Volume II: Filmography

THE PROFESSOR'S PECULIAR PRECAUTIONS

(Falstaff)

April 8, 1916 (Saturday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Comedy

Director: William A. Howell

Assistant director: William Sullivan

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cameraman: George K. Hollister

Cast: Riley Chamberlin, Walter Hiers, Joseph Phillips (Professor Peter, collector of precious gems), Billy Noel and Jock Gironda (crooks), Winifred Lane (the girl), Sol Alkin (her father)

Location: Jacksonville, Florida

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, April 1, 1916:

"Peter's collection of minerals was regarded as remarkable. His house was most carefully guarded against thieves and fire. By opening a certain window the police were automatically told that burglars were on the premises, any extra heat in the room (even the heat of a lighted cigar, as Peter found out) being enough to send an alarm to the fire department, while an ingenious attachment to the safe held fast any intruder who might try to open it. Within a very short time Peter had turned in so many false alarms, 'testing' the apparatus, that no one paid any attention to him. In fact, the matter became such a joke that the newspapers printed an article about it. This item fell under the eye of a collector who had sold Peter a famous uncut diamond and held Peter's note for $2,000. He arrived at midnight to find two professional burglars on the job. They had bound Peter in his chair and were trying to blow up the safe. They miscalculated, somehow, and used too much explosive. As a result the entire party was blown through the roof, landing in a police station, where the astute Peter collected a reward of $3,000 for the delivery of three burglars. Then he added insult to injury by paying up his note out of the reward money."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, April 15, 1916:

"An amusing comedy in which two rival professors of mineralogy figure. The poverty stricken professor is obliged to sell a valuable diamond to his rival who demonstrates to him at the same time the burglar-proof devices with which his wonderful samples are protected. Too frequent use of these devices without reason provoked the police, the fire departments, etc. to the extent that when a real alarm call is sent in from this source no notice is taken of it. This fact, of course, occasions some queer situations."

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