MARVELOUS AND MYSTIFYING!

On this day in 1908, a few select Chicagoans got to watch the first horror movie in American history when a cinematic interpretation of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was shown at the Windy City’s Dime Theater, which the print ad described as “the pretty little amusement temple on Alder Street”. That advertisement was breathless in its enthusiasm for the film, saying it was “Thrilling in its Wonderful Realistic Qualities” and “MARVELOUS AND MYSTIFYING IN ITS MAGNIFICENCE”. To enjoy this unique experience, movie goers had to part with one thin dime - or about $3.62 in today’s money. Then, as now, a large bucket of popcorn and a medium soft drink would run you about $49.95, but on the up-side, you didn’t have to sit through 30 minutes of insipid trailers because there weren’t any other movies. There is however a great huge problem with that particular Jekyll and Hyde movie and it’s this.