Lost Film Found - Recently Uncovered 100+ Year Old Maine Film Screening

Edgar Jones was a film producer, director, and actor who set up his own film studio in Augusta in 1919. He brought with him a company of actors and film technicians and they all lived together at 129 Sewall Street. Jones made 25 two-reel “north woods” films between 1919 and 1921 before he was forced out of his own company. The company then went bust within six months. There were other silent film companies in New England, but the Jones company was the only studio with its own company of actors.

Belgrade resident and local film restoration expert, Ed Lorusso, recently uncovered a lost copy of the 1920 Edgar Jones film, "In the River." It had been "lost" to the years, miscataloged by the Library of Congress with the wrong title. This harrowing tale of a "mail order bride" who travels to Maine to meet her prospective husband stars Evelyn Brent and Carlton Brickert. It originally premiered at the Colonial Theater in Augusta as part of a series of films made in Maine by Edgar Jones Productions.

Ed will be re-premiering this "lost" film in its original venue, the Augusta Colonial Theater, as it was originally intended, with musical accompaniment, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. The film itself is only 20 minutes long, so Ed will also be showing two additional Edgar Jones films, "Cupid, Registered Guide," and "Caught in the Rapids." For only $10 you will get to experience this lost piece of art with live music in the venue where it originally premiered!

Noted silent film accompaniast, Jeff Rapsis, has played at the last two Augusta Colonial Theater Silent Film Festivals, both of which took place at Johnson Hall. This will be the first appearance by Jeff at the Augusta Colonial Theater itself.

The Augusta Colonial Theater operated as a silent movie house from 1913-1929, then showed first-run films with state-of-the-art sound until it closed1969. After years of neglect and use as a storgae warehouse, a concerned group of ctizens rallied to save the historic theater from the wrecking ball. After being named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014, efforts began to not only save the building, but to restore and expand the theater so it can again become an arts and cultural hub in our state's capital!

Though under restoration and not yet operational, the theater tries to open to the public for tours, special events and fundraising. Please be sure to read the venue information portion of the website for an accurate description of what to expect while visiting the theater.

Info: Directed by and starring Edgar Jones as a forest “cupid” who tries to bring together a young woman (Edna May Sperl) and her true love (Carlton Brickert) despite her stern father’s (Augusta’s own William Peavey) wishes and legal paperwork. Beware the legend of the Tallywhoppus!

Info: Directed by and starring Edgar Jones as man who saves his love (Edna May Sperl) from the deadly rapids after she foolishly sets forth in her canoe with a harvest of lilacs but without a paddle. And what does he get as a reward for his bravery? The finale was filmed at Ripogenus Gorge.

Info: Newly found lost film directed by and starring Edgar Jones. When a “mail-order bride” (Evelyn Brent) arrives in Maine to marry her prospective husband, she gets an unpleasant surprise in meeting a crude bully and his jealous spurned girlfriend. Filmed on Cobbossee Stream in West Gardiner.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Augusta Colonial Theater, 139 Water Street, Augusta, United States