Melton Barker (February 14, 1903 â€" March 1977) was an itinerant
filmmaker who produced and directed numerous films with his company,
Melton Barker Juvenile Productions, from the 1930s though the 1970s.
These films were shot across the United States with casts of children
who each paid a fee for the opportunity to star in the two-reel
shorts.During the first half of the twentieth century, filmmakers
traveled across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New
Zealand, making a business of shooting films starring local talent for
a fee. These home talent films, or town boosters, featured community
landmarks, businesses, and local residents. Not all of these films had
a narrative structure; some simply shot the town and its populace.
Others would mimic popular films, or create some sort of limited
narrative in order to focus on the local community. Once shot and
completed, these films would be shown locally before a major
theatrical feature was screened.The Kidnappers Foil was one of Melton
Barker's films. The same script would be shot repeatedly in different
towns with a different cast across the United States from the 1930s
though the 1950s. Melton Barker Juvenile Productions would contact
local theaters and newspapers to sponsor the film, after which a
casting call for children would go out and parents would be encouraged
to fill out the paperwork provided and after paying a small fee, the
children would participate in a short audition before a representative
of the production company. This company would consist of a skeleton
crew consisting of Melton Barker, a camera man, a sound man, and an
assistant.The plot of the films hardly changed with each production.
In each a young girl, Betty Davis, is kidnapped and held for ransom
following her birthday. Her father offers a reward of $1,000 for her
return. A group of young boys led by Butch, imagine what they could do
with the reward and set out in search for Betty. Soon another group of
even younger children attempt to join the search, but are refused and
set out upon their own. A group of local girls soon join with Butch
and his gang. After several days with no results the gang once again
imagines what they will do with the money. Soon after they catch the
kidnappers napping, and rescue Betty. All of the children are invited
to Betty's house to celebrate, where they perform several song and
dance numbers. The Kidnappers Foil was produced in different cities
across the country over one hundred and thirty times.
filmmaker who produced and directed numerous films with his company,
Melton Barker Juvenile Productions, from the 1930s though the 1970s.
These films were shot across the United States with casts of children
who each paid a fee for the opportunity to star in the two-reel
shorts.During the first half of the twentieth century, filmmakers
traveled across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New
Zealand, making a business of shooting films starring local talent for
a fee. These home talent films, or town boosters, featured community
landmarks, businesses, and local residents. Not all of these films had
a narrative structure; some simply shot the town and its populace.
Others would mimic popular films, or create some sort of limited
narrative in order to focus on the local community. Once shot and
completed, these films would be shown locally before a major
theatrical feature was screened.The Kidnappers Foil was one of Melton
Barker's films. The same script would be shot repeatedly in different
towns with a different cast across the United States from the 1930s
though the 1950s. Melton Barker Juvenile Productions would contact
local theaters and newspapers to sponsor the film, after which a
casting call for children would go out and parents would be encouraged
to fill out the paperwork provided and after paying a small fee, the
children would participate in a short audition before a representative
of the production company. This company would consist of a skeleton
crew consisting of Melton Barker, a camera man, a sound man, and an
assistant.The plot of the films hardly changed with each production.
In each a young girl, Betty Davis, is kidnapped and held for ransom
following her birthday. Her father offers a reward of $1,000 for her
return. A group of young boys led by Butch, imagine what they could do
with the reward and set out in search for Betty. Soon another group of
even younger children attempt to join the search, but are refused and
set out upon their own. A group of local girls soon join with Butch
and his gang. After several days with no results the gang once again
imagines what they will do with the money. Soon after they catch the
kidnappers napping, and rescue Betty. All of the children are invited
to Betty's house to celebrate, where they perform several song and
dance numbers. The Kidnappers Foil was produced in different cities
across the country over one hundred and thirty times.
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