Dr. Cook

Preferring to call his work a lecture, Dr. Frederick A. Cook read his dialogue from a manuscript. Doc speaks about a man named Lieut. Peary, who certainly was one cuss. The audience had no idea what Cook was talking about. The moving pictures were the same. He believes he discovered the Pole. Running for 26 minutes, the picture showed his trip to the pole: some painted ice, an "Esquimaux" waving the grand old Stars, and Cook waving to an imaginary crowd. A lecturer narrated the movie and had the Doc Cook in the picture doing anything he asked.

Cook was not well received by the audience. At one point he mentioned that Mr. Hammerstein was not paying him for his work. The audience quickly warmed up and applauded, most likely for Mr. Hammerstein.

Cook talked his head off but said nothing. He blew up, even as a "freak act."

Variety 21:11 (02/18/1911)