Reporting on “a rOMANCE OF THE aIR” (1918)

A Romance of the Air (1918) is a long-forgotten gem of early American cinema, based on En L’Air, the memoir of Lieutenant Bert Hall, one of the original American “Aces” of WWI’s Lafayette Escadrille. Hall wasn’t just a daring aviator—he was also a modest visitor to Ithaca in 1918, where he quietly discussed plans to turn his war stories into a motion picture with the Wharton Studio, nestled right on the shores of Cayuga Lake.

In collaboration with local film legends Theodore and Leopold Wharton, and under the direction of French cinema innovator Harry Revier, A Romance of the Air brought Hollywood-style spectacle to the Finger Lakes. Broadway starlet Edith Day, fresh from her role in Going Up, brought both charm and gravitas to the screen—one more stage-to-silent-screen crossover that helped define an era. Read on to discover the newspaper clippings from the Ithaca Journal in 1918 that led up to the film release.

Clipping 1: “Famous American Aviator Spends Day in Ithaca”

Lieut. Bert Hall, One of Two Survivors of Famous Lafayette Escadrille, is Guest of the Whartons—Interested in the "Movies."

Although, perhaps the least conspicuous, one of the most distinguished visitors in Ithaca yesterday was Lieutenant Bert Hall, an American aviator who when he was with the French flying corps came near “getting” the Kaiser.

The reason for the lieutenant’s visit was not fully divulged, but because he was the guest of the Whartons it might be a close guess that it had something to do with the possibility of Wharton, Inc., reproducing in motion pictures this famous flier’s experiences, as told in his book entitled “En l’air.”

Had Chance at Kaiser

Accompanied by his business manager Carle E. Carleton of the Crest Pictures Company, Lieutenant Hall came to Ithaca yesterday with Leo D. Wharton who has been in New York for the last week. They were in conference with Theodore W. Wharton all day and left last night for New York.

While here the hero of the Sofia raid on the Kaiser’s headquarters, visited the Wharton studio and the Thomas-Morse aviation plants. He had little to say about himself or his visit, but admitted that he was anxious to have his experiences told in pictures.

Including that thrilling experience when he dropped three bombs in the vicinity of the King’s palace at Sofia, where the Kaiser was housed, Lieutenant Hall has probably had a longer and more distinguished experience in the world war than any other American. He is one of two survivors—William Thaw is the other—of the famous Lafayette Escadrille. Two days after war broke out he offered his services to France, although he was an American, born in Bowling Green, Ky., and for three years he served on and above the front. He participated in more than 100 battles, killed nine Germans in the air and won seven decorations from France, Russia and Roumania.

The lieutenant is a modest chap and did not attract much attention here yesterday, but Ithaca may come to know him better if “En l’air” is reproduced by the Whartons.

Clipping 2: “‘En L’Air’ Director Leader in Moviedom”

Harry Revier, Who Will Produce Picture Here, Has International Reputation.

One of the outstanding figures in the progress and development of motion picture productions, a pioneer in the increasingly popular cinema art and a director of international reputation—such is Harry Revier of New York, who is in Ithaca to direct the filming of the feature war spectacle, “En l’Air” for the concern bearing that name, which has leased the Wharton studio at Renwick Park.

The producers of “En l’Air,” a war drama depicting the air exploits of Lieutenant Bert Hall, one of the original American “Aces” with the Lafayette Escadrille in France, express themselves as unusually fortunate in securing Mr. Revier to handle the directing end of the picture. Mr. Revier is laying preliminary plans now for the actual filming of the photoplay beginning next week.

Mr. Revier is a Frenchman and before coming to this country several years ago, he already had established his reputation as a director of unusual capability. He has reached exceptional heights in filmland, especially in the direction of productions of historical spectacles, requiring mammoth preparations, settings and scenes. He had charge while abroad of such films as “The Burning of Rome,” the “Fall of Troy,” and the “Fall of Pompeii.” He was connected with both the Ambrosia and DuMont film corporations, the largest on the continent.

Directed American Stars.

