The Masked Rider
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THE MASKED RIDER Vol. 1
90 years after its original release, 21 reels worth of footage from this serial printed on tinted nitrate stock, were discovered in the fall of 2003 in the home of a former theater projectionist and memorabilia collector whose estate has been liquidated. Episode numbers were hand-painted on the original metal cans--and the can for chapter 7 reveals the original owner's enthusiasm for the serial, which he no doubt projected and enjoyed in his youth. One reel of the film had decomposed to liquid and was discarded by those handling the estate. Other cans were marked Episodes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, The Story The Masked Rider appears to have been the first great mystery-rider Western chapter play and the character may have served as a prototype for The Riddle Rider, The Lone Ranger, Zorro and all the great masked rider serials which followed it.
Harry Myers (1882-1938) began acting in 1908 and played the title character in the serial Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. He wrote and directed over 30 films between 1914 and 1917. He is best remembered for his performance as the rich alcoholic who alternately befriends and doesn't recognize Charlie Chaplin in City Lights. One of his final screen appearances was as an uncredited detective in The Spider's Web.
Ruth Stonehouse began acting at an early age and appeared in dozens of shorts, many of which she wrote/and or directed, then moved up to larger projects such as the serial The Master Mystery starring Harry Houdini. One of the first female film directors ever, she was the "S" of the silent film company Essanay.
Paul Panzer, born in Bavaria, began his career acting in silent Shakespearian films, and achieved notoriety as the villainous Koerner in The Perils of Pauline. He would later appear in other serials including The Exploits of Elaine, Jimmie Dale Alias the Gray Seal, The Mystery Mind, Hawk of the Hills, The Black Book, and Tarzan the Tiger. As it was with many silent stars, his career took a back seat to the new crowd when sound came in and though he appeared, often uncredited, in sound films (he can be glimpsed as a graveside mourner in Frankenstein) until the early 1950s, he never again was given a leading role.
Edna was daughter of prominent comic stage actor E. M. Holland who was well-known on Broadway in his day. After The Masked Rider, she returned to New York where she performed in many Broadway shows, then later returned to film and performed mostly small roles in movies and on TV until the 1960s.
Taber acted in other films produced by Patrick McGeeney at Shamrock Pictures in San Antonio and stopped acting shortly after filming The Masked Rider, when he married former co-star Anna Q. Nilsson. Marie Treador as Ma Chadwick, Ruth's mother After trying writing up a radio script, preparing illustrations, and even considering shadow puppets and other methods of re-creating the lost Chapter 1, in which much crucial action takes place on which the rest of the serial is based, we finally decided the easiest and most effective way to re-present the missing material was simply to assemble a cast of interested actors and re-shoot it!
The DVD Film and Transfer Quality: The original nitrate image is absolutely stunning in its detail and midtones. As you can see in the framegrabs there are scratches on the film but they do not detract. The finest professional (Cintel) transfer equipment available was used to create a digital version of this film. You may pledge to own a DVD copy of this transfer, which will include an entirely new original score composed especially for this presentation.
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$ 19.95
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THE MASKED RIDER VOl 2
There is nothing like this amazing and influential serial, which preceded the screen versions of both Zorro and the Lone Ranger and is wilder and more hard-hitting and realistic than either one. It commands your complete attention and never lets go. No stunt men here -- all the actors do their own riding, shooting, cliff-climbing and everything else. Shot on location at the Shamrock Photoplay Corporation studio in San Antonio, on the Medina river in Texas, and in Sabinas, Mexico. VOLUME 2 CONTENTS: EPISODE 4: “The Death Trap.” Ruth, disguised as a shepherd, tries to rescue Blanche from Pancho’s clutches but is interrupted by a raid conducted by Pancho's enemy Terrazas and his bandit army. The episode ends with Pancho's order to blow up all the entrances to Cache Valley and Ruth in mortal danger. Contains footage from original episodes 5 and 6, THE DEATH TRAP and PANCHO PLANS REVENGE. 32:21 EPISODE 5: “The Fight on the Dam.” Pancho decides to revenge himself on the Ranchers whom he believes responsible for crushing his hands by planning to blow up Medina Dam and flood the entire border region. The episode ends with a thrilling confrontation between Pancho and his men, the Burrel Bunch and the Masked Rider atop the dam. Contains recap footage from original Episode 6 and then the complete contents of original Episode 7, THE FIGHT ON THE DAM. 33:08 EPISODE 6: “The Conspirators Foiled.” During the night, the father of the bandit Terrazas, who was killed in Episode 4, raises an army to ride against Pancho while Captain Jack and Harry penetrate the labyrinth of rock near the river to try and find Ruth. As the episode concludes, the Masked Rider offers Harry a truce. Contains footage from original Episode 8. 23:11
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$ 19.95
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THE MASKED RIDER Vol. 3
VOLUME 3 CONTENTS:
EPISODE 7: The Exchange of Prisoners / Harry’s Perilous Leap
Shipping Options
$ 19.95
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THE MASKED RIDER Book
To include a massive amount of ultra-rare supplementary material related to the serial, including stills from the collection of the original cameraman, background on all the actors and shooting locations, text of the original scripts for incomplete episodes, thorough plot summaries and annotations, and more!
To be released at the same time as THE MASKED RIDER DVD Vol. 3 and recommended for purchase at the same time as that volume so you can read about what will essentially be “deleted scenes.” The product of over 5 years work by Eric Stedman, with contributions by Tom McGeeney and supplemental research by David Sorochty. $ 0.00
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