THE YANKEE WAY (1917) George Walsh Orig Silent Film Comedy PHOTOGRAPHIC Herald

Description

This is a vintage original 3x4 in. US double-sided photographic herald from the teens silent film comedy/drama,
THE YANKEE WAY
, released in 1917 by the Fox Film Corporation and
directed by Richard Stanton
. This is a special double-sided herald that was printed specifically for the Alhambra Theater,
located at 731 Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles (which no longer exists)
.
It consists of an actual photograph
that depicts the film's star,
George Walsh
(brother of fellow silent film actor and director, Raoul Walsh), as she sits atop the country of a hotel lobby while writing his name in the register, much to the chagrin of those around him. Descriptive information about the film and the showing is on the verso. It is in fine+ condition with only light signs of surface rippling and signs of surface dirt on the verso that can be removed with an eraser if desired.
Heralds were given out to patrons as they were leaving the theatre to "
herald," or announce, the next film that would be playing at that particular theater (a "coming attraction" advertisement) and they are very collectable. This particular herald is of great interest in that it consists of an actual photograph vs. a printed image as were almost all heralds during the teens through the 1940s.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission made a formal complaint against William Fox on Sept. 29, 1922, charging him with selling old releases as new and specifying the 1920 reissue of
The Yankee Way
(re-titled
Sink or Swim
) "tended to injure the reputation of exhibitors and cause them to lose the good will of the theatre going public." In regards to the 1920 reissue, sources conflict concerning the surname of the actor playing "Baron Maravitch." The 1917
Moving Picture World
sources credits the actor as Count Hardenberg, while the 1917
New York Dramatic Mirror
lists the actor as Count Von Hardenberg. The
Variety
review does not credit the actor. Sources in 1917 list the name of the country where "Dick Mason" is sent as Lithuania, while the 1920
Variety
review lists the country as the mythical country of "Lithoonia."
Plot:
Dick Mason (George Walsh) is arrested for defending a girl's honor in a Chicago restaurant brawl, and his father (Joseph J. Dowling) sends him to Lithuania, where his family owns a share in a cattle concession. By chance, the girl from the restaurant (Enid Markey) is also bound for the Balkans. While on board, Dick undertakes to renew his acquaintance with this attractive foreigner, but encounters considerable resistance. In Lithuania, Dick meets with Count Vortsky (Edward Cecil), the Minister of Finance, who presses him to sell his cattle concession, hoping to clinch a coup attempt he is planning with the Bulgarian Ambassador. Somewhat suspicious, Dick agrees to announce his decision, but only in the presence of Princess Alexia (Enid Markey), who turns out to be the girl from the restaurant. When she advises him not to sell, the love-bitten Dick refuses the count. The count nevertheless instigates a revolution, but with the help of his Chicago assistants, Dick squelches the uprising and wins the princess' heart.