The Chechahcos
The Chechahcos is a 1924 American silent adventure drama film about the gold rush days in the Klondike. Chechahco, more commonly spelled cheechako, is a Chinook Jargon word for "newcomer", and the film focuses on a group of would-be prospectors sailing for Alaska. The film was directed by Lewis H. Moomaw and produced by Austin E. Lathrop, who himself was once a prospector. The film was distributed by Associated Exhibitors. The film was the first shot on location in Alaska.
Plot
A ship headed towards the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s catches on fire and all onboard must abandon ship. Passenger Margaret Stanlaw loses her young daughter Ruth in the ensuing panic, and is informed by shady gambler Richard Steele that she did not survive. In actuality, Ruth is saved by prospective prospectors “Horseshoe” Riley and Bob Dexter. This new makeshift family arrives in Anchorage and almost immediately strikes gold. 15 years later Ruth is now a young adult, who is having an inexplicable attraction to Dexter, the man who helped raise her and is essentially her father. When Margaret and Richard come into town to run the local saloon, secrets will be revealed, pasts will be confronted, and the Alaskan terrain will be filmed for the first time.Cast
- William Dills as 'Horseshoe' Riley
- Albert Van Antwerp as Engineer Bob Dexter
- Eva Gordon as Mrs. Margaret Stanlaw
- Baby Margie as Baby Ruth Stanlaw
- Alexis B. Luce as Gambler Richard Steele
- Gladys Johnson as Ruth Stanlaw
- Guerney Hays as Pierre - Steele's Henchman
- H. Mills as Engineer
- Howard Webster as Professor Stanlaw