The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-29
FIRST PAOTOPL|AY
WAS 4 SUCCESS
.7h. Heart q keokuk" Attracts
packed Houses At the Grand
And All Are
Plsased.
PICTURES ARE PERFECT
Great panorama Of the city with
An Interesting story,
Acted by the
Amateurs. .,

AmaSeueo.
Keokuk's FIRST photoplay, THE Hear,
NJ Keokuk," was greatly enjoyed by
hacked houses last evening and at the
matinees, the audiences being sur
| nrised at the splendid photography OF
the play and the interesting story toll
and acted by the KeOkuk amateurs
IN the screen at the Grand.
AS a panorama Of Keokuk, the pic
+ure proved to be most excellent
view of the city and surroundings
every picture being clear and distinct
and there were plenty OF them. An
interesting story runs through the
two reels Of films and the play was
pronounced great success by all
who saw it. & M
Some first class acting was done by
the chief characters in many OF the
scenes and at the end of each show
ing there was applause from the
| audience, for Keokuk's first home tai
| emit movie.
Theodore A Craig, as Henry Strong,
the wealthy factory owner from St
| Paul, was dignified and effective in
| his part; Miss Nina Hodge, as his
! daughter, Helen, appeared In the vac-
lous scenes in most charming man-
| ner, and Miss Marie Weber as Mary
| Rankin, made most acceptable Keo-
kuk girl Miss Emannuella Flood, as
Louise Strong, carried her cart well.
Mrs. T. P. Gray as Mrs. Rankin, APP
reared In but one scene and was a
typical mother. Louis A. Rovane, as
Charlie Strong, and DR.. F. M. Fuller
as the doctor, were good in their
parts.
Frank X. i-enney took the part OF
Jack Rankin, the Keokuk boy, and
had the principal part in the play.
He is an actor by profession, being
with De Wolf Hopper and spends his
summer vacations here at home in
Keokuk. He, naturally, was nearer
perfection than the others and added
greatly to the effectiveness of the
story. Mr. Kenney acted al direct or
Of The show. llr Ed @ fsts4s- Ii :
Many Keokuk people took minor
parts in the story and in each case
they entered into the spirit of the
picture and tried their best to act nat
urally. DR.. Harter was chauffeur for
the, Strong party in their automobile.
VIM. Sinton had an interesting part
when he discovered theS fire In the
Rankin home and, Major Meigs met
the party at the lock like third de-
gree thespian.
The run by the fre department was
one of the best scenes and.the pictures
at the Moose beach were very beau
tiful. The scenes on the High Tension
club excursion were splendid and
there was a most interesting view of
the fans at the ball park, scenes at
the Country club and in- Rand park
and the West Keokuk park.
Most Credit to Mr.. Dodge.
The lions share OF the laurels for
the success of the first photoplay pro-
duced in Keokuk, should go to Mr..
Dodge, who acted as camera man.
assistant director and general all
around manager of the whole affair.
lie attended to all of the mechanical
work. doing the taking and finishing
OF the films himself and getting the
pest possible results out of what was
adaptable. He put In two solid weeks
OF hard work in keeping the company
on the move and finished the pictures
each day at the end Of the rehearsals.
When there was poor hlm-and that
happened but seldom-it was neces.
sary to go through the action again.
Mr. Dodge as ''the man behind the
gun really did more than anybody
else in making the show presentable
and success
The Story.
Henry Strong, wealthy manufac-
tarer from st. Paul, together with his
children, Helen, Charles and Louise,
nave come down the river in their
automobile for view of Keokuk and
.ae water power dam. On the bridge
.ney meet Jack Rankin, a Keokuk boy
VINO has been fishing. He tells them
now to reach the hotel and points out
'ne dry dock to- them
!. Inc Strongs are looking at the Cur
us statue on Third street when Jack
nanKin comes along again. They
rscognize him and again engage in con-
sslsation. They meet again in front
O. U. tne hotel and Jack is invited by Mr..
strong to act as their guide the next
uay IN seeing the city.
me next day Jack guides the party
t soout the city and they are shown
.ne various industries, public build.
1 Ia park, etc. After this auto ride,