The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

January lO, 1914 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 1 Photo Players' Columns, Conducted by Richard Willis from Los Angeles Grace Cunard is "extremely an- noyed" at this weather; it has called a halt in the building- of that bunga- low and it prevents her scorching with that wonderful $5000 odd Lozi- er. The onlv consolation she has is looking at the beautiful diamond ring her director gave her at Christ- mas time. * * * Cleo Madison is busying herself this dull weather with some water color painting. She is designing cos- tumes for a mysterious scenario she has up her sleeve. Lule Warrenton says it is a fine effort, and she ought to know. * * * Carlyle lUackwell has had his hands full as his right hand man and Inisiness manager, C. Rhys Pryce, has been a very sick man, and Black- well has not only had the direction and his leads to tliink of, but the ofifice details as well. He says he would make a bad clerk and Col. Pryce will have his work cut out unravelling things when he gets back. ^ ^ ^ Harr)^ C. Matthews was taken by H. C. Miller of the "loi" ranch to meet the chief of the Ponca Indians. Mr. Miller is a blood brother and through his influence Harry Mat- thews was allowed to attend a council of the Indians. He came away with some interesting souvenirs. It is said that the Miller brothers have the largest herd of buffalo in exist- ence on their ranch. They will fig- ure largely in Director Matthews' pictures. * * * Al. E. Christie of the Universal is a well pleased man, the news of the reception of his two-reel comedy, When Ursus Threw the Bull, at the convention, the congratulations from headquarters and the unquali- fied splendid notices of the comedy in the trade papers, have gladdened iiis heart. He is fast being recog- nized as the leading comedy director in America and has attained this po- sition by dint of hard work and genuine ability. He will put on a two-reel comedy once a month from now on. * * * Bess Meredith is back from the icy East and is now supporting Con- stance Crawley and Arthur Maude at the Kennedy studios at Holly- wood. They are producing Rider Haggard's Jess and Miss Meredith has given a beautiful presentation of the Bess to Miss Crawley's Jess. .\rthur Maude is a villainous Muel- ler, whilst Felix Modjeska has the part of John. Robert T. Thornby, who made such a name with the Wcstern Vita- graph as producer as well as actor, is repeating his successes at the Keystone in a series of comedies and the children's pictures which he is an adept at taking. * * * Director Burton King has taken the old Lubin studios at Glendale and will put on a series of feature society, two-reel photoplays, which will be released by the Mutual. He starts on January the fourth and has already engaged Robert Adair as lead, Ed. Brady, an excellent all round actor; Leo Pierson, juvenile; Jackie Kirtley, lead; Eugenie Ford (another fine actress who can play anything), and Lillian Hamilton, in- genue. Oswald, late of Kalem, will be his camera man. The name of the first photoplay has not yet been made known. * * * Russell Bassett, known as "Pop" Bassett, the famous old actor with Al. E. Christie's comedy company, was unanimously made a life mem- ber of the Photoplayers' Clul) at the last dinner. * * * Edwin August was the recipient of a number of handsome pipes this Christmas. Some two years ago it became known that he had quite a fine collection of pipes from all over the world, and from that time on his admirers have sent him pipes of all sizes, shapes, nationalities and colors. His smoking den at the Rampart is a history in pipes itself and is vastly interesting. -i= ^ Dainty Helen Case converted her- self into a Santa Claus this Christ- mas and her automobile used up lots of gasoline as she made her rounds with quantities of parcels to the poor and needy. The many useful gifts were contributed by Robert T. Thornby and many good hearted motion-picture actors and actresses, and Helen thoroughly enjoyed the distributing' end and made many a small boy and girl happy over Christmas. * * * Cecil De Mille and Dustin Far- num made Mona Darkfeather a splendid offer to play the Indian girl, Naturich, in The Squaw Man, but her contract with the Kalem company did not allow of her accep- tance. Harry C. Matthews, who is tak- ing feature films at Bliss, Oklahoma, for Warner's Features, is both a lucky and an unlucky man. Whilst in California an auto turned com- pletely over and he broke three ribs. Although the other occupants were not seriously injured, it is a miracle they were not all killed, and now word comes that on returning to the ranch the stage on which he sat turned over into a gully and gave him a bad shaking up whilst no one else was hurt. His leg was badly twisted for a second time. * t- * Director Milton H. Fahrney has finished his three-reeler. Trail of the Law. for the Albuquerque Company, with Dot Farley, Joe Singleton and Paul Machette in the leads. It is a corking good Western story and was written by Augusta Phillips Fahr- ney. This week G. P. Hamilton is putting on a fine two-reel Western, entitled The Web of Fate, by Dot Farley; she also takes the lead with Joe Singleton and Paul Machette in support. In this a young fellow gambles somewhat, much to the dis- tress of a young and atfectionate Spanish wife. He wins a gun and belt from a friend and in turn loses it to a professional gambler, who later shoots the young husband in an altercation. The rest of the story shows how the wife saves the gam- bler from death, recognizes the gun and gradually lures him on to con- fess. In the end she dies by her husband's grave. It is a splendid story with some subtle and strong- acting parts. * •-!