1879-11-06 Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William King Baggot (November 7, 1879 – July 11, 1948) was an American actor, film director and screenwriter. He was an internationally famous movie star of the silent film era. The first individually publicized leading man in America, Baggot was referred to as "King of the Movies", "The Most Photographed Man in the World", and "The Man Whose Face Is As Familiar As The Man In The Moon". Baggot appeared in over 300 motion pictures from 1909 to 1947, wrote 18 screenplays, and directed 45 movies from 1912 to 1928, including The Lie (1912), Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman (1925), and The House of Scandal (1928). He also directed William S. Hart in his most famous western, Tumbleweeds (1925). Among his film appearances, Baggot was best known for The Scarlet Letter (1911), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913), and Ivanhoe (1913). Baggot began his career on the stage, in a Shakespearean stock company, and toured throughout the U.S. While acting in stock in St. Louis in 1909, he was cast as supporting player in the Schubert touring production of The Wishing Ring. When The Wishing Ring closed in Chicago, Baggot returned to New York to join another company. Upon a chance meeting with Harry Solter, who was directing movies for Carl Laemmle at Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP), he was persuaded to go with Solter to the studio. Baggot became interested in the fledgling industry and decided to turn picture player. His first film was the romance short The Awakening of Bess (1909) opposite Florence Lawrence. It was directed by Harry Solter, her husband, at IMP in Fort Lee, New Jersey. At a time when screen actors worked anonymously, Baggot and Lawrence became the first "movie stars" to be given billing, a marquee, and promotion in advertising. Baggot starred in at least 42 movies opposite Lawrence from 1909 to 1911. In the latter year, he starred in at least 16 movies with Mary Pickford. He also began writing screenplays and directing, all the while becoming a major star internationally. When he appeared "in person" at theatres he was mobbed at stage doors. By 1912, he was so famous that when he took the leading part in forming the prestigious Screen Club in New York, the first organization of its kind strictly for movie people, he was the natural choice for its first president. King Baggot died in Los Angeles, California in 1948, age 68. For his contributions to the film industry, Baggot received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. His star is located at 6312 Hollywood Boulevard.
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Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films | Himself (archive footage) | 2011-04-03 |
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My Brother Talks to Horses | Bank Employee (uncredited) | 1947-02-04 |
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Merton of the Movies | Man in Audience (uncredited) | 1947-10-11 |
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The Postman Always Rings Twice | Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) | 1946-05-02 |
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The Secret Heart | Man at Graduation Ceremony | 1946-12-25 |
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Holiday in Mexico | 1946-08-15 | |
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Dangerous Partners | Lunch Room Customer (uncredited) | 1945-06-07 |
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Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood | Barbershop Patron (uncredited) | 1945-10-05 |
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Swing Fever | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1943-11-01 |
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Her Cardboard Lover | Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited) | 1942-07-16 |
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Rio Rita | Hotel Guest (uncredited) | 1942-03-11 |
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Jackass Mail | Old Miner | 1942-07-01 |
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Fingers at the Window | Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited) | 1942-04-22 |
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Honky Tonk | Townsman (uncredited) | 1941-10-01 |
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The Big Store | Store Employee (uncredited) | 1941-06-20 |
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Come Live with Me | Doorman | 1941-01-31 |
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Ziegfeld Girl | Man in Audience (uncredited) | 1941-04-25 |
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I Take This Woman | Man in Subway (uncredited) | 1940-02-02 |
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Gallant Sons | Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited) | 1940-11-15 |
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Bitter Sweet | Cafe Patron (uncredited) | 1940-11-08 |
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The Ghost Comes Home | Townsman at Banquet (uncredited) | 1940-03-08 |
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The Philadelphia Story | Wedding Guest (uncredited) | 1940-12-05 |
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Stronger Than Desire | Juror (uncredited) | 1939-06-30 |
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Dancing Co-Ed | Man in Casting Office (uncredited) | 1939-09-29 |
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The Ice Follies of 1939 | Man in Audience (uncredited) | 1939-03-10 |
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Stablemates | Bettor | 1938-10-07 |
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That Mothers Might Live | Passerby (uncredited) | 1938-04-30 |
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Snow Gets in Your Eyes | Department Store Customer (uncredited) | 1938-05-14 |
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Arsène Lupin Returns | Detective (uncredited) | 1938-02-25 |
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Opening Day | Baseball Fan | 1938-11-12 |
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Too Hot to Handle | Reporter (uncredited) | 1938-09-16 |
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Boys Town | Derelict in Mission (uncredited) | 1938-09-08 |
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Marie Antoinette | Nobleman at Court (uncredited) | 1938-08-26 |
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Think It Over | 1938-07-24 | |
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It May Happen to You | Man in Hospital (uncredited) | 1937-06-05 |
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Parnell | Man in Office | 1937-06-04 |
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Torture Money | False Accident Witness (uncredited) | 1937-01-02 |
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The Emperor's Candlesticks | Customs Official (uncredited) | 1937-07-02 |
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A Night at the Movies | Movie Patron (uncredited) | 1937-11-06 |
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The Devil-Doll | Detective Pierre (uncredited) | 1936-07-10 |
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Mad Holiday | Film Director (uncredited) | 1936-11-13 |
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San Francisco | Earthquake Survivor (uncredited) | 1936-06-26 |
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Sworn Enemy | Accident Witness (uncredited) | 1936-09-11 |
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The Adventures of Frank Merriwell | Chemistry Professor | 1936-01-13 |
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A Night at the Opera | Dignitary (uncredited) | 1935-11-15 |
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Mississippi | Gambler (uncredited) | 1935-03-22 |
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The Call of the Savage | Dr. Pierce | 1935-04-14 |
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Chinatown Squad | Patrol Wagon Guard | 1935-05-31 |
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3 Kids and a Queen | Druggist | 1935-10-21 |
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A Notorious Gentleman | Police Sergeant | 1935-01-21 |
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Sweepstake Annie | Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited) | 1935-01-29 |
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Cheating Cheaters | Official (uncredited) | 1934-11-05 |
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Father Brown, Detective | Priest (uncredited) | 1934-12-14 |
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Romance in the Rain | Milton McGillicuddy | 1934-08-13 |
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The Red Rider | Townsman | 1934-07-16 |
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Beloved | Second Doctor | 1934-01-22 |
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I Loved a Woman | Banker (uncredited) | 1933-09-23 |
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The Big Flash | Hinkle | 1932-11-05 |
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The Death Kiss | Al Payne | 1932-12-05 |
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What Price Hollywood? | Department Head (uncredited) | 1932-06-24 |
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Police Court | Harry Field | 1932-02-19 |
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Girl of the Rio | Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe | 1932-01-15 |
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Afraid to Talk | Police Officer (uncredited) | 1932-11-17 |
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The Bad Sister | Policeman on Street (uncredited) | 1931-03-29 |
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Graft | Ship's Captain | 1931-09-21 |
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Sweepstakes | Mike - Weber's Trainer | 1931-07-10 |
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Once a Gentleman | Van Warner | 1930-09-01 |
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The Czar of Broadway | 1930-05-25 | |
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The Thrill Chaser | Himself - Cameo | 1923-11-26 |
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The Girl in the Taxi | Maj. Frederick Smith | 1921-04-01 |
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The Cheater | Lord Asgarby | 1920-06-07 |
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Life's Twist | Jim Sargent | 1920-08-11 |
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The Forbidden Thing | Dave | 1920-11-01 |
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The Dwelling Place of Light | Brooks Insall | 1920-09-12 |
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The Hawk's Trail | Sheldon Steele/The Hawk | 1919-12-13 |
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The Eagle's Eye | Harrison Grant | 1918-03-27 |
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Mission of the War Chest | Self | 1918-01-01 |
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Kildare of Storm | Basil Kildare | 1918-09-16 |
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Building for Democracy | The Husband | 1918-10-01 |
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The Silent Stranger | The Silent Stranger | 1916-08-10 |
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The Man from Nowhere | James Herron | 1916-06-19 |
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Half a Rogue | Richard Warrington | 1916-05-22 |
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The Suburban | Donald Gordon | 1915-09-17 |
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The Marble Heart | Raphael / Phidias | 1915-07-02 |
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The Great Universal Mystery | Himself | 1914-07-10 |
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Absinthe | Jean Dumas | 1914-01-22 |
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Ivanhoe | Wilfred of Ivanhoe | 1913-09-22 |
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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde | 1913-03-06 |
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The Wanderer | The Shepherd | 1913-04-07 |
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Up Against It | Amos Bentley | 1912-05-31 |
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Shamus O'Brien | Shamus O'Brien | 1912-03-14 |
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A Cave Man Wooing | George - the 'Sissy' Hero | 1912-05-19 |
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While There is hope, There is Life | Alfred King | 1911-04-24 |
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Tracked | Roger Densmore | 1911-03-06 |
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Pictureland | Pablo | 1911-02-20 |
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Science | Dr. Crawford | 1911-07-24 |
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At a Quarter of Two | Dan Nolan - the Burglar | 1911-07-13 |
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The Secret of the Palm | Cecil Abbott | 1911-03-13 |
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The Temptress | Gilbert Irving | 1911-05-04 |
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At the Duke's Command | Edward, the Duke's Nephew | 1911-02-16 |
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The Call of the Song | Hugh Norton | 1911-08-13 |
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Second Sight | Tom Mooreland | 1911-05-01 |
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In the Sultan's Garden | Lt. Robbins | 1911-07-03 |
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For the Queen's Honor | The King | 1911-07-06 |
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The Fair Dentist | Dental Patient | 1911-05-08 |
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The Rose's Story | Gerald Kinney | 1911-10-02 |
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The Better Way | Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook | 1911-10-12 |
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Over the Hills | Wayne Holland | 1911-11-30 |
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The Mirror | 1911-02-09 | |
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Sweet Memories | Edward Jackson | 1911-03-27 |
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The Wife’s Awakening | Enoch Harrington | 1911-04-03 |
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The Master and the Man | Basil King | 1911-05-15 |
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The Scarlet Letter | Reverend Dimmesdale | 1911-04-27 |
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The Winning Punch | 1910-01-03 | |
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Two Men | The Tenderfoot | 1910-05-02 |
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All the World’s a Stage | 1910-10-03 | |
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The Time-Lock Safe | The Father | 1910-07-08 |
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The Doctor's Perfidy | 1910-05-16 | |
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The Right of Love | 1910-01-10 | |
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His Second Wife | 1910-04-07 | |
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The Irony of Fate | 1910-08-01 | |
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Jane and the Stranger | The Stranger | 1910-02-21 |
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Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens | George Rand | 1910-07-28 |
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A Game for Two | Clark, the Best Friend | 1910-06-30 |
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The Eternal Triangle | The Dashing Young Count | 1910-05-23 |
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The Call of the Circus | 1910-07-07 | |
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The Count of Montebello | Percy | 1910-10-24 |
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Debt | 1910-09-19 | |
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Transfusion | 1910-03-28 | |
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The Blind Man’s Tact | 1910-02-14 | |
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Pressed Roses | 1910-09-26 | |
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A Reno Romance | Jack | 1910-05-30 |
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The Taming of Jane | 1910-08-21 | |
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The Maelstrom | 1910-04-21 | |
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Once Upon a Time | 1910-08-08 | |
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The Miser’s Daughter | 1910-04-04 | |
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Old Heads and Young Hearts | 1910-07-11 | |
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The New Shawl | Jacques | 1910-04-28 |
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The Awakening of Bess | Bess' Sweetheart | 1909-12-27 |
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Love's Stratagem | The Boy | 1909-11-01 |