AUCTION OF SOULS:Armenian Aurora Mardiganian

In 1919 a film title "Auction of Souls" was released. The film was based on a book entitled Ravished Armenia, the story of Aurora Mardiganian, who plays herself in the film. This first feature film on Armenia, was directed by Oscar Apfel in New York. The book Ravished Armenia was written by H. L. Gates, the story of Aurora Mardiganian published in 1918 in New York. It was produced by William N. Selig after a scenario by Nora Waln and Frederick Chapin with Mardiganian playing herself and Irving Cummings playing Antranig. A few feet of film are reportedly preserved in archives in Armenia. The Armenian and Syrian Relief organization sponsored the film and helped publicized it; posters and newspaper advertisements are preserved.