= * Hobart P>osworth and company are at Catalina Island taking scenes in the V^alley of the Moon. Jack Conway as Billy, Myrtle Stedman as Saxon and Jose])h Ray as the teamster have the leads, and Chas. PTayden is Mr. Bosworth's assistant. Hetty (jray Baker wrote the scenario and did a splendid piece of work, which was much appreciated by Jack London himself. * * * Rain has interfered sadly with picture making in Los Angeles, and J. Farrell Macdonald has been de- layed with his huge production of Samson at the Universal. Allan Dwan could not quite finish Riche- Blanche Lewis, fornierly of Boyle and Lewis, has bought a residence in Baden Street at Glenn Park. She was a caller this week at the Coast Defenders' office. Miss Lewis has her mother and nephew making their home with her. Mary Logan, number directress for Jas. Post Co., is putting on some dancing numbers that are a revela- tion to the Majestic Theatre patrons out at the Mission. The costuming of the ten chorus girls and the light effects are in keeping with the good vocal selections. Gertrude Alvarado, the sprightly singing and dancing girl of the Monte Carter Co., is full of anima- tion. She is a good dancer, a good vocalist and knows how to deliver her lines. She should be advanced. George Morrell has left Los An- geles and gone to Salt Lake to pro- duce for a musical con-iedy company there. Frank Earle, the character man for Jas. Post Co., is putting over the first half of this week a good imper- sonation of a Chink. The wig is all that cotild be desired and a very good make-up is used. Frank Rice, formerly of Basco and Rice, died in the Insane Asylum at Steilacoom, Wash., last Thursday. Nat W^entworth, a eood Coast De- fender, will join Louis Jacobs' com- pany in Arizona, opening on the 15th as leading man. A good selec- tion. James Post will shortly produce a musical comedy on The Little Minister, entitled The Rabbi. Matt Burton will be engaged for the title role. Dick Mack was showing a char- acter photo of himself and Ned Thatcher in black-face songs and dances away back in 1872 in the of- fice of the Coast Defenders this week. Chas. Ali)hin mourns the loss of a brother who died last Saturday in Los yVngeles. Charley is talking of opening in Pasadena with musical comedy. lieu jjefore the rain drops came, but h'rancis Ford and Grace Cunard got through their Twin Sister's Double picture, and it is really a wonderful photoplay, even better than the first one of this series. I'aby Early still rules the roost at Miller's "loi" ranch at Bliss, and is now the very proud owner of a beautiful Shetland pony, and they are firm friends. Early is teaching him all sorts of tricks. There is an- otiier to the group, one Ponca, a dog, and an intelligent one, which was given to Early by the Ponca Indians, who are greatly captivated by the bright and amusing youngster. The Press Club held a big ball on New Year's night, which everyone attended and everything "doable was dooed." The Photoplayers' Club attended in a body with their wives, sisters and sweethearts, and Fred Mace made a little speech in which he invited everyone to attend the big Photoplayers' ball on Saint Val- entine's night. It was a big night. Frank Montgomery, Mona Dark- feather and others attended in fancy costume and received a big hand. Ed. Dale, Eddie O'Brien, Will Cross and a company opened at the Garrick Theatre, Stockton, last Sun- day in musical cpmedy. Mrs. Grace De La Zarate of this city is in receipt of letters from her aunt, Maggie Moore, the Australian actress, that she is packing tiie King's Theatre, Melbourne, with her play, Meg, the Castaway. Mrs. De La Zerate was formerly a mem- ber of her aunt's company in Aus- tralia. Eddie Gilbert opened at the Ma- jestic Theatre, Fresno, last Sunday with the Gaiety Musical Comedy Company. John Burns and Jessie Eldridge returned to their home in Tacoma the middle of the week. Genial John will assume his usual duties ii: front of the Empress Theatre for Sullivan & Considine. Pete Dunsworth and wife will journey over Ed. h^isher's time on their way East. But, Pete, don't stay away so long from the Coast this next trip. Give the Coast Defenders' regards to Broadway. Jule Mendel, now in his fourth year at the Olympic, Los Angeles, is receiving the grand salary of two hundred dollars ])er week. The man- agement started a cut on two prin- cipals, who resigned, and cut down the chorus by two to meet the clause in Mendel's contract, a raise of fifty bucks every year. Clara Howard, formerly the sing- ing and dancing .soubrette of the Olympic Theatre, Los Angeles, and the Armstrong Baby Doll Co., will shortly be with us as soubrette for Jim Post. Monte Carter, now at the Wig- wam Theatre, had to close a young man of his company for cjuarreling. Monte will not stand for any trouble in his com])any. Peace and happi- ness must reign supreme. Weaker Spencer and Harry Ilallcn are good supporters of Monte Car- ter. They take pride in dressing the parts assigned them and are both hard workers. $ Live News of Live Wires in Vaudeville $