The Win(k)some Widow (1914)

Business had been bad with "The Winsome Widow" musical comedy company and press agent Cutey was worrying how to keep the ghost walking when he read in the daily paper of the coming to New York of Miss Cissy FitzGerald, a musical-comedy star with a famous wink. He contrived to meet Cissy before she landed and persuaded her to join the company and changed the name to "The Win(k)some Widow" musical comedy company. Things are now considerable brighter, but Cissy's world-famous wink plays havoc not only with the public but with members of the company, including Cutey, her manager Hughie, and her orchestra leader Tosco, to say nothing of millionaire Gotrocks and wealthy clubman Jack. The show started on a prosperous run. Cissy tires of hotel life and rents a house. She invites her admirers for a house warming and they arrive, each bringing some animal as a pet, including a tame bear and a monkey; and each proposing with a ring. The next day she receives a 'phone call from her five admirers and suggests a quiet little supper after the show. Her husband arrives before she can warn her expected guests, compelling her to hide them. As they try to make their escape, their sudden appearances keep Cissy's heart on the jump, until Gotrocks, hiding in the fireplace, gets an idea from the soot on his face, sneaks a lambrequin from the mantel, wraps it around his head and is presented to Cissy's husband as her Hindoo servant. The other four get an idea from Gotrock's costume and appear in turn. Hughie as "her aunt from the country," Tosca as a chef, Jack as a maid of all work and Cutey, who is hiding in the piano, as a piano tuner. Tosca, as the chef, is ordered to cook a special dish for the husband. His efforts to make good causes the stove to pour forth a dense volume of smoke. Neighbors, thinking there is a fire, call the fire department who flood the house with water, giving Cissy's admirers opportunity to escape. Husband and wife are now left alone with the exception of the various pets, who are peacefully floating about with the real maid.