Easter, or Ēostre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter, or Ēostre in Saxon English, was formerly a pagan celebration held during the month of Ēastermōnaþ or April, to celebrate the coming of spring. Its namesake is the Germanic goddess Ēostre or Ostara.

Pictured here are four Easter cards from the Museum collection.

Each card delivered a piece of candy to the recipient either attached to the front of the card as on the top two cards, or hidden in a pocket behind a decorative flap.



On the cards to the left, the candy was hidden in the Easter bonnet and the Easter basket.



The back of the card on the left, is pictured below, showing the enclosure for the candy.

Scenes from a lost movie.

These 1924 photographs from the Museum's Martha Fritch Pilger collection were taken during the filming of the silent movie "The Man Who Fights Alone."

This silent movie, which is now lost, was shot here in the San Lorenzo Valley, around Ben Lomond. Many of the cast stayed at Hotel Dickinson, while others stayed in Boulder Creek.

The star of the movie was William Farnum. At the time Farnum was the highest paid actor in the movie industry.

He played John Marble, an engineer who suffered a stroke and subsequent paralysis. He invites a friend to join his company, but then fears that his wife is becoming fond of his partner. Feeling despondent, he becomes suicidal. However, he sees his wife and child on a bridge that is fragile and ready to collapse. The shock results in his recovery and he stands and shouts to warn his wife. He recovers the use of his legs and then learns that his fears were unfounded.

What does not get reported in the newspapers, is that Farnum suffered a major injury during the making of the film, when the bridge collapsed prematurely and he was stuck underwater and nearly drowned. The producers played down the incident for fear of box office losses, but Farnum spent the next year in hospital, first undergoing surgery and then drifting in and out of a coma. The incident reputedly ruin his career, though he did return to the movies and stage years later in smaller roles.

This photograph depicts the young four-year-old actress best known as Anne Shirley, a name she took from the "Anne of Green Gables" movies in which she later starred. Her real name was Dawn Evelyeen Paris, though in this movie, "The Man Who Fights Alone," she was billed as Dawn O'Day.

Pictured below with leading actor William Farnum's chair, is Boulder Creek resident Amedro Piccioni.

And below with leading actor William Farnum's wheelchair, is Boulder Creek resident Alice Longley.

For more images visit the Album on Flickr.

The Man Who Fights Alone IMDB Page