Great Moments from the 1904 Lubin Film Company Catalogue...

Can Can (1898)

You are not often afforded the privilege of viewing a real French can-can and this film is therefore bound to score a success. Mlle. Fraidora the celebrated French can-can dancer is shown in all her glory dancing her favorite dance as only she can do it. And it is not necessary to go into detail as all who have seen her pronounce her to be an artist in her line. Take this film with you to please the bald-heads. Very warm.

10th Pennsylvania Drilling at Manila (1903)

This picture will not alone enthuse Pennsylvanians, but will receive unbounded applause from any audience, no matter where it is shown, owing to the reputation this brave regiment made for itself in the Philippines. They one and all look every bit the soldier. The late Col. Hawkins, who was in command of the regiment, was a brave and valiant soldier, and his men deserve all the attention that is being showered on them by their countrymen since their return to the United States. This is by far the most accurate drilling scene in Life Motion Pictures ever made.

After Dark; Or, The Policeman And His Lantern (1903)

This is a mixture of fun and pathos. When the picture first bursts into view, the exterior of an English Police Station is seen, from which the squad emerges. A change and then one of the "finest" is seen posing before a great building as though proud of his uniform. Again a change and we see a table on which was placed a dark lantern. Bobby's hand reaches forth and grasps the lantern and we follow him through the famous "White Chapel" district of which we have heard so much. All that is seen are the rays of light from the lantern and the object at which they are pointed. We see a high board fence on which a number of advertisements appear and the rays move along until "Bobby's" best girl is seen on the top of the steps leading into the basement of the house where she is employed. In her hand she holds dainty viands, which she knows Bobby delights in, and she beckons to him to follow. In this case you can draw your own conclusions. We follow the light through all the dark passages of the district until it enters a bank building and surprises a burglar at work on a safe. Suddenly Bobby appears behind the lantern, a scuffle ensues and the burglar is captured. This is undoubtedly one of the most novel moving pictures ever made.

The Animated Cartoon (1903)

Numerous pictures have been made of lightning sketch artists and kindred pictures, but this film is entirely different from any ever attempted. An artist appears and proceeds to draw the face of a boy on the canvas. He no sooner draws the outline, than the face assumes life and makes grimaces at everybody. Our artist proceeds to draw a bottle of wine, a glass and a cigar which he takes from the canvas and makes use of in the "good old way." The face on the canvas takes exception to the treatment received at the hands of the artist and shows his displeasure by performing somersaults on the canvas; each time he turns he presents a different face. It will puzzle you to figure out how this is done and you will be free to admit that this is the best picture of its kind you ever saw. There is nothing objectionable in it; you can show it anywhere.

All On Account of Eliza (1902)

A lovesick youth stations himself under the window of his sweetheart and proceeds to play sweet music with a trombone. His serenade awakens her papa, who orders his daughter to return to her couch while he prepares to entertain the lover. Papa leans out of the window and tries to reach the musician when he loses his balance and falls on top of the player, when a scrimmage follows, much to the discomfort of all concerned. Exceedingly funny.

Les Apaches (1904)

A traveler is lost in the streets of Paris. Finally discovering where he is, he walks hurriedly away, but is accosted by a beggar, who has lost both feet and is crawling along the ground. Annoyed, he turns away, only to be met by another beggar similarly afflicted. Every way he turns he finds someone in his path, until he is surrounded by a bunch of hungry beggars, who, when feeling safe that the gendarmes are not near, rise to their feet and proceed to strip the traveler of his clothes. It is plain to be seen that the beggars are by no means cripples and that their deformity is only a sham to provoke pity of the passer-by. After robbing the man of all he had, one of the fellows places a bucket over his head and jams it down so tight that he cannot remove it, and one and all dance away, leaving our traveler alone. A number of female students pass by and are frightened by the man's antics. Finally he removes the bucket from his head, and at the same time the gendarmes make their appearance, but he is in such rage that he throws them to the ground, thinking they are his persecutors. They finally land him, and he is marched to the lock-up. This is comical and exciting.

Atlantic City Floral Parade (1903)
At the end of each season, at popular Atlantic City, New Jersey, a floral parade takes place, composed wholly of children. Thousands of tots are seen walking along the board-walk arrayed in flowers, and the picture is a pleasing sight to see. The value of this film could be enhanced two-fold by coloring.

Arrival of the Circus Train, No. 1 (1903)

The first of a series shows the Arrival of the Circus Train into the City of Philadelphia on Sunday, April 19th, 1902. Special preparations had previously been made to take pictures, and were successfully carried out in every detail. The train is seen to arrive in the yards of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the great locomotive puffing and snorting at the immense load she is drawing. Thousands of persons are stationed on the neighboring hills and bridges, and many gaze on the spectacle from the windows of their homes. It is an inspiring sight, and excitement reigns supreme.

Bad Boy & Hod Carrier (1903)

Two boys are grinding a large instrument on a grindstone and finally walk off. Patsy Hooligan comes along and loading his hod with bricks, starts up the ladder. When half way up one of the boys returns and pulls the ladder down. Hooligan falls on him, and they engage in a hot scrap.

Baby Show Atlantic City (1903)

This film represents the baby show on the Boardwalk and is very interesting, in that you can see all styles, shapes and sizes of the proverbial "squalling kids." One tot falls overboard, but is immediately rescued by one of the crowd who dive after it. A very fine picture.

Barber Up-To-Date (1903)

A man enters a barber shop and after the tonsorial artist lathers him, he lifts off the customer's head, carries it to the washstand, shaves him and after washing off the suds, places the head on his shoulders again, whereupon the customer pays the barber and withdraws. This is one of the funniest pictures ever seen.