The Pipe of Peace

Released November 24, 1918, The Pipe of Peace is a one-reel Rainbow Comedy filmed and produced by the United States Motion Picture Corporation (USMPC) in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The film was distributed by General Film Company.

As of the writing of this article (December 3, 2017), no prints of this film are known to survive. If you have any information about the film, please contact us.

An advertisement for Rainbow Comedies appeared in the November 23, 1918, issue of Motion Picture News on page 3014. The text of the advertisement reads: “RAINBOW COMEDIES They Pack a Laugh in Every Scene with Lillian Vera and Eddie Boulden. Directed by Jos. Richmond. Produced by United States Motion Picture Corporation. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. New Single-reel release of Rainbow Comedies twice a month. Your Program Needs Them. GENERAL FILM COMPANY, Distributor.”

The distribution of Rainbow Comedies was affected by the influenza epidemic in October and November of 1918 when theaters closed across the country, and new releases were halted for about a month. An article that appeared in The Moving Picture World December 21, 1918, on page 1371 addresses the effect of the theater closures and also provides a brief synopsis of the film Pipe of Peace.

“Rainbow Comedies in Demand.

Since the general resumption of motion picture exhibition, a strong revival of demand for the Rainbow Comedies from the United States Motion Picture Corporation has been noted by General Film Company. The idea involved in all these one-reel comedies is a fast, snappy plot without slapstick, with considerable emphasis upon story value. The principal players are Lillian Vera and Eddie Boulden. The current release is “The Pipe of Peace,” in which a young husband, a bride, a diamond ring and a Swede servant girl figure as the factors.“