Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1919)

EXHIBITORS HERALD Robertson-Cole Producing Units Are Completing Five Features "The Golden Hope," First of Edith Storey's New Production, Will Be Ready for the Screen Within Few Weeks MYXA Cl'N'ARD A\ lin has signed a three-year eontraet to star in Western two-reelers and features for the Frohman amusement corporation. Myna Cunard to Star In Western Pictures Signs Three Year Contract With Frohman and Will Start Work at Once The Frohman Amusement Corporation has contracted with Myna Cunard for a period of three years to star in two-reel Western productions and features. Miss Cunard now achieves her ambition to star, thereby duplicating the achievement of her sister, Grace Cunard, with whom she first entered the theatrical and photodramatic fields. Started With Circus Miss Cunard, at the age of nine, enlisted as a trapeze worker and equestrienne in a traveling circus, graduating to the Sells Flotto outfit, and then was one of the featured performers with Barnum and Bailey Circus. Her experience with this, the hardest school in the entertainment field, qualifies her for the arduous work that must necessarily be involved in the characters she will be required to portray in Western dramas, where all the stunts of a male Western character will be duplicated by her. From the circus Miss Cunard entered the legitimate theatrical field, appearing in stock as an ingenue and later as an emotional heavy. She joined the forces of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. After serving with that company for upwards of six years Miss Cunard was the featured player in several special productions. Twenty-Eight Each Year There will be twenty-six two-reel productions and two special features published during the year 1920, starring Miss Cunard. It is expected that the first attraction will be distributed December 20, probably for the state right market. Five features intended for publication during the holiday season by Robertson-Cole are rapidly nearing completion at the studios. Included in the number is Miss Edith Storey's initial production. Completes "The Tong Man" At the Haworth studios Sessue Hayakawa has just completed "The Tong Man," an old-fashioned melodrama. Hayakawa plays the part of a hatchetman in one of the tongs of the old Chinatown of San Francisco. It is a story of the intrigues of the old Chinese quarter. Toyo Fujita, Helen Eddy, Jack Abbe and Marc Robbins are in the cast. Without losing any time Hayakawa at once started work on the production to follow "The Tong Man." It is a romance of the days of the Arabian Nights called "The Beggar Prince," in which Hayakawa plays a dual role — .appearing as the wicked prince and as a poor fisherman. According to the actor this is the most expensive picture in which he has ever appeared. Some big scenes will be staged and Hayakawa feels that he is fortunate in acquiring the old Griffith studios for the making of the production. In the cast of this production are Beatrice La Plante, Thelma Percy, Roberto Bolder, Joseph Swickert, Bert Hadley and Buddy Post. They are all working hard and co-operating with Hayakawa in making this one of his finest productions. Edith Storey at Work Edith Storey is nearing the completion of her first picture called "The Golden Hope." It is from the book of the same name written by Grace Sartwell Mason and John W. Hilliary. Joseph De Grasse, who up to a few months ago directed Dorothy Dalton, is directing Miss Storey. It is said to be a good story with big dramatic moments and the part given Miss Storey fits her dramatic talents perfectly. The picture is being produced by Haworth. The cast includes Marin Sais, Carl Gerard, Howard Gaye, William Elmer, Omar Whitehead, Frank Shawa and A. J. Fleming. The story is built around the high-spirited wife of a rather worthless tramp goldseeker who finds happiness only after the bitterness of life has been met with and overcome. Bessie Barriscale is in the midst of a new production. This picture marks a milestone in the history of B. B. Features, as it is the first picture of the second series. For the story, they bought Jeanne Judson's book, "Beckoning Roads." The cast includes Niles Welch, Gloria Hope, George Periolet, Thomas Holding, Joseph Dowling and Dorcas Mathews. To follow this the B. B. Features will film Kathleen Norris' widely known book, "The Luck of Geraldine Laird." This, too, is a best seller. Niles Welch has already been engaged to play opposite Miss Barriscale in this picture. Two Brentwood Companies Brentwood has two companies at work, one directed by Claude H. Mitchell and the other by Henry Kolker. Mitchell has almost completed his picture. It has been given no official title as yet. Mitchell's cast is headed by ZaSu Pitts and includes Henry Woodward, Edwin Stevens, W. H. Bainbridge. Fannie Midgeley, Frank Hayes, Julanne Johnson, Hugh Mack. Anna Hernandez and Fred Mack. The Brentwood picture that Henry Kolker is making is being shot under the working title of "The House of Vandusen." The story swings about the life of the aristocratic Van Dusen family, descended from the Knickerbockers. The four principal roles are being played by Betty Blythe, Nathan Hamilton, Betty Brice and Jack Pratt. Selznick Completes "Greater Than Fame" "Greater Than Fame," Elaine Hammerstein's second production for Selznick, has been completed under the direction of Allan Crossland. The final scenes were taken at the Manhattan -Opera House, New York, during the week of November 16. Following a brief vacation, the star will begin work upon her next production, "The Woman Game," which will be filmed under the direction of William P. S. Earle. Sylvia Breamer and Robert Gordon in J. Stuart Blackton's latest production for Pathe, "Dawn." 71