Moving Picture World (Jun 1919)

June 7, 1919 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1491 News of Los Angeles and Vicinity By A. H. GIEBLER Democracy Film Company Is All-Negro Organization THE Democracy Film Company, an organization composed entirely of negroes, is making preparations to begin the filming of a big patriotic feature at the E. & R. Jungle studio, near Eastlake Park. The Democracy Co., of which many prominent colored citizens of Los Angeles are members, is incorporated under the state laws of California. Captain Leslie T. Peacocke, well known photoplay author, actor and director, has written the first story for the negro company, and will supervise the direction of the picture. The story deals with the part the negro citizens of the United States played in the recent war, and it is hoped that the production will go far toward eliminating race prejudice. Old Essanay Studio in Use Again. Wayne Mack, who is making a fivereel feature starring Mary Anderson, has leased the old Essanay studio at Culver City in which to produce the picture. The studio has been idle for some time, although several years ago many a one and two-reeler was turned out at the plant. Bushman and Bayne Coming West. Fred J. Balshofer has sent orders from the East to put his Studio on Gordon street, in Hollywood, in preparation for the making of film productions starring Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne. The studio is occupied at present by Gale Henry, who is making two reel comedies under the direction of Henry Becker. Director Loses Father. Charles F. Schertzinger, father of Victor Schertzinger, Goldwyn director, died at his home in Los Angeles on May 15, after an illness of several months. New Lloyd Carleton Production. A new Lloyd Carleton production starring Ruth Clifford has just been completed under the personal direction of Lloyd Carleton. The story was one written by Henry Christeen Warnack, author of "The Honor System," "Are You Legally Married?" and other screen features. Edward Coxen supports