Cactus Jim & The Auction Sale of Run Down Ranch (both Selig Polyscope, 1915)

Run Down Ranch concerns Bill Herrick (Pat Chrisman, a regular) and his wife Vicky (Forde) who decide to sell up, so they go into town to arrange the sale, where Bill nips off unobserved (he thinks) to buy booze, which he hides from his wife. She, however, is fully aware of the reprobate’s actions, and pours kerosene into the liquor jug, a mean act if ever there was one. The caption assures us that “man proposes but woman disposes”, doubtless true.

.

Now there appears on the scene a potential buyer, Isaac Goldplate, a figure that would today be found offensively anti-semitic. Isaac happens on the spot where Bill has spat out the disgusting kerosene-polluted whiskey and is convinced that he has detected oil sands, so he offers the huge sum of $5000 for the ranch and hands over a check, at which Bill faints. Isaac later discovers that there is no oil after all and sets off to stop the check at the bank but cowboy Tom now steps in. He gets hold of the check, cashes it, and splits the proceeds with Bill and Vicky. Tom, Bill, Vicky and ranch hand Sid Jordan all laugh at the unfortunate Jew (who obviously – according to 1915 Western lore – deserves to be cheated as he is Jewish). The End.