The Amateur Iceman - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

James Westcott and John Baxter are two business acquaintances. Baxter has a daughter, Betty, whose indolent habits are a source of displeasure. One day she dresses herself as a maid and determines to demonstrate that she can be useful. ...See moreJames Westcott and John Baxter are two business acquaintances. Baxter has a daughter, Betty, whose indolent habits are a source of displeasure. One day she dresses herself as a maid and determines to demonstrate that she can be useful. Westcott has a son, Roy, who is busily engaged in sowing wild oats. Wescott's patience finally becomes exhausted, and he demands that Roy shall go to work, starting at the bottom by driving one of his father's ice wagons. Roy consents. Among the houses where Roy delivers ice is Baxter's. He sees Betty, and falls in love with her. That night he calls on her in his character of iceman. The romance progresses until one hot day when Baxter meets Westcott and invites him to his front porch to have a cool drink. Betty, in her role of maid, goes to prepare it. Finding the ice box empty, she steps out on the rear porch to see if the iceman is coming. Roy appears with a great cake of ice and the young people stop to chat. The cake of ice slowly melts away under the hot sun, while Baxter and Westcott swelter on the front porch. The delay finally becomes unbearable and Baxter decides to investigate. He reaches the rear porch just as Roy is about to kiss Betty. He orders Betty into the house, and turns on Roy, and indignantly orders him off. Baxter rejoins Westcott on the front porch where they discuss the impudent iceman, while Ellen, the cook, serves them a warm drink containing the little piece of ice Roy has left. Roy cannot understand Baxter's action. Thoroughly angry, he determines to go back and get Betty and elope with her. He finds her in the kitchen, and she consents to go. Just as they are leaving, Ellen tells Baxter and Westcott that the iceman has stolen Betty. Roy places Betty in the ice wagon and drives off. The pursuers are being distanced when the help of a passing automobile enables them to overtake the fugitives. Betty sits on the back steps of the wagon and weeps while Baxter heaps abuse on Roy. Westcott discovers the identity of the iceman, and taking exception to Baxter's language, indignantly asks if his son is not good enough for Baxter's maid. Baxter reports that Betty is his daughter. Baxter and Westcott are not averse to such an alliance, they see the humor of the situation, and everyone is satisfied. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less