Bobby Sherman is rich and a likable young chap, but no business man [sic]. He is always running short of funds. His friends, young clubmen of means, are only too anxious to help him in money matters, but he will not let them, for he is extremely sensitive. Bobby is head over heals [sic] in live with pretty Susan Warwick. She is not rich and his heavy indebtness [sic] prevents their getting married. But at last the young woman conceives the brilliant idea of incorporating Bobby. With the help of their mutual friends, Jerry Dean and John Birch, Susan gets her sweetheart made a legal corporation. His trustees pay his debts and take all his affairs in charge. They even reserve the privilege of deciding whom he shall marry. It is agreed that Bobby needs an heiress, and in spite of Susan’s protestations, he is introduced to Felicia Golden. Miss Golden is a multi-millionairess – but not one to inspire a lover. Bobby resignedly begins his suit, however. Susan rushes to a wall Street man and induces him to buy for her the controlling interest in Bobby Sherman, Inc. She at once assumes the presidency. Determined to be a close corporation, she directs Bobby to marry the president. The delighted young man loses no time in making Susan his bride. - Reel Life, June 26, 1915, p. 10
Reviewed in Moving Picture World: “A GOOD BUSINESS DEAL (American), June 30 – With the exception of a few scenes that have been very cleverly arranged in such a way that they attract admiration of the individual sort, there is little to recommend this production as an entertainment. The story is slight and uninteresting.” - The Moving Picture World, July 10, 1915, p. 308 Film Publicity – “A Good Business Deal” by Grace Olivares, September 2021 Advertising and promotion of films in the mid-1910’s was accomplished on both a national and local level and incorporated efforts by the film production companies, distributors, exhibitors, and the general and focused media. Films were advertised to two different markets: exhibitors and the general public. This was accomplished through both national and local advertising, with the former generally handled by the film production/distribution companies and the latter generally handled by the exhibitors, most often using materials provided by the production/distribution companies. In addition, film reviews independent of both the film production companies and the exhibitors played a role on a national and local level. Independent fan magazines also promoted films, stars, and even published short stories taken from the films. This is evident when looking at the publicity for the 1915 film, “A Good Business Deal,” directed by William Reaves Eason. For this film, one can find a number of ads in national trade publications targeted to exhibitors such as Moving Picture World. In fact, the film was featured on the cover of the July 3, 1915 edition. The film was also advertised in Reel Life and Motion Picture News, two other trade magazines of the day. National advertisements can also be found for this film in fan magazines directed to the general movie-going public, such as Photoplay and Picture-Play Weekly. Picture-Play Weekly frequently ran short stories based on silent film and, in fact, ran a short story written by Richard D. Taylor based on the film “A Good Business Deal” in its July 24, 1915 issue. The story was 4 full magazine pages and added details to the story not seen in the film. Local advertising for films, including the afore-mentioned film, ran in local newspapers and movie posters also promoted films during this period.