Remember This? The Sault meets Hollywood

From the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library archives:

Sault Ste. Marie residents have become accustomed to seeing movies being filmed on our streets, but in 1922 it was a big deal for the ‘Soo’.  

The Rapids, a silent black and white photo play was filmed in the Sault Ste. Marie area between July and September in 1922 and was based on Alan Sullivan’s book of the same name. 

Alan Sullivan was the son of Bishop Sullivan and lived in the area for a number of years. 

He viewed Clergue as a hero and recounted a public meeting in 1902 where the crowds gathered simply to get a glimpse of Clergue, a scene which was depicted in the movie.   

The Rapids was a fictionalized story loosely based on Francis Hector Clergue and his impact on the early development of the city. 

Producer Ernest Shipman and Director David M. Hartford were involved in the project and many local residents and familiar locations were used during the filming process including the front of Captain Harry Sargeant’s home at 1066 Queen Street East, located between McGregor Avenue and Upton Road. 

Street scenes were shot in Thessalon, with many at the site of the Queen’s Royal Hotel on the north east corner of Huron and Main Streets.

Inside scenes were shot on stages that were built inside the (Gouin Street) Arena Rink, which is near the area of the current Centennial Library. 

The rink also served as the movie headquarters. 

Of course, the St. Mary’s River Rapids was featured prominently in the storyline for the movie, including a scene showing the main character rescuing a baby from the rapids.

The cast for the movie was headlined by Mary Astor and Harry Morey and also included child actress, Peggy Rice, Walter Miller, Harlan Knight, Charles Slattery, Charles Wellesley and John Webb Dillon. 

Many locals had the opportunity to play extras in the movie with thirty people from the Garden River Reserve including Mrs. Clarke, daughter of the original Chief Shingwauk playing the role of the wife of Chief Shingwauk.  

The scenes shot in Thessalon included locals, Henry Feltham, Joseph Rogers, Angus Taylor, Jack Lobban, Thomas Dodds Jr., Sam Marks, William Wicket, Mrs. R. Wyman (and her buggy), Sam Hagen, Captain King and John Jackson.

Production staff requested that the “extras” leave their “smart cut” clothes at home and wear older, worn clothes to the set.

In a Sault Star article prior to the release of the movie, The Rapids was described as a “big, strong, well balanced picture conveying in a subtle way much of the spirit of the Sault of the old days.  It will undoubtedly be a popular picture because there is a big worth-while story in it, even for people who have never heard of Sault Ste. Marie.  It grips the hearts of all Sault people.”

The film was released in October of 1922 at the Orpheum Theatre on Queen Street to a “jam-packed” crowd.

Admission for the evening presentation was 50¢ plus 5¢ War Tax for adults and children were admitted for 25¢ plus 2¢ War Tax. 

The film went on to be shown in about 125 cities.  

The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library has copies of the original book by Alan Sullivan in its archive collection but unfortunately no copy of the movie exists in the library’s collection.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here.