After completing The Cold Deck in May 1917, Hart left for a month-long promotional tour, his first break from continuous filmmaking activity in three years. This footage documents the three days he spent making personal appearances in New York. According to journalist Harriette Underhill, Hart was mobbed by 50,000 fans. “I spoke at a theatre in The Bronx, and when I came out I had to have police protection, and they tore the doors off the car after I got in,” he told her. “I was totally unprepared for such a reception. I really didn’t think that very many people cared about me.” Although sent out on the tour by Triangle, Hart never returned to that studio and signed with Adolph Zukor and Artcraft in June.
The Photoplay Magazine Screen Supplement series was announced in September 1917 for states-rights buyers, conceived as twelve one-reelers showing “The Stars As They Are.” Although Photoplay editor James R. Quirk announced that all profits would be given to the American Red Cross, it appears that none of the shorts hit the screens until January 1919, distributed by Educational Films Corporation and released one film per month. Besides the Hart segment seen here, No. 2 also showed Helen Holmes, Thomas Ince and Charles Ray, Bessie Love, Cleo Ridgely, and Ben Turpin.

Richard Koszarski,  Jay Weissberg