From the Logan Democrat of Logan, WV, come these stories of movie productions centered on Logan County in 1916:

“ARACOMA” PLEASES CRITICAL CROWDS

The showing of the film version of “The Story of Aracoma,” as produced in this section with home talent by the Mountaineer Films Corporation, at the Bennett theatre yesterday afternoon and night, and at the Colonial theatre today, has created somewhat of a furor among local movie audiences and the general impression is that the big five reel production is a worthy first effort and it has aroused the greatest interest in the future productions of the film organization.

Most of those who attended the exhibitions of the picture yesterday went in a super-critical mood, ever ready, as is generally the case with so-called home talent productions, to pick flaws and ridicule. However, there were not only soon converted to the fact that there are great possibilities in the local talent, but that the picture they had come to pick apart was really deserving of praise instead, and as a general rule they came away with their slight criticisms buried deep in spontaneous enthusiasm over what they had witnessed. The picture is a splendid first effort, especially when the drawbacks and production troubles incident to a performance of other days and types, is considered, even with the big companies and professional people, and but for the hazy impression given off that the film was rather hurriedly prepared and hardly close enough attention was given to the dramatic possibilities of the story, the offering is a delightful one and will pleas any audience.

The scenery afforded by these West Virginia hills is beautifully depicted and bountifully bears out the oft-repeated contention that no place in the broad universe is better suited to moving picture plays so far as scenic effects are concerned than the hills and dales of our own Logan county.

Source: Logan (WV) Democrat, 2 November 1916.

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TRIANGLE PICTURES REPRESENTATIVE HERE

J.T. Richardson, who is connected with the producing end of the famous Triangle motion pictures, spent Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Logan city and county looking over the situation with the view of securing topical locations for the use of his company, and conferring with Messrs. Reid and Schuster of the Vistagraph Company producing staff concerning their six reel feature “The Heritage of the Hills,” which is now being filmed in local settings.

Mr. Richarsdon visited Omar and other points in the county and was much impressed with the scenery to be found in this section, but he expressed the doubt that it could be made available to any great extent at this time by the larger companies owing to its inaccessibility and the large transportation expense. He did, however, pronounce it ideal for a home company, and was enthusiastic over the prospects of Vistagraph’s first release.

Source: Logan (WV) Democrat, 16 November 1916.