The Thespian Bandit - Production & Contact Info

The Thespian Bandit (1912)
Short | Comedy, Short, Western

The Thespian Bandit (1912)

Short | Comedy, Short, Western

Three actors, Tom, Dick and Harry, have had a tough season, but the landlady needs the money just the same and comes to their door. Tom and Dick instantly hide, leaving Harry to pacify her as best he can. A little later, when they see the ...See moreThree actors, Tom, Dick and Harry, have had a tough season, but the landlady needs the money just the same and comes to their door. Tom and Dick instantly hide, leaving Harry to pacify her as best he can. A little later, when they see the following headlines in a newspaper: "Good actors are in great demand in California for moving pictures. Fourteen companies operating in and about Los Angeles." Tom and Dick conceive the brilliant idea of going out west. Harry objects that they have no money for food on the way, let alone railroad fare, but Tom quietly helps himself to Harry's pin, watch and ring, which he pawns to get their food and declares they will ride in a box car. That night, they put one over on the landlady by slipping out without paying and hurry to the train yards, where they conceal themselves in an empty car and are soon on their way west. Early the next morning, the brakeman appears and tells them unless they "come across" with a little coin, he will put them off. As usual, Harry is the Patsy, handing over all the money he has left. They arrive in the glorious west and the Yardmaster gives them a true western welcome by seeing how near he can shoot without hitting them. As they sit down beside the road to rest, they see a reward sign for the bandit "Black Bill" and, upon studying it more closely, Tom and Dick decide that with a beard they can make Harry a bandit and claim the reward, and this decision is further strengthened by getting a look at the real bandit as he rides past, cleverly eluding the sheriff and his posse. Harry strenuously objects but to no avail, and they instantly start to make him up for the bandit. As they are doing this, "Black Bill" returns unobserved by the boys and, thinking the resemblance good enough, decides to use the idea himself. He chases Tom and Dick away and then marches Harry to his shack, where he quickly shaves off his beard, takes the actor's clothes and hurries Harry to the sheriff's office. Here, Harry takes Bill unawares, snatches the sheriff's revolver, commands the bandit to hold up his hands, and then explains the situation to the sheriff. When the deputy enters, he recognizes Bill as the real bandit and Bill is quickly locked up. Harry receives not only his clothes, but the reward and hurries to the station, where he boards the train for the east. Just as it moves out, Tom and Dick, weary and foot-sore, arrive. They attempt to catch the train upon seeing Harry, but he waves them good-bye and the boys are forced to strike out for home by walking the railroad ties, having had quite enough of the west to last them for a while. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
4 cast members

Name	Known for
Jack Conway Harry - The Thespian Bandit Harry - The Thespian Bandit See fewer	Viva Villa! (1934)
William Clifford Tom Tom See fewer	The Hidden Law (1916)
George Gebhardt Dick Dick See fewer	The Puppet Crown (1915)
Eugenie Forde The Landlady The Landlady See fewer	Cameo Kirby (1923)