Zudora's Friends Again Rescue Her -- February 26, 2015

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

The Million Dollar Mystery was a Thanhouser production made in association with the Chicago Tribune, which ran the weekly stories in printed form. The 23-chapter serial starred Florence La Badie, a popular Thanhouser actress who died in 1917 in a car wreck. Her leading man was James Cruze, who later became a director. His most famous production was The Covered Wagon.

We saw back in November that production had stopped after the 22nd episode so that fans could submit their proposed solutions to the mystery and the winning entry would be produced:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2014/11/1-million-dollar-mystery-ends-november.html

Motography, 06-February-1915

"the most successful photoplay serial ever brought out." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

Three of the stars, Sidney Bracy, Marguerite Snow and Florence Labadie, pretend to dig through the great pile of submissions received in the mail.  The lucky winner would get $10,000 and appear in the 23rd episode. 

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

Moving Picture World had a photo of the actual judges, Harold MacGrath, who wrote the story, May Tinee of the Chicago Tribune, and Howell Hansell of Thanhouser. 

Motography, 13-February-1915

And the final episode ends in a clinch. 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

The final episode will announce the name of the winner and show a photo of her or him. 

Moving Picture World, 06-February-1915

The Million Dollar Mystery was such a success that Thanhouser began converting its next serial, Zudora, which was already in production and distribution, into a sequel.  The title became The Twenty Million Dollar Mystery (inflation) and in episode 8, James Cruze switched from being a villain to being the hero.  Sidney Bracy and Frank Farrington, who had been in The Million Dollar Mystery , also joined the cast of Zudora. 

Motography, 06-February-1915

Motography, 06-February-1915

"The conspirators lay their plans." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

"The diamond cutter works over the smuggled jewels." 

Motography, 06-February-1915

"Madame Duval gives Zudora a fright."

Moving Picture World, 13-February-1915

Motography, 13-February-1915

Motography, 13-February-1915

"The loss of the gems is discovered." 

Motography, 13-February-1915

"The jewels are  hidden away." 

Motography, 13-February-1915

"The Zudora diamond mine."  Keep in mind that this was being shot during the winter in New Jersey.  These poor men must have gotten cold. 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

Motography, 20-February-1915

Motography, 20-February-1915

"Baird learns of the diamonds to be found in the mine." 

Motography, 20-February-1915

"The conspirators force Zudora to tell what she knows of the diamonds." 

Motography, 20-February-1915

"The death of Howard." 

Moving Picture World, 20-February-1915

"The Photoplay Serial that is Packing Houses." 

Jim's Love for Zudora is Evident -- January 26, 2015

Moving Picture World, 30-January-1915

Thanhouser's serial The Million Dollar Mystery had been a roaring success.  In 1914, it stopped at chapter 22, promising that chapter 23 would be released at a later date.  Fans were invited to submit a solution to the mystery.  The person whose suggestion would be used to make chapter 23 would receive a $10,000 prize.  This article shows actors Sidney Bracy, Marguerite Snow and Flo La Badie, the star of the serial, sitting in a room piled with mail.  It says they had picked the winner, but his or her name would not be disclosed until the chapter was released in February. 

Moving Picture World, 02-January-1915

"Most Successful Photoplay Ever Staged!"  Thanhouser's next serial, Zudora, was not as much of a success.  "Watch for sensational developments in the new episodes of 'Zudora.'  The early episodes of this wonderful photoplay are constructed to lead up to some of the most remarkable pieces of acting in the history of motion pictures."  Does this sound like an excuse for starting slowly? 

Moving Picture World, 02-January-1915

  This item claims that Thanhouser insured leading lady Marguerite Snow after an auto accident. 

Moving Picture World, 09-January-1915

I like the design of this ad. 

Moving Picture World, 09-January-1915

The manager of the Casino Theater in Des Moines, Iowa used this gentleman to advertise Zudora.  The crystal ball is an empty fish bowl. 



Motography, 09-January-1915

"Jim, disguised as Hassam Ali, photographs Chang." 

Motography, 09-January-1915

"Chang hypnotizes Zudora." 

Motography, 09-January-1915

"Jim's love for Zudora is evident." 

Moving Picture World, 16-January-1915

"In episode No. 8 James Cruze is transformed into the dashing and inspiring hero that made him famous in 'The Million Dollar Mystery.'"  Was this an effort to revive audience interest by making it more like the successful Million Dollar Mystery?

Moving Picture World, 16-January-1915

People like cat pictures ;0)

Moving Picture World, 16-January-1915

"One of the features of 'Zudora' is the attention given to the furnishings of Hassam's home.  Certainly there is no material which in richness seems so strongly to appeal to the camera as teakwood." 

Moving Picture World, 23-January-1915

I like Zudora's expression.  "Thrills, Thrills, THRILLS."

Moving Picture World, 23-January-1915

They lost one of the Persian cats.  "Director Hansel fails to see anything funny about it." 

Motography, 23-January-1915

"Zudora returns the visit of 'the woman of mystery.'"

Motography, 23-January-1915

"Jim, disguised as Hassam Ali, meets Madame Duval." 

Motography, 23-January-1915

"Zudora learns where the little heiress is held prisoner." 

Moving Picture World, 30-January-1915

"James Cruze -- The Hero!"  Not only is James Cruze now the hero, but Sidney Bracy and Frank Farrington, who were in The Million Dollar Mystery.  Have joined the cast.  I get the feeling that Thanhouser was trying to recapture the elements that made the old serial a success. 

Moving Picture World, 30-January-1915

The dollar amount could have been exaggerated. 

Zudora -- The Diamond is Discovered in the Cheese -- December 29, 2014

Motography, 05-December-1914

After the successful completion of The Million Dollar Mystery, Thanhouser had another serial, Zudora, or The Twenty Million Dollar Mystery ready for release:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/search/label/Million%20Dollar%20Mystery

Motography, 05-December-1914

James Cruze, who had been in The Million Dollar Mystery, returned along with popular leading lady Marguerite Snow and Harry Benham.  Benham played John Storm, who was in love with Zudora. 

Motography, 05-December-1914

James Cruze played Jim Baird, a reporter, who sometimes adopted the identity of Hassan Ali. 

Motography, 05-December-1914

"The diamond is discovered in the cheese."  How about that? 

Motography, 26-December-1914

"Scene from Episode 5." 

Motography, 26-December-1914

Zudora tied up. 

Motography, 26-December-1914

"The old miser blackmails the lawyer." 

Motography, 26-December-1914

Fingerprint evidence was still a fairly new concept in 1914. 

Motography, 26-December-1914

"'Zudora' Published as a Song."  "Should it become one of the popular pieces of the day it would indeed be an excellent advertisement for both the film and the story, and Miss Snow, the dainty detective, will be even more endeared to the hearts of her many followers through it." 

Some surviving episodes of Zudora are available from Thanhouser Company Film Preservation:
http://www.thanhouser.org/index.html