"Resurrection" at Star Theater, Corvallis, 1909

This article appeared in the Corvallis Daily Gazette in June 1909. The article discusses the recent motion picture to arrive in Corvallis, Resurrection. As the article describes the motion picture was adapted from Tolstoi’s novel which the article describes as “melancholy.” Resurrection was a free adaption directed D.W. Griffith and produced by Biograph.

Resurrection at the Star Theater, Corvallis, 1909
Corvallis Daily Gazette, June 26, 1909. Newspapers.com.

The article goes on to pronounce how it is interesting to see the story acted out in front of viewers rather than just on paper. Seeing as motion pictures were still a relatively new and developing technology by 1909 seeing stories that audiences have only read would have been an exciting and new concept.

The article continues on to quote the Motion Picture World and its review of the film and its original impact on audiences in New York. The film seems to have sparked interest in New York audiences. It is noteworthy that this article chooses to incorporate this ambiguous quote about the showing of the film in New York. During this time New York still had a very prominent role in the motion picture industry therefore one would imagine it being just as important as quoting how the release of a film in Hollywood went today. The quoted passage adds how Biograph did a great job of depicting the story and the characters as compared to the “original play” as well as a great admiration for an actress’s emotions towards the camera.

Resurrection item continued at the Star Theater, Corvallis, 1909
Corvallis Daily Gazette, June 26, 1909. Newspapers.com.

This article appeared in the Gazette on June 26, 1909, and as it states the film had premiered the night before at the Star Theater in Corvallis. According to the American Film Institute CatalogResurrection premiered May 20, 1909, meaning that this film reached Corvallis only about a month after its original release. This indicated that Corvallis would have been a prominent town for viewing films. Around 1909 there is only mention of one other theater in Corvallis which is the Palace theater which does not seem to have shown Biograph’s Resurrection.