Postby Thomas Reeder » Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:49 pm
There was an earlier Hallroom boys comedy made by the Sterling Motion Picture Corp. in 1915 titled The Fox Trot Craze that I'd forgotten about, but just stumbled across in my notes. In this one the characters are named Percy and Harold. My synopis and some contemporary comments follow:
The Fox Trot Craze
Sterling Motion Picture Corp./Universal
Released: 02/18/1915 Thursday
no copyright entry – 1 reel
Cast: Ernest Shields, Arthur Tavares, Emma Clifton
Hall room boys Harold (Tavares) and Percy (Shields) decide to attend the hotel’s dance. They possess a single suit each; Harold sends his out for pressing, while Percy presses his own. Percy manages to burn a hole in the seat of the suit’s pants, so he steals Harold’s suit as it is being returned by the bellboy. Harold grows impatient waiting for his suit and sneaks into the hall in his underwear for a look. He learns of the theft and, covering himself with a portiere, heads for the ballroom. Meanwhile, Percy has managed to set himself smoldering on a discarded cigarette butt, and seeks seclusion in an out of the way corner to remove the suit and douse the fire. Harold arrives and the two grapple over the suit, both losing their coverings during the fight. Retreating in their underwear, they both swear off dancing and ballrooms.
“This is mildly amusing, but needs more plot...” (Moving Picture World, February 20, 1915, p. 1140)
“No plot.” (Variety, February 1915)