The Kidnappers Foil: 1938 Duluth Footage

BadCat! Feb 13, 2013 3 Comments

Starting in the 1930s, Melton Barker traveled across the United States filming The Kidnappers Foil for the next 40 years. No, he did not take this long to film one movie, instead he filmed the same movie in every town that he visited, perhaps hundreds of times. I’m not sure if this was part of a “home movie” business plan, or if he was ripping people off with promises of fame, but nonetheless, it’s now part of movie history.

In 1938, he stopped by Duluth to film, and though the main film is missing, there are two scenes featuring Duluthians. Maybe you have a famous grandparent and never knew it?

More info:
NY Times article
Melton Barker/The Kidnappers Foil website

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3 Comments

Paul Lundgren

about 12 years ago 



Nice shot of the old downtown Glass Block store at Second Avenue West and Superior Street. It was torn down in 1981. U.S. Bank is there now.

Zenith City Online has a brief history of Glass Block.

Tony D.

about 12 years ago 

Bad Cat, do you have a specific date in 1938? I could research it for a "This Day in Duluth" for Zenith City. Thanks!

BadCat!

about 12 years ago 

Unfortunatly, I don't. The movie's website just lists 1938 and has the Minnesota Historical Society footage, but when I went to the MHS website, they have no information on it.

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