100 years ago in Spokane: downtown film shoot attracts large audiences

Hundreds of people blocked the downtown sidewalks to watch a film crew from the local Minnehaha studios make a two-reel comedy.

“Several police officers were present to hold the crowd back and give the players a chance to pose,” the Spokane Daily Chronicle said. “Incidentally, in the ‘shooting’ several members of the (Old National) bank staff who stepped through the doors were ‘caught’. ”

The scene was filmed at the entrance to the bank.

“Miss Evelyn Ross Edmiston of Christie Comedy Fame and AE Houchins, leading actor, caused great amusement among the audience as they went through their silent lines,” the newspaper said.

This was only a brief topic, but the Minnehaha studios were planning much larger productions with the arrival of Nell Shipman, already a movie star. Your first production should be a “mighty western story” called “The Grub Stake” in seven roles.

“The zoo of wild animals and birds she is bringing to Spokane will be housed on the Minnehaha studio lot, where it will be open to the public at all times,” said WW Philbrick of the studio.

The menagerie would include mountain lions, eagles, owls, ravens, bears, elk, deer, wolves, lynxes, wild cats, foxes, possums, raccoons, desert rats, and skunks.

Also on this date

(From Associated Press)

2007: President George W. Bush said he took responsibility for all mistakes in Iraq and announced an increase in US troops to quell the violence. The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted 315-116 for an increase in the federal minimum wage to $ 7.25 an hour.