The sudden death of Thomas Stanley, a successful but ‘extravagant’ man leaves his wife, son and daughter in difficult circumstances. They search for boarders to help make ends meet. What follows is a morality tale about the importance of properly addressing letters and parcels. The consequences of not doing so are wide-reaching and in some cases, extreme. But everything works out in the end. This film operates at many levels; addressing letters and parcels accurately was no doubt important to the efficiency of the post office. But, without a job, Frank nearly loses his fiancé. The characterization of requiring boarders to make ends meet is also interesting.

“Mailing Trouble”, 1929, film, 14 minutes 56 seconds, Graphic Consultants collection, accession number 1972-0105, item number ISN 108891, Library and Archives Canada.

Film editing by Annie Slotnick. Musical direction by Ewen Farncombe.

Songs:

Jones Law Blues - Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra vol.3 (Black & White Vol.99, 1929)

Loose Like A Goose - Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra vol.3 (Black & White

Vol.99, 1929)

Boot It - Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra vol.3 (Black & White Vol.99, 1929)

Every Day Blues - Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra vol.3 (Black & White Vol.99, 1929)

Band Box Shuffle - Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra vol.3 (Black & White Vol.99, 1929)

Further Discussion

For a discussion of relationships in this era see, Azoulay, Dan. Hearts and Minds: Canadian Romance at the Dawn of the Modern Era, 1900–1930. University of Calgary Press, 2011