Wow. I've heard the term "itinerant filmmaker" before, but thought they just made simple documentary-style films about each town they traveled to, for a fee, and then showed them in the local theaters. I can't think of another instance of a narrative film being re-done so many times, (the website lists 50 separate productions of 'Kidnapper's Foil!') I'm sure if they ever track them all down, Criterion might consider releasing a 50-disc DVD boxed set. That'd be a mind-blowing 4-day viewing experience, no? ...better than Warhol's "Empire!" I'd watch it. I wish Ms. Frick and her team the best of luck, even in knowing film stock from back then doesn't age well. But still, what a fascinating story!

Around 1940 I participated in a movie which was made in Vernon, Texas, and later shown in a Vernon theater. I was about 10 years of age at the time the movie was shot, which involved a numer of children near my age. I'm sure it was a Melton Barker movie and I remember the plot of the movie was a kidnapping. My parents paid $10 for me to appear in the movie. I remember that my parents took me to Vernon (approximately 14 miles from my hometown of Chillicothe) to see the movie, which lasted perhaps 30 minutes. A Shirley Temple movie was the main attraction.

Around 1940 I participated in a movie which was made in Vernon, Texas, and later shown in a Vernon theater. I was about 10 years of age at the time the movie was shot, which involved a numer of children near my age. I'm sure it was a Melton Barker movie and I remember the plot of the movie was a kidnapping. My parents paid $10 for me to appear in the movie. I remember that my parents took me to Vernon (approximately 14 miles from my hometown of Chillicothe) to see the movie, which lasted perhaps 30 minutes. A Shirley Temple movie was the main attraction.