SUMMARY
Filming of a character sketch by the well-known vaudevillian
Charles E. Grapewin. On a bare stage backed by a dark curtain, a man dressed in a three-piece suit and overcoat holds a racing program and excitedly watches a race supposedly taking place offstage. With enthusiastic jumping and other delighted pantomime, he makes it clear his horse has won the race. A second man in a suit and hat enters from stage right and pays Chimmie his winnings, a portion of which the gambler returns to the man for another bet. With the start of the second race, he again watches with rising excitement, but suddenly his face falls and he angrily throws his hat on the ground, having evidently lost this time. The other man returns and collects all of Chimmie's money plus his pocketwatch. The repentant gambler then kneels, shakes his arms to the heavens, rips up his program, and scatters the pieces on the ground, apparently swearing off betting. He rises, pulls on his hat, and dejectedly begins to walk offstage.
From
Biograph picture catalogue, Nov. 1902 [MI], p. 62: 48 feet. Charles E. Grapewin as "Chimmie Hicks of
New York," at the races, showing the change of emotions from "winning" to "losing."
From Biograph bulletin form 247: "
Above the limit" (2 lengths). Charles E. Grapewin imitating a man at races winning and losing.
CREATED/PUBLISHED
United States:
American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, [
1900?]
NOTES
Copyright:
American Mutoscope & Biograph Co.; 18Apr1902; H16734.
Camera,
F.S. Armitage.
Approximate release date of Nov. 1900 from
AFI catalog.
SUBJECTS
Horse racing--Betting--United States--Drama.
Horseplayers--United States--Drama.
Gamblers--United States--Drama.
Gambling--United States--Drama.
Silent films.
Comedies.
Gambling films and programs.
Vaudeville.
Shorts.
RELATED NAMES
Grapewin,
Charles, 1869-1956, cast.
Armitage,
F. S., camera.
American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.
Paper Print Collection (
Library of Congress)
DIGITAL ID
(m) varsmp
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/varstg:@field(NUMBER+@band(varsmp+0175))
- published: 10 Jul 2009
- views: 3491