her ill temper on the clerk, reporting him to his employer, who promptly discharges him, only to reinstall him as soon as the woman's back is turned. He disguises and resumes his position, only to be treated to the same fate again. This happens some two or three times before she herself is cognizant of what has really been going on and sees the joke.

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, June 21, 1913:

A neat, little comedy offering, in which Harry Benham appears as a ribbon clerk whose popularity arouses feminine emotion of various kinds. He is discharged three times when complaints are made, but the wily employer retains him each time with a different disguise. A pleasing number that will help to diversify a program of stronger stories.

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, June 18, 1913:

A bright and adroitly amusing little comedy which Harry Benham appears to advantage. Clarence, presiding at the ribbon counter, is such a hit with the ladies that the rival merchants try to lure him away. So, when a wealthy customer complains about Clarence, the boss makes believe to discharge him. Then he has Clarence wear a set of false whiskers. The bewhiskered Clarence falls again under the ire of the rich woman, who complains about the 'new' clerk. Another wealthy customer takes his side. The boss is puzzled for a way to keep both customers, but finally has Clarence feign a fatal attack of heart failure. When the excited ladies depart, Clarence gets a new set of whiskers. Brisk in direction and bright in playing the store scenes are well done, but the stairway outside the office doesn't look like that of a store. A snappy and distinctive comedy.

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