The Hoax House - Production & Contact Info

The Hoax House (1916)
Short | Drama, Short

The Hoax House (1916)

Short | Drama, Short

Frank King, a salesman for the "Nearly Ev'ry Kiss Company," has been called down for keeping late hours by the sales manager of the concern he is working for. Accordingly, King resolves to reform and we see him at his room in the hotel ...See moreFrank King, a salesman for the "Nearly Ev'ry Kiss Company," has been called down for keeping late hours by the sales manager of the concern he is working for. Accordingly, King resolves to reform and we see him at his room in the hotel getting himself up in his usual natty style. He then goes out and enters a candy store to make a sale. There he has a flirtation with a saleswoman and makes the acquaintance of a dashing vaudeville actress, Belle Adair. He has a most enjoyable time with the actress, and the next day is "fired" for coming in late. The actress also is "bounced" and she goes to consult King upon their becoming partners in some remunerative business. They open an occult office, and King, arrayed as a seer, tells their first customer, a simpering young woman, that she will soon be married to the man of her choice. King charges $10 for the "dope," and the woman goes away happy. The next customer is Henry Stewart, a dapper young man who suspects that his wife is guilty of infidelity towards him. King makes an appointment for him to return on Thursday and tells him that the fee in his case will be $1,000 for the answer. Belle having in the meantime obtained Stewart's name and address. The succeeding customer is Mrs. J.P. Ryan, a fastidious society woman. Belle obtains her name and address and ushers her into the occult chamber where she tells King that she is willing to pay $1,000 to find out whether her husband is true to her. Requiring time to obtain the requisite information, King puts her off like the previous customer and tells her to come back Thursday. King now starts out on his detective work. Disguised as a plumber, he ascertains that there is some sort of flirtation between Mrs. Ryan and her butler. After this, King starts out on his second bit of detective work, entering the Stewart household as an employee of the electric light company, which convinces him that Stewart is insanely jealous of his wife. King picks up a letter that Stewart has dropped while the butler is helping him on with his coat. On examination of the letter. King ascertains that Stewart is to meet some woman that evening who signs herself Frou Frou, and whose telephone is Morningside 8808. On the following Thursday, King receives Mrs. Ryan in his occult chamber which is located at his apartment at the hotel. Solemnly he looks into the crystal globe and says: "The stars tell me that your husband has a secret love affair. Frou Frou he calls her. A phone is ringing Morningside 8808." Mrs. Ryan hands King a roll of bills and leaves. Shortly afterwards Stewart arrives and King reveals to him that the stars have shown that his wife is infatuated with his butler. When Stewart has gone King gets stage fright and tells Belle he fears he hasn't told the right stories to the right parties. In the next scene we see Mrs. Ryan denouncing her husband for his affair with Frou Frou. Ryan is completely mystified. The scene then shifts to Stewart's home, where the butler happens to be lifting up Mrs. Stewart just after she has had a bad fall from her stepladder. Stewart bursts in and springs with rage at the butler's throat. The butler calls for help. A policeman rushes in and Stewart, his wife and the butler are taken to the station house. Next we see Frou Frou in her apartment. Mrs. Ryan calls and there is a violent quarrel, whereupon the maid telephones for the police. Meanwhile, King and Belle prepare for their immediate departure from the hotel after King has asked Belle whether she won't continue as his assistant for the rest of her life. Before Belle has had time to answer, a telegram arrives informing King that the "Nearly Ev'ry Kiss Company" wishes him to resume his job with a splendid raise. At the police station, Mrs. Ryan, Frou Frou, the Stewarts and the two butlers are arraigned before the lieutenant who concludes that "Bobo the Seer" (King's business cognomen ) is responsible for the domestic upheaval, and dispatches a policeman to go to the hotel and bring "Bobo" before him. The timely arrival of Mr. Ryan at the police station adds a sentimental finish to the scene. Ryan is astounded at the turn of events when wifie falls into his arms as does Mrs. Stewart into those of her better-half. The misunderstanding is explained. At the hotel, King and Belle anticipate the arrival of the cops by climbing out the window to the fire escape. They enter a taxicab, and as they drive off, King places his arm around Belle and says. "The stars tell me that you are to become Mrs. Bobo the Seer." Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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6 cast members

Name	Known for
King Baggot Frank King Frank King See fewer	Jim Webb, Senator (1914)
Edna Hunter Belle Adair Belle Adair See fewer	The Unchastened Woman (1918)
Joseph Dailey Mr. Ryan (as Joe Daily) Mr. Ryan (as Joe Daily) See fewer	Romeo and Juliet (II) (1916)
Nellie Slattery Mrs. Ryan Mrs. Ryan See fewer	The Mischief Maker (1916)
Wallis Clark Henry Stewart (as Wallis Clarke) Henry Stewart (as Wallis Clarke) See fewer	Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
Marie Weirman Mrs. Henry Stewart Mrs. Henry Stewart See fewer	The Marble Heart (1915)

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