The Bang Sun Engine
(New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford, No. 7)
R: James Gordon, Leopold Wharton, Theodore Wharton. B: George Randolph Chester (magazine cartoons), Charles W. Goddard (scenario), George B. Seitz (adaptation). K: Levi Bacon, Ray June. D: Burr McIntosh, Max Figman, Lolita Robertson, Frances White, Edward O’Connor. P: Wharton. USA 1915

“Before serials were shot in Hollywood, some were filmed in New York, New Jersey and Texas. The prolific Wharton brothers were involved with the filming of The Perils of Pauline and The Exploits of Elaine and shortly afterward, in 1915, began filming serials of their own including The Romance of Elaine, Beatrice Fairfax, The Mysteries of Myra,  Patria and The Eagle’s Eye. $1,000,000 Reward, an early serial with Charles ‘Ming the Merciless’ Middleton in the cast, and The Crooked Dagger were also filmed in Ithaca and/or at their studio.”
Ithaca-Made Movies

“After completion of the Pearl White serials, the Whartons began production on July 14th 1915 on a comedy based on George Randolph Chester’s mythical character James Wallingford. The stories ran in the Hearst owned Cosmopolitan Magazine several years earlier. The local papers announced that it would be 14-40 chapters in length possibly based on The Whartons recent success in the Elaine series. The first episode of the series had to establish the characters Jim Wallingford, Blackie Daws and Fanny Warden several other characters would be encountered as the episodes continued. (…) The first five episodes also have something else special about them. The appearance of a young Oliver Hardy in these episodes marks his debut in serial films. (…) Episode # 5 The Lilac Splash has been located. It has an appearance by Oliver Hardy who plays a would be burglar who gets caught in the act. He then has to play cards with his captors to secure his release. This rare footage filmed in Ithaca along with one reel from episode # 7 The Bang Sun Engine and a complete episode # 13 The Missing Heir are all that remain from the 14 chapters filmed in Ithaca. (…)  The Pathé company had been using the Wharton Inc. for its productions for more than a year. Hearst had arranged with Charles Pathé the extensive use of his media outlets to advertise Pathé film productions and in turn Pathé would accommodate Hearsts’ desires on some productions. In 1916, Hearst would do it all by himself, by forming The International Film Service. He also would continue to use the Whartons as producers and directors knowing of their recent successes.”
Ithaca-Made Movies

Max Figman and Burr McIntosh