100 YEARS AGO IN THE SARATOGIAN
Thursday, July 11, 1918. The Saratogian reports this afternoon that a Mrs. Brackenstone was hit by a car at the corner of Spring and Putnam streets this morning. The driver identifies himself as Samuel Campbell, and since Brackenstone isn’t badly hurt the story ends there after a single paragraph.
One column to the right, another paragraph reports that a wine-colored Overland automobile with license number 696.718 was stolen from Mechanicville last night. Shortly after publication, the Saratoga Springs police receive a phone tip that the stolen Overland can be found on Henry Street.
In the driver’s seat is “Samuel Campbell,” who now identifies himself as 18 year old Bernard Gardner of Mechanicville. He admits “borrowing” Campbell’s car and tells Detective Hugh S. Dorsey that he meant to return it after driving to Kaydeross Park.
After sleeping in the car overnight, Gardner drove into Saratoga Springs to fill the tank with gas, hitting Brackenstone along the way. With tank refilled he went back to Kaydeross before returning to the Spa City one time too many.
“Lack of nerve is certainly not one of the failings of Bernard Gardner,” a reporter writes tomorrow after the youth is arraigned for grand larceny and released into his father’s custody.
Ballston Spa Chautauqua
“Each day at the Chautauqua sees the attendance increase,” a Ballston Spa correspondent reports, but this may be the last year for the annual event unless it finds a new source of financial support.
A popular early 20th century entertainment format, Chautauqua is a traveling camp show that combines adult education and entertainment. Village businessmen have underwritten the Ballston Spa Chautauqua, but it’s announced tonight that they’re “no longer willing to shoulder the financial responsibility.”
When the master of ceremonies asks the audience if they want Chautauqua to return next year, opinion is “pretty unanimous” in favor, but when they’re asked if they want to provide financial support, “that was a horse of another color and few responded.”
Tonight’s program includes a performance by the Theresa Sheehan Concert company and “A Medley of Philosophy, Facts and Fun” by Denton C. Crowl.
What’s Happening
In the Spa City, William S. Hart stars in “The Narrow Trail” on the big screen at the Broadway Theatre, while the vaudeville bill features Nestor & Vincent and Kennedy, Sheridan & Day in “The Honeymooners.”
At the Palace, Carlyle Blackwell and Evelyn Greeley star in “Leap to Fame,” supplemented by a newsreel and a Harold Lloyd comedy short. At the Lyric, Monroe Sailsbury and Ruth Clifford star in “The Guilt of Silence” while Pearl White’s “House of Hate” serial continues.