Bucks County Courier Times
Long before there was Indiana Jones there was Idaho Jones, a character in a 1944 Western film serial called "Raiders of Ghost City."
Coincidence? Not a chance.
"A lot of the material in the old cliffhanger serials was reused by George Lucas in "Indiana Jones' and "Star Wars,' " said film buff Eric Stedman. "These old serials were very influential. People in Hollywood lift stuff from them all the time - they just usually don't acknowledge it."
Stedman should know. He makes a living restoring old films and transferring them to DVD and is director of the Serial Squadron, a group he started with his father that specializes in preserving and promoting old cliffhanger serials.
Stedman showcases these action-packed films annually at SerialFest, which this year takes place Friday and Saturday at the Newtown Theater. The highlight is a complete screening of the 12-chapter 1943 serial "Daredevils of the West," a long-assumed-lost epic that has not been seen in its entirety since its theatrical release 65 years ago.
For serial junkies such as Stedman, this is a more historic cinematic event than the big-budget "Indiana Jones" sequel that hits multiplexes next week.
"This is basically the holy grail for cliffhanger serial fans," Stedman said.
"Daredevils of the West," starring Allan "Rocky" Lane and Kay Aldridge, was released by Republic Pictures, a studio that specialized in serials and B-Westerns. Republic, which marketed its films to kids, produced 66 serials from 1936-55, including the first live-action superhero movie ("The Adventures of Captain Marvel"), two "Lone Rangers," three "Zorros" and four "Dick Tracys."
The films were shown on Saturday afternoons, and the chapters almost always featured a suspenseful ending.
"Daredevils of the West" is the only one of the 66 that has never been released on home video or been available for public viewing, giving it an almost mythical status.
"I've gotten phone calls from fellow serial fans telling me this film doesn't exist," Stedman said. "I guess they're basing their idea of what "exists' on what's out there on video.
"Four of the chapters did circulate among collectors in the '80s, and we're all excited to see the rest of it."
Serial fans salivating over "Daredevils" can thank Stedman for his diligence. He tracked down a print of the film that late author/collector Jack Mathis had obtained from the Republic vaults before the company went out of business. Mathis' collection had ended up at the Republic archives at Brigham Young University.
James D'Arc, curator of BYU's Republic serial archive, will be guest of honor at SerialFest.
"Daredevils" has twelve 17-minute chapters, with titles such as "Dance of Doom," "Terror Trail" and "Suicide Showdown." Stedman said all of the picture is intact but a small portion of the sound is missing. Reels missing sound will feature musical accompaniment.
"But there's so much action, it probably won't be missed very much," Stedman said.
A passion for old serials runs in Stedman's family. His father, a retired Bucks County Community College dean, wrote a book, "The Serials: Suspense and Drama by Installments," that eventually led to formation of the Serial Squadron.
The first SerialFest was held in Toronto in 2001 but has been held in Newtown every year since 2003, mainly because the film reels are too expensive to ship around the country.
In addition to screening vintage films, SerialFest gives modern filmmakers who are fans of the genre the chance to showcase their work. This year's event features "The Dangers of Deborah," a new 10-chapter serial by Todd Moore of Philadelphia about a female reporter and mysterious villain.
The group also presents restored/recreated chapters 1 and 2 of the long-lost silent serial "The Masked Rider" (1919), which features an unbilled Boris Karloff (as "Mexican in saloon") in his first known screen appearance.
Stedman began reconstructing "The Masked Rider" two years ago after finding the film decomposing in a projectionist's basement.
"These things haven't been made since 1956," Stedman said. "It's hard to find something new to show the group. I've always got my radar out to seek out as many of these lost prints as I can."
The violent film was originally shot in San Antonio. The recreated scenes, featuring several professional actors (including Langhorne's Allyson Malandra, who toured nationally in "Chicago"), were shot in such Bucks County locations as Tyler State Park and Moravian Tile in Doylestown.
Other featured presentations include:
Episodes from a new digital restoration of "The Master Mystery" (1919), a chapter play featuring escape artist Harry Houdini vs. a malevolent robot
Chapters of the rarely seen original "Green Hornet" serial (1940)
An episode of the 1916 "Beatrice Fairfax" series, featuring a rare appearance by silent screen heartthrob Olive Thomas. Thomas, who was married to Mary Pickford's brother, was poised to become a Hollywood superstar before her death of accidental poisoning at age 25 in 1920.
The episode, "Play Ball," hasn't been seen in 92 years. It features a real-life New York Yankees/New York Giants baseball game.
If you go
SerialFest 2008
When: Serial chapters will be screened from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Newtown Theater, 120 N. State St.
Cost: $135 includes all screenings, Friday pizza and Saturday dinner; $100 for screenings only
Information: www.serialsquadron.com/serialfest or 215-968-2514.
