F.W. Johannpeter and 1883 Bar Incident

great-grandpa-ellis

Frederick William Johannpeter (1839 – 1915) was my second great grandfather on my mother’s side.  He died 4 months before the birth of his grandson, Gilbert P. Ellis, who was my grandfather. Since he died before my grandfather was born, I had very limited information on him, when I started researching the family history.  Grandpa didn’t have any verbal history

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Mr. Moto’s Gamble (1938)

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Peter Lorre reprises his role as Mr. Kentaro Moto, Interpol Agent, in Mr. Moto’s Gamble (1938). James Tinling directed this film and Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1937). Tinling’s participation caused Lorre to portray Mr. Moto more like Inspector Chan with a little jujitsu thrown in. In this film, Mr. Moto teaches a criminal investigation class to several budding investigators including

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Lord Barrington Is Beaten Up

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Thief. Liar. Bigamist. Con Man. Murderer.  All accurate labels for one of the greatest charlatans to operate in St. Louis.  “Lord F. Seymour Barrington” was a bit of a local celebrity, if an extremely disreputable one, during 1903.  After conducting a bigamist marriage on the East Coast, “Lord Barrington” stole his wife’s trousseau and headed to St. Louis. When Barrington

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Sergeant York (1941)

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On September 27, 1941, Warner Brothers Film Corporation released Sergeant York (1941). The film (affiliate link) tells the story of Sergeant Alvin C. York, a reluctant World War I hero from the small town of Pall Mall, Tennessee. Western film veteran Gary Cooper stars as Sergeant York. The film begins with the contrast of a Sunday church service and the

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