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The Three Musketeers: 1921

Washington, D.C., October 1921. "Lust's Leader Theater." Now playing: "The Three Musketeers." National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., October 1921. "Lust's Leader Theater." Now playing: "The Three Musketeers." National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.

 

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Today’s Top 5

Cold Watchers

Drive in theaters near Philadelphia, Pa. touted the availability of electric in-car heaters to supplement teenage body heat.

Beltsville Drive-In

When I first moved to the DC 'burbs in 1987, I lived in Calverton, Maryland, half of which had the postal address of Beltsville, and I drove by that drive-in often. I wondered at the time how in the world they could get away with showing what they advertised as adult films in an outdoor setting.

Being from Florida, I also wondered whether a Maryland drive-in did any business in the winter months. I'm sure that no matter how steamy the movies' subject matter, it had to be cold sitting in the cars.

--Jim

Sidney Lust Beltsville Drive-In

My grandparents lived about a half-mile from the Beltsville Drive-In, and in the late 1940s and early 1950s, I watched dozens of movies from the front seat of my grandfather's black Plymouth. One of my favorites was "The Prince Who Was A Thief," starring Tony Curtis and Piper Laurie.

This was the last of Lust Chain of Theaters

I remember this drive-in http://www.driveins.org/md-beltsville.htm as the last of Lust chain and never knew of the early history but thought it was ironic that the last pictures at this drive-in were of the adult type.

Dates

I wondered about the information given in the newspaper article stanton_square excerpted. The version of "The Three Musketeers" starring Orrin Johnson was made in 1916. In 1921 perhaps the most famous silent version of "The Three Musketeers" was released. That one starred Douglas Fairbanks (Sr. - he just happened to be Charlie Chaplin's best friend).

I naturally assumed that the writer of the article had gotten information about the earlier movie confused with the 1921 film, or that Sidney Lust was trying to trick the public by booking in a five year old film with the same name as the latest big hit. Apparently the truth is somewhat stranger. Thomas Ince made the picture in 1915 for a release in February 1916, but the exhibitors had turned against costume pictures and producer Thomas Ince pulled the movie. After five years including litigation (because Ince didn't want to re-relase the picture) and the success of the Fairbanks film, the 1916 film, originally titled "D'Artagnan" was given wider release than it had when it originally came out.

Always Getting Into Duels


Washington Post, October 30, 1921.

Leader—“Three Musketeers”

Coming to the Leader theater today, starting at 3 p.m., is that masterpiece, “The Three Musketeers.” D’Artagnan, portrayed by Orin Johnson, is always getting into duels because of his impetuous spirit and vaulting pride, that will brook no jest about either his horse or himself.

The queen, played by beautiful Dorothy Dalton, is saved from disgrace by his valor, and after many hazards and thrilling fights, to say nothing of narrow escapes and desperate chances, it all ends happily.

Sidney Lust's First Theatre.

507-509 9th Street NW Washington.

Sidney Lust's first theatre. Sidney Lust (and family)ran a chain of theatres in the DC area through the 70's (maybe longer) Sidney Lust 1884-1955)

Anything new to see?

The poster at the left hand side advertises the Chaplin film
'Work' which was originally released in June 1915 by the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company and then re-released in 1919 by Victor Kremer Film Features.
The film was due to be shown in New York (at the Historical Society)in September 2001 but was pulled due to the ending where Charlie emerges from a destroyed building.

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