Since coming to the United States Mr. Revier has directed such stars as Mme. Petrova, Mme. Nazimova, Edmund Breese, Lillian Walker and others. He has produced nothing but the so-called super-features, his last two pictures being “The Lust of Ages” and the dramatization of David Graham Phillips’ famous novel, “The Grain of Dust.”

Mr. Revier is recognized as a leading director and from advance preparations for “En l’Air,” he promises to add to his reputation as a result of the play produced here.

Mr. Revier combines the unusual qualities of broad artistic appreciation with exceptional dramatic qualifications and as a result of his foreign training, is able to add a touch to his work seldom achieved by other directors. His success is chiefly the result of long and careful study of the motion picture business. He has erected several studios of his own and in addition is well qualified in the developing and dark room branches of the work.

“The Devil at His Elbow” was the first picture produced under Mr. Revier’s direction after his arrival in this country and his fame was secure as soon as it was released. He has been connected with the Metro corporation, the Popular Players and was one of the first to establish the name of Cecil B. DeMille as a producer of first rank.

Clipping 3: “Leading Woman of Musical Comedy to Star in Film Here”

Miss Edith Day, Prima Donna Last Season in “Going Up,” New York Hit, Takes Prominent Role in “En l’air”—Has Had Unusual Rise to Success.

Another musical comedy star who has responded to the call of the camera and screen is Miss Edith Day, leading lady of the Broadway success, “Going Up,” who is now playing opposite Lieutenant Bert Hall in the filming of the war picture, “En l’air” at the Whartons’ Renwick studio. Though Miss Day’s stage career has been brief—she is still in her teens—it has been sufficient for her to establish an enviable reputation. And now she bids fair to continue her success in filmland.

Miss Day possesses the grace, charm and personality to bring her rapidly to the fore in the movies. Her appearance in “En l’air” is the second she has made before the camera—her part with Lillian Walker in David Graham Phillips’ novel, “The Grain of Dust” was the first—but she is taking her role with the ease and finesse of a long practiced artist. Miss Day is under contract with Carle E. Carleton, president of the corporation producing the movie here, for a period of 10 years and it was through him that she was able to secure a brief respite from her work in “Going Up” to come here. Within a week or two she will return to the metropolis to continue in the play which has been running continuously at the Liberty Theater since last November.

Miss Day created the prima donna role in “Going Up,” which is a Tierney and Harris production. She opened the play at Atlantic City in October and after short runs in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, it is expected that she will be in it the remainder of the season. Her “Tinkle Tinkle” solo number, one of the current musical comedy song hits, has been the feature of the performance night after night.

While still in her teens, Miss Day was brought into prominence from her home town in the west by Mr. Carleton. She proved herself to be possessed of unusual talent and today after several metropolitan seasons, is regarded as one of the most promising musical comedy players in New York.

Played One Season With Anna Held.

Her first appearance was with Emika Hajos in “Pom Pom,” in which she was understudy to the prima donna. Her next part was with Anna Held in “Follow Me” as ingénue and prima donna. She played the entire 1916–17 season with the famous star in New York. Her first prima donna role was in “The Six Little Widows,” which appeared next year at the Astor Theater. Frank Lawler was the star of the piece.

Miss Day stepped into the leading woman’s role of “Going Up” in most unusual circumstances. After three different prima donnas had failed to meet the demand of the producers, she tried out with only 24 hours’ notice and carried off the honors.

The third in the cast of the play is

Lertora Also in Movies.

Another member of the “Going Up” company also comes in connection with the filming of “En l’air.” Joe Lertora, who played the part of the French aviator in the musical comedy so ably, is taking the same role in the movie with equal success. Mr. Lertora is the son of Andrew Dertora, known as the “Marshmallow King” but the lure of the stage proved stronger than that of a business career. Mr. Lertora is a baritone. He created the role of the prince in the musical comedy “Princess Pat” and has taken other parts of note. Next season he is scheduled to take a leading role with Eleanor Painter in “Glorianna,” to be produced by John Cort.