ON A GOOD OLE 5? TROLLEY RIDE

Edison summary: The opening scene shows the interior of a trolley car. The only passenger is a young man who has evidently been making a night of it with the boys. A young lady enters and the young man insists upon giving up his seat to her, and although there are plenty of vacant seats he prefers to hang on to a strap. It is about all he can do to keep on his feet. The next passenger is an old maid with a hat-box and several bundles. She takes a seat near the young man, but his actions become so annoying that she is obliged to change her seat. The conductor now enters and collects her fare. She asks for a transfer and is given one by the conductor, who punches the ticket by firing a shot through it with a revolver. A colored washerwoman now enters with a large basket of clothes. The car starts with a jerk and she falls over the basket. After getting the clothes back into the basket, she takes her seat and places the basket beside her. The conductor now enters, and collects her fare. Seeing the basket on the seat he demands a second fare, which she at first refuses to pay. She finally turns her back to the conductor and gets the necessary nickel from her stocking, protesting vigorously all the while. The passengers in the meantime have been doing a little "rubbering." When the conductor rings up the second fare the register turns backward. A tough enters with a cigar in his mouth. The conductor calls his attention to the "No Smoking" sign but he keeps on smoking just the same and finally blows the smoke into the conductor's face. The conductor now seizes the cigar, takes a couple of puffs, cuts off the lighted end with a pair of scissors and puts the butt into his pocket. Meanwhile the old maid has been beating the tough with her umbrella. A typical Rube farmer gets on with a basket of eggs. All the passengers commence to laugh, rub their hands and nudge each other. The car starts with a jerk, but the farmer manages to reach a seat and save himself and his eggs. Presently he produces a large plug of tobacco and starts chewing vigorously. He spits on the floor and then changes his seat. The conductor now enters and noticing that there has been a violation of the company's rules endeavors to locate the culprit. He questions several of the passengers, among them the old maid, who becomes very indignant. Finally he spots the farmer chewing. Going over to the farmer he points to the "No Spitting" sign, takes the tobacco away from him and demands five dollars for the fine, which the farmer hands over. The conductor now calls in the motorman and gives him half the money and the plug of tobacco. After biting off a piece the motorman returns the plug to the conductor, who puts it in his pocket and warns the farmer never to chew again. Meanwhile the passengers have been roaring with laughter. The next passenger is a big fat woman, who gets wedged in the door. The conductor boosts her from behind while two of the passengers try to pull her through. She finally comes through with a rush and lands on the farmer and his basket of eggs. She is finally lifted into a seat. The conductor then takes the stove shovel and scoops up what is left of the eggs and puts them back into the basket. The fat woman complains of the cold to the conductor and several passengers join in with her and button up their coats and turn up their collars. The conductor then puts some coal in the stove and removes the ashes. When he opens the window to throw out the ashes they are blown back into the car all over the passengers. A typical "Yiddisher" now enters with a covered basket. The car starts and down he goes, basket and all. The basket breaks open and out jumps a big fat goose. The women jump up on the seats while the men chase the goose all over the car. The old maid's bundles, the farmer's basket of eggs and the washerwoman's clothes basket are all mixed up in the general melee, the goose finally making its escape. The picture now changes to an outdoor suburban road scene. A trolley car is seen approaching. A goose flies out of the car and all the passengers give chase. The chase is a merry one. Across a golf ground and through the woods the passengers follow. The rumpus awakens a tramp who has been sleeping at the foot of a tree. As the goose passes him he grabs him and the chase now continues after both tramp and goose. A pond is reached and into it plunges the tramp with the goose. He finally reaches the opposite bank and has the laugh on the passengers, who dare not follow. As a burlesque on street car trolley service the picture has been a great success. It greatly adds to the effectiveness of the picture if the music of the well-known popular song, "On a Good Ole 5¢ Trolley Ride" is played while the picture is being shown. The words and music of a portion of the chorus complete the picture. Fully described and illustrated in Circular No. 253.