Philander Barclay in 1919. Studio portrait by George E. Birdsall. Photo from The Oakparker, November 11, 1927.
The Barclay Blog
A detailed exploration of the life of Philander Walker Barclay (1878 - 1940),
bicycle mechanic and Oak Park's first Village Historian.
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Philander Barclay as he appeared in the Oak Leaves, November 13, 1903.
Silent Film Day 2025
By Anna-Maria Manuel
Published September 29, 2025.
Happy National Silent Film Day, “an annual day dedicated to celebrating and preserving silent movies”! [1]
So, just what does Philander Barclay, the Village Historian, have to do with Silent Film Day?
A few years ago, while going through digitized pages of Holly Leaves, a Hollywood, California newspaper founded by Orren M. Donaldson, I noticed an article introducing Philander Barclay to the newspaper’s readers. [2] It was this part of the 1922 article that made me start wondering, “What film?”
Much of [Barclay’s historical] material has been used this year by the Atlas Film Company of Oak Park in the production of a historical motion picture of that region. [3]
I never knew that! Wow, does the silent film still exist? Sadly, the reality is that “roughly 75% of American silent films are believed to be lost forever.” [4] So, there’s probably not much hope that the film still exists. If it is still out there somewhere, it may be in rough condition and/or incomplete.
Unfortunately, Donaldson did not mention the title of the film. Well, it’s difficult to start looking for a film without knowing its title. In fact, it’s hard to write anything informative without knowing the title. Looking for any information about the film was placed “on the back burner” quickly.
1. https://silentmovieday.org/; accessed 20250929.
2. Barclay closed his Oak Park bicycle business in late 1921 and moved to Hollywood, California. He opened a bicycle shop there, hoping to take advantage of the year-round bicycle season. Barclay returned to Oak Park in the second half of 1926.
Before retiring, moving to California, and founding the Holly Leaves, Donaldson was the Editor and Publisher of Oak Leaves, in Oak Park, Illinois. Donaldson knew Barclay from his days at Oak Leaves and had great respect for him, often reporting or commenting favorably on his Village-Historian and community-oriented activities in the Oak Leaves. For example, see:
“Historic Album”; Oak Leaves; November 13, 1903; pg. 25
“Let Your Light Shine”; Oak Leaves; March 21, 1914; unnumbered page.
If there were a sticking point between Donaldson and Barclay, it was the local Sunday blue laws. Barclay was in favor of keeping movie theaters (and pool halls) open on Sundays, whereas Donaldson was not. See editorial:
“Sunday Opening in Oak Park” Oak Leaves; June 7, 1913; pg. 14.
3. Holly Leaves; Hollywood, California; July 1, 1922; pg. 67.
4. “AFI Catalog Spotlight: The Recent Discovery of a Lost Silent Film”; April 1, 2024; https://www.afi.com/news/afi-catalog-spotlight-the-recent-discovery-of-a-lost-silent-film/; accessed September 28, 2025.
A Discovery
Recently, while looking for an Atlas Educational Film Company movie concerning the Scoville Institute (Oak Park Public Library), I stumbled upon a 1939 news story about two churches in Oak Park, First Evangelical and Grace Episcopal, showing an Atlas movie made “about twenty years ago.” The film highlighted “Oak Park people, institutions and buildings.” [5] Again, no title was mentioned in the article, but it did seem like a good lead, because the movie was produced in the right time frame — the early 1920s. I decided to search digitized Oak Leaves pages from that time.
After a little research, I think I found the film!
An ad for the locally-produced silent film, “The Romance of Oak Park.” From: Oak Leaves; January 28, 1922; pg. 33.
5. “Churches Show Atlas Movies Taken About 1920”; Oak Leaves; November 9, 1939; pg. 3.
Timeline
Perhaps, the best way to tell the story of the film is through the timeline that follows.
September 24, 1921: Oak Leaves announced that Arthur Berthelet (October 12,1879 – September 16, 1949), formerly a director at Essanay Studios in Chicago [6], was directing an Atlas Educational Film Company movie “intended to be a pictorial history of Oak Park and its people and institutions.” [7] The movie — “a pictorial history of Oak Park” — sounds like something for which Barclay could have supplied photographs.
October 1, 1921: After the Oak Leaves’ announcement about the film, Berthelet received photos, letters, and “other material” for use in the historical film. [8]
January 7, 1922: Oak Leaves announced the premiere of the film at First Congregational Church (“First Church”) on February 2 and 3. The film was six reels in length and “historical and current.” The film had not been named yet. Atlas Educational Film Company offered a $25 prize to the person submitting the selected title. According to the article, “The title must be comprehensible to people who never before heard of Oak Park.” [9]
January 21, 1922: Winifred Olson of 951 Lake Street won the $25 prize! Her winning film title: “The Romance of Oak Park.”
Judges for the contest were: I. R. Rehm, President of Atlas Educational Film Company; J. M. Boggs, Vice President; S. A. Van Petten, Director of Research; and A. E. Gundelach, Director of Circulation.
Other titles that received the judges’ “favorable comments”: “Mirrors of Oak Park,” “The Wonder Village,” and “Oak Park, Past and Present” [10]
January 28, 1922: “The Romance of Oak Park” will be shown on the evenings of February 2 and 3 at First Church. Admission: 50 cents, adults; 25 cents, high school age and younger. [11]
According to the Oak Leaves:
The picture originated about a year ago, when C. A. Rehm, secretary of the Atlas Company, realized the need of showing those who live here and work in Chicago a few of the things which are going on in their neighborhood; in fact, give a general review of Oak Park today. . . .
A topographical model was specially prepared to emphasize the lay of the land, and the section of Joliet's old map gives a bit of early record. As far as possible the spirit of the first settlers has been brought in to establish the ideals upon which the present village has been built. In comparing the new with the old, several important institutions have willingly contributed most interesting detail. The school system and religious organizations have been carefully interwoven with many beautiful scenes in the various sections of the village. [12]
Part of the proceeds of the film will fund an annual film about Oak Park, which will be preserved “in the archives” [Whose archives? Atlas’?] for “future use.” [13]
Full-page ad for “The Romance of Oak Park,” an “Historical and Present Day Picture.” Oak Leaves; February 4, 1922; pg. 31.
February 4, 1922: “The Romance of Oak Park” shown at Grace Episcopal Church’s Parish House will include “special music in connection with the film.” It is not clear whether the music accompanied the silent film (silent films weren't silent; they typically had a musical accompaniment) or was part of a concert. [14]
February 11, 1922: Additional screening of “The Romance of Oak Park” at First Methodist Church on February 28. [15]
February 18, 1922: Additional screening of the film at Hawthorne School on February 24. [16]
Less than a month of showings in local churches and schools — that was the extent of the movie's run. Then, there was the above-mentioned short “revival" in 1939 when parts of the movie were played. Fairly impressive for a film with limited audience appeal — Oak Park and River Forest residents.
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Berthelet; accessed September 29, 2025.
7. Oak Leaves; September 24, 1921; pg. 60.
8. Oak Leaves; October 1, 1921; pg. 20.
9. Oak Leaves; January 7, 1922; pg. 30.
10. Oak Leaves; January 21, 1922; pg. 3.
11. Oak Leaves; January 28, 1922; pg. 52.
12. Oak Leaves; January 28, 1922; pg. 42.
13. Oak Leaves; January 28, 1922; pg. 42.
14. Oak Leaves; February 4, 1922; pg. 50.
15. Oak Leaves; February 11, 1922; pg. 37.
16. Oak Leaves; February 18, 1922; pg. 45.
On this Silent Movie Day, I believe “The Romance of Oak Park” could very well have been the historical movie about Oak Park to which Barclay contributed his photographs.
Do keep your eyes open for the film! Maybe it's out there — somewhere.
“The Romance of Oak Park”
Directed by Arthur Berthelet.
Released 1922.
Produced by the Atlas Educational Film Company, Oak Park, Illinois.
Six reels.
Silent.