|
John T. Rocks and the Flivver
(1915) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: John Holden [John T. Rocks, the world’s richest man], George Marlo [John L. Watson], Mignon Anderson [Watson’s sweetheart], Arthur Bauer [John D. Gray, Watson’s boss]
Thanhouser Film Corporation production; distributed by Mutual Film Corporation. / Released 17 October 1915. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The advantage of having the endorsement of a prominent and wealthy citizen was thoroughly appreciated by the “Flivver” manufacturers, but try as they could, they were unable to accomplish it. John T. Rocks, the richest man in the world, had been approached by clever representatives of the motor car company, but he declared that he never had ridden in an automobile and never would. The Flivver Company had a rule providing for the prompt discharge of any of their employees who married if their salaries were under $1,000 a year, so when the young clerk who was earning only $800 was married, he was told that his services were no longer required. The youth suggested that if he was made a salesman for the company at a much larger salary that there would be no necessity for dispensing with his services, so the head of the company, having a keen sense of humor, told the clerk if he could get John T. Rocks to ride in a “Flivver” that he would get the coveted position, otherwise his services would be dispensed with at once. The young wife remembered that her old aunt lived in the country not far from the handsome home of Mr. Rocks, so the young couple decided to spend their honeymoon with the aunt. John T. Rocks was an enthusiastic fisherman, and he was in the habit of driving out in a single-seated buckboard to a lonely lake several miles from town. The newlyweds discovered the millionaire, and while his attention was attracted in fishing, the young people untied the horse and buckboard and sent it galloping down the road. The fisherman pursued, but he was unable to catch up with his horse, and while he was walking home, he was overtaken by a Flivver, driven by the bride, who offered him a “lift.” The millionaire found his new acquaintance very charming, and soon was smiling and chatting with her, unaware that his picture had been “snapped” by a camera concealed by the roadside. The camera was operated by the young husband, and when the picture was received by the “Flivver” Company they wrote him that the salesman’s position was his. The young couple’s joy was short-lived, for when the millionaire saw an automobile advertisement in a daily paper containing a picture of himself and the girl, with the caption, “John T. Rocks Rides in a ‘Flivver,’ Why Not You?” he realized that he had been tricked and wrote to the automobile people demanding the young man’s discharge. The “Flivver” people deemed it best not to arouse the wrath of the richest man in the world, so they telegraphed the young husband that it was necessary to comply with the millionaire’s demand for his dismissal. The honeymooners were heartbroken at their ill fortune, and their amazement can be imagined when the millionaire called upon them and offered the husband a position, on account of his great nerve, as his private secretary at a very handsome salary.
Survival status: Print exists.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 3 July 2025.
References: Website-IMDb.
Home video: DVD.
|
