Several clippings from the Tribune recently found by local historical researcher Kevin Savick help to confirm one of the real mysteries about the history of Albert Lea.

That mystery is based on the motion pictures of local life that were made about 87 years ago. And the use of the plural word films is correct. There was definitely one of these silent films made, and maybe a second or even a third epic created back in 1922.

I deliberately used the word clipping because the first Tribune item dated May 20, 1922, was actually an advertisement. This ad said the Rivoli Theatre on South Broadway Avenue, “The Home of Big Pictures,” would be having a special weekend showing of a film with a strong local connection. The name of this motion picture without sound was “Up and Down Broadway.” This film was described in the ad as “A short reel of Albert Lea’s Show Avenue, taken on a busy Saturday by a new commercial film company.” The name of this firm was Arcade Films and the photography was done by the owner, C.D. Peterson.

I did some further research to see if I could find more information about C.D. Peterson and his Arcade Films firm. So far the results have been negative.

Years ago I do recall the late Bidney Bergie talking about this 1922 film. However, he thought this short motion picture had either deteriorated or been lost. I did check with the museum and its library to see if it might be in their archives. Again, the results were negative.

Having this film now available would certainly add a new dimension to understanding and appreciating local life of seven and eight decades ago.

As I indicated in the second paragraph, there may have been a second and maybe even a third silent motion picture filmed here in Albert Lea.

A news article in the July 7, 1922, issue of the Tribune said E.W. Ewing would be in Albert Lea within a few days to shoot another film based on local life.

The 1922 news article reported, “Mr. Ewing represents the Commercial Photo Plays of St. Paul. He with his camera man will take an industrial, commercial and educational picture of Albert Lea. This picture will feature all the high spots of this southern Minnesota metropolis. As soon as the pictures are completed they will be presented at the Broadway Theatre for three nights. Then the production will become the property of the Business Men’s League of this city.” (The Business Men’s League was a predecessor of the present Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.)

Yet, within a week Ewing had evidently come up with a different concept for what could have been the third film. The July 13, 1922, issue of the Tribune said his epic would be a 1,000-foot film to be called “The Spirit of Albert Lea.” It was based on a “pretty little story of a young couple who come to Albert Lea on a honeymoon trip. Scenes in several stores where the young couple go to make purchases will be shown. All in all, it promises to be an interesting enterprise.”

The stars of this local drama, complete with a burning building and rescue by the local fire department, would be Mr. and Mrs. Pierpont Weile.

I checked several 1920s city directories and could find no listing for the Wiele name. Also, a check with issues of the Tribune published after the weekend of the alleged filming of “The Spirit of Albert Lea” indicates nothing happened. Maybe Ewing’s intention was to get local financing for his motion picture project. I have a hunch he had a standardized script which could be filmed in any town. Anyway, Ewing’s great epic evidently never evolved.

And what helps to confirm those last two films were never made is a comment made by Kevin who really checked over those old 1922 issues of the Tribune. He wrote, “I found no main show at (the) Broadway (Theatre).”

Ed Shannon’s column has been appearing in the Tribune every Friday since December 1984.