100 years ago in Spokane: The Hollywood of the north? Talks continued of movie-making in the area

Spokane still had not given up on its dream to become Hollywood North.

In the latest development, the Playter Film Co. announced plans to make several movies at the studios of the bankrupt Washington Motion Picture Corp. at Minnehaha.

Wellington Playter acquired the studio some time ago, and he announced he had secured investors and wiped out the company’s debt.

He said his first films, “Riders of the Storm” and “By Right of Possession,” were in the planning stages and would be filmed in January.

“Both of these stories require beautiful scenic effects and unusual ‘shoots’ in deep snow and heavy timber,” Playter said. “We believe our locale is the best in the country for these outdoor pictures.”

He had cast Irving Cummings, a “nationally known movie artist,” to star in the films.

Cummings was indeed a well-known leading man, and later a successful director. But neither of these two movies would be made.

From the police beat: Earl Kelly, a well-known “bad man,” had twice foiled police.

The first time, he was shot by a detective but survived and fled. The next time, he overpowered three deputies in St. Maries and escaped.

The third time, however, his luck ran out.

A patrolman saw Kelly enter the Empire Hotel in Spokane. He followed him, because Kelly was wanted on a grand larceny warrant.

The officer walked into Kelly’s room, where Kelly was preparing for bed. Kelly, wearing only his underwear, ran out another door. Kelly ran down two flights of stairs, followed by the officer, who started shooting.

Once outside, Kelly ran two blocks and might have escaped. But then he took a corner too fast, fell down and was collared by the officer.