Still images from the film:
As written by Regina Feeney: "The Governor's Boss was a 1915 silent motion picture which was financed by Freeporters and included about 30 scenes filmed in the village. The movie was based on the book of the same title written by James S. Barcus. Barcus, a former senator from Indiana and newspaper journalist, was inspired to write the book by the impeachment trial of New York State governor William Sulzer. In the movie version, Sulzer played himself.
The movie follows the career of a governor who has made it clear that he will not follow the orders of party boss Hiram Tally. Whereas the governor is seen refusing the overtures of women, the boss is seen collecting bribes from brothels and dive bars. The boss threatens the governor with impeachment. The boss's son, Archie Tally, approaches the governor; he claims the boss will drop the impeachment if the governor allows Archie to marry the governor's daughter, Edith. The governor refuses. Ruth, a woman "ruined" by Archie, uses a dictograph and moving picture machine to gather evidence against the boss. Ruth rushes to the court with the evidence, but with a nod to the boss, the impeachment judge refuses to allow a postponement and the governor is impeached on the first ballot...
The film was produced by the Governor's Boss Photo Play Company of which, J. Huyler Ellison was the president. Directors of the company included: David Sutherland, Charles E. Whitehouse, Edward Uhe, Dr. William Runcie, Leonard S. Mabee, Joseph Hegeman, and Stephen Pettit. The company incorporated with $30,000 in capital...
Freeport locations included the Freeport train station, the sidewalk in front of the Freeport Bank, and the home of Dr. George A. Newton at 50 Brooklyn Avenue. Supposedly, the film also included scenes filmed in Rockville Centre, Albany, and Jersey City... On June 2nd and 3rd of 1915, The Governor's Boss was shown at the Plaza Theatre. The matinee price was 10 and 15 cents with evening admission set at 15 and 20 cents."
Additional information about the film and the early 20th century history of Freeport, as penned by Regina Feeney, can be found here. An IMDb entry related to the film can be found here.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on July 15, 2025.