Santa Clarita Valley History In Pictures
> WILLIAM S. HART
"Return of Draw Egan"
William S. Hart

"THE RETURN OF DRAW EGAN"

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Lantern Slide

Hand-painted, 4" x 3¼" glass slide from "The Return of Draw Egan," a short Western directed by William S. Hart. Featuring Hart in the title role and Margery Wilson (as Marguery Wilson) as the love interest, it was produced by Triangle Productions and Kay-Bee, and released Oct. 1, 1916, by S.A. Lynch Enterprises, Inc.

The original "trailers," painted glass slides were inserted into movie projectors and shown on the silver screen to promote coming attractions.

One of Hart's many bad-man-turned-good films, "The Return of Draw Egan" is the story of a villain who is mistaken for a lawman and is thusly appointed Sheriff of the town of Yellow Dog. Given respectability, Egan (Hart) embraces the law and cleans up the town.

Also appearing in the film are Louise Glaum, Robert McKim, J.P. Lockney, Dorothy Benham, Hector Dion, J.H. Gilmour, Florence La Badie, George Marlo, Samuel N. Niblack and Robert Vaughn (II).

The original movie cowboy, Hart was born Dec. 6, 1864 in Newburgh, New York. He made his last film ("Tumbleweeds") in 1925, moved to Newhall in 1927 and died there on June 23, 1946.

More information about Hart here.


About "The Return of Draw Egan"

From Koszarski (1980:53): Produced by Triangle/Kay-Bee under the supervision of Thomas H. Ince; distributed by Triangle; in production April 29-May 24, 1916; released October 15, 1916; © as a reissue by Tri-Stone Pictures, May 25, 1924; production cost, $13,307.65; also known as "The Fugitive;" five reels.

Directed by William S. Hart; story and screenplay by C. Gardner Sullivan; photographed by Joe August; art director, Robert Brunton; assistant director, Cliff Smith.

CAST: William S. Hart ("Draw" Egan/William Blake); Louise Glaum (Poppy); Margery Wilson (Myrtle Buckton); Robert McKim (Arizona Joe); J.P. Lockney (Mat Buckton).

SYNOPSIS: With a price of a thousand dollars on his head, "Draw" Egan, captain of a band of outlaws, escapes with Arizona Joe from a burning cabin in which he is cornered. They separate. The impression goes forth that "Draw" Egan is slain.

Yellow Dog is a town wherein the bad element has been running things with a high hand. The reformers under Mat Buckton cast about for a fearless man to rule the community. When "Draw" Egan shows up on the horizon he attracts the attention of Mat Buckton, who persuades him to take the position of sheriff. "Draw" takes him up.

Yellow Dog soon shows the effect of his iron rule. Law and order prevail. Arizona Joe shows up about this time and pretends to be a fearless desperado. He discovers "Draw" Egan's position in the community and hears from his former chief that no mischief will be tolerated. Spurred on to make trouble by Poppy, the dance-hall queen, Arizona Joe defies "Draw" Egan and the latter fails to check him, for he has fallen in love with Myrtle Buckton. Finally the terrible fear of "Draw" Egan which had up to this time checked the bad men of the community, is dissipated. Word is passed to the community by Arizona Joe that certain leaders of the respectable must leave town. "Draw" Egan accepts Arizona Joe's defie, permits the exposure of his past, arranges a duel with him at sunset, and without firing a shot while his opponent drives away at him with his gun, "Draw" frightens him out of town. He then surrenders himself up for punishment, but the community forgives his past, and appoints him sheriff to the delight of Myrtle Buckton. ["Return of Draw Egan" pressbook, 1916.]

REVIEW: "Draw" Egan is an outlaw, and one apparently without other preparation for a place in the civilized world than his daring, his physical strength and his skill in handling deadly weapons. Chance favors him at a time when his desperate career reaches the inevitable end. An incident ... reveals his command over the fear forces in men to a leading citizen ... who is in search of a man to act as sheriff ... he accepts the position as an escape from the very forces he is thereafter bound to maintain. ... The outlaw's sense of duty is not established by the responsibilities of his new position in life, but through the sentimental side of his character: he falls in love with the daughter of his benefactor. ... [There] is a powerful appeal to compassion of the intelligent kind, a commiseration that reasons from experience and from knowledge of human nature. [Louis Reeves Harrison, Moving Picture World, September 30, 1916.]


LW2015: Online image only.
HART CATEGORIES:
• Stage Career
• Hart Films
• Publicity Photos
• Hart as Author
• WWI War Bonds
• Hart Mansion
• Hart in Retirement
• Personal Life
• Hart in Artwork

WILLIAM S. HART FILMS

WATCH FULL MOVIES
Keno Bates, Liar (1915)
Knight of the Trail (1915)
The Ruse (1915)
The Cradle of Courage (1920)
White Oak (1921)
Tumbleweeds (1925/1939)
ALSO:
Fox Newsreel Outtakes (1930)
Farewell to the Screen, from Tumbleweeds Re-release (1939)


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Biography
(Mitchell 1955)

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Narrated Biopic 1960

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Biography (Conlon/ McCallum 1960)

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Biography (Child, NHMLA 1987)

Essay: The Good Bad Man (Griffith & Mayer 1957)


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Film Bio, Russia 1926

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The Disciple 1915/1923

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The Captive God 1916 x2

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The Aryan 1916 x2

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The Primal Lure 1916

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The Apostle of Vengeance (Mult.)

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Return of Draw Egan 1916 x2

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Truthful Tulliver 1917

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The Gun Fighter 1917 (mult.)

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Wolf Lowry 1917

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The Narrow Trail 1917 (mult.)

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Wolves of the Rail 1918

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Riddle Gawne 1918 (mult.)

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"A Bullet for Berlin" 1918 (4th Series)

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The Border Wireless 1918 (Mult.)

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Branding Broadway 1918 x2

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Breed of Men 2-2-1919 Rivoli Premiere

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The Poppy Girl's Husband 3-23-1919 Rivoli Premiere

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The Money Corral 4-20-1919 Rialto Premiere

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Square Deal Sanderson 1919

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Wagon Tracks 1919 x3

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Sand 1920 Lantern Slide Image

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The Toll Gate 1920 (Mult.)

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The Cradle of Courage 1920

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The Testing Block 1920: Slides, Lobby Cards, Photos (Mult.)

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O'Malley/Mounted 1921 (Mult.)

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The Whistle 1921 (Mult.)

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White Oak 1921 (Mult.)

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Travelin' On 1921/22 (Mult.)

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Three Word Brand 1921

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Wild Bill Hickok 1923 x2

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Singer Jim McKee 1924 (Mult.)

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"Tumbleweeds" 1925/1939

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Hart Speaks: Fox Newsreel Outtakes 1930

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