Volume II: Filmography

TURKEY TROT TOWN

January 18, 1914 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel (993 feet)

Character: Comedy

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: Perry Horton (Van Horn, a tired businessman), Florence LaBadie (Marguerite, his wife), Helen Badgley (Elaine, their child), Mignon Anderson (Susanne, a woman burglar), Grace Eline (Jeannette, her pal), Arthur Bauer (captain of the police), Arthur Chamberlin (the judge)

Note: Oh, You Ragtime!, an Eclair film released April 18, 1912, had a somewhat similar plot in that everyone in sight started dancing to music.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, January 17, 1914:

"In the mythical city of Turkey Trot Town, the inhabitants danced not only at receptions and restaurants, but in their everyday occupations at home and in business. Even one night a robbery is committed with the main participants turkey trotting joyously through the daring feat - and the hero, at the most thrilling moment, never once forgetting his steps. The judge himself turkey trots to the court - with becoming dignity - and the woman burglar is the only person who finds it easier to turkey trot into trouble than to tango gracefully out of it."

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, January 25, 1914:

"An amusing satire on the modern dancing craze is offered in this burlesque. The cast includes Perry Horton, Florence LaBadie, the Thanhouser Kidlet, Mignon Anderson, Grace Eline, Arthur Bauer and Riley Chamberlin. Each and every one of these does an extraordinary amount of turkey trotting in this film. 'Turkey Trot Town' is a city where every one does just what the name implies. Staid persons like the judge in a court dance to and at their work, and burglars even crack safes while indulging in syncopated wriggles."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, January 31, 1914:

"No plot, just turkey trotting; in fact, everybody's doing it in that town. That is all."

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, January 28, 1914:

"There is not much to be said of this film either for or against it. It appears to us as intensely boring and foolish. Everyone in the picture, including the dear little Thanhouser Kidlet, either tangos or turkey-trots through every scene. There is no doubt at the same time that the average audience would develop screams of laughter over the situation."

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