Cape Breton's Magazine

The Sea Riders continued from inside front cover melodrama, centred about a greedy employee, trying to woo the captain's daughter and plotting to claim some of her father's fishing rights and traps because they were not registered yet. The hero overpowers the bad guys in a thrilling sea battle aboard the captain's schooner--and so on. All summer we were filming--Cape North, Neil's Harbour, Smokey and Ingonish. We were three weeks in Ingonish. In the filming, a scene I won't forget is when Wally and I were portraying kids smoking cigars on a wharf in Ingonish behind a mountain of fish traps. We were supposed to imitate getting sick on cigars but we were filmed really sick--agghhh! And then there was the time we were away out in Ingonish Harbour after do? ing some filming. A squall blew up suddenly. Captain Brewer was quite concerned as it blew pretty badly and the swells were bigger than ever. Many of the cast aboard the two- masted schooner got seasick but Wally and I were fine. After that, many rode by hired cars to various film locations. The hired cars got into difficulty too, with muddy roads on the way to Smokey. In September, 1922, "Sea Riders" premiered in Sydney at The Strand. The film was something new for us in Cape Breton. I think it was the first motion picture At Druker Insurance Tenants and Homeowners may qualify for a 40% dis? count. Discounts are given to non-smokers, those age 55 or more, those claim-free for three years, if you have alarms, or if your house is less than 10 years old. Call Druker Insurance to see how big a discount you deserve. And, if you agree to a $1000. deductible, your discount could be 60%. Call Drulcer Insurance 361 Charlotte St. Sydney 562-5504, or 1-800-661-3500 (toll free) [email protected] Mastercard Part of the cast on the wharf at Ingonish. The young man by the pole is Howard Applegate. The woman Is Mrs. Griffith, the female lead. anybody had done covering so many scenic villages all over Cape Breton. In a way it was a travelogue. I don't know if a copy of this five-reeler exists, but I would chuckle to see myself again behind the traps looking sick. I'm 82 years old now. I moved to Massachusetts. Many still pic? tures were taken of us in various scenes, but my copies were misplaced in moving over the years. I enjoyed the travelling about the island with the crew and of course acting in silent film. A Taste of "The Sea Riders" To promote the movie, the Sydney newspaper serialized the story of the film in several in? stallments, starting Saturday, June 11,1922. The Synopsis was written by Violet Gary from the scenario by E. H. Griffith. Mr. Griffith was also the camera man. Here is an abridged ver? sion, to give you the story and the feel for the times. On the Isle of Mademoiselle, just off the coast of Cape Breton, the hardy fisherfolk were wont to eke out a precarious living from the fish-laden waters. Day in and day out they toiled and laboured to feed and clothe themselves and their loved ones. Only on the Day of Rest did they repose from their labours. They were good. God? fearing people too, these honest men of the sea. Never a Sunday but the little village church was filled to overflowing, and among them on such a Sunday as they filed out of the building you might have seen Elsie, a padictic. hopeless little figure. Elsie, the one-time belle of the village, sought after and adored, but by none so much as her own true love, the stalwart Will McNeil. Alas, the pitiless sea had claimed him as she has so many of those who seek her out and Cape Breton Boarding Kennels MODERN HEATED FACILITY FOR DOGS AND CATS • Open 12 Months • Indoor - Outdoor Dog Kennels • New Cattery Separate Building from the Dogs • Certiflcation of Vaccination Required 737-2281 R. R. #i, glace bay, n. s. STOP AT DINO'S fresh baked goods * souvenirs magazines * film * charcoal gifts * novels * camp fuel * ice Ingonish i''Qmofniiifiiii One Stop Store & Deli STAY AT DINO'S Trailer Park Laundromat close to the National Park Ingonish