Prairie Trails

Silent film.

Jack has fallen in love with an unknown beauty, and when he and his friend Tom meet her on the street, he is overjoyed to find his friend is acquainted with her, but furious at Tom's failure to introduce him. Knowing that Edith's family are in need of a butler, Tom proposes to Jack that he apply for the job, just for a lark. Jack does, and just to see him "buttle" is a picnic. He gets in wrong with everybody but Edith's father, who discovers that "Wilson," their former butler, is young Mr. Fuller, one of the richest bachelors in town. Edith and Jack run to each other's arms.

Ray and Roy Cheep are both in love with the charming manicurist, but each is unaware of his brother's "affairs." The lady, however, encourages both of them. The two boys are hard up, but live in hopes of their rich uncle loosening up with a substantial allowance. Finally the uncle tells them that he will give $1,000 to the one who marries first. They each go off for a license and a minister, but when they arrive at Miss Charmer's house they find her about to go out with uncle. The next day then each receive a check for $1,000, which helps to console them for the loss of the charming lady.

Bess is busy reading a book when her folks come in and command her to spend more time at work. They give her a ball of yarn, a crochet needle and set her to work. She is left alone and while moving around in her chair she loses track of the ball of yarn. It happens to have been caught in her belt at her back and out of her own view. Being a girl of quick temper and strong in athletics, the home is in so much of a turmoil when her parents return that Bess has not been subjected to work since. (Moving Picture World)

The photographer sends miss Ophelia a dozen photographs of her in different poses. Selecting the best one, she presents it to her favorite boarder, Billy, who does not think much of it and who gets very indignant when it is compared with the photo of his sweetheart. Miss Ophelia goes up to her room in tears and tells her faithful maid, Belinda, that her heart is broken. Belinda goes down and forcibly tells Billy what she thinks of him. Miss Ophelia resolves on suicide, because no one seems to love her. Belinda gets back in time to prevent this and, to divert her mistress, she suggests that they go together to a beauty specialist. Arriving there, both receive attention. Miss Ophelia gets a new complexion, while Belinda gets new teeth. Both invest in new gowns and dresses and the transformation is complete. At supper time, the boarders are all astounded.

In this sophisticated romantic comedy, healing waters are the cover for an extramarital affair that “cures” the infertility problems of a childless couple.

A couple’s fight over dinner leads to spiralling domestic abuse that spreads all over town. (MoMA)

Hell hath no fury like Léontine with a piece of string! Our favorite mutinous miscreant returns with her weapon of choice, “pulling the strings” as she baits greedy bystanders to snatch at the tempting objects that ever elude their grasps. Léontine is an evil puppet-master who preys on consumer capitalism’s vicious loop between wanting and having. Her angry victims form a vengeful mob and chase after her, but she trips them with string and then rides off into the woods. Real violence is averted by a clever substitution trick and Léontine celebrates with her iconic victory dance.

A butler impersonates his tippler boss and falls for a beautiful young maid. However, a notorious gold-digger, who thinks the butler is the wealthy young man he's impersonating, sets her sights on him.

Harry Beaumont and Bessie Learn are in love, but their respective uncle and aunt, back fence neighbors, feud bitterly with each other and insist the youngsters have nothing to do with each other. The young leads come up with a plan in this pleasant Edison comedy.

A 1919 Comedy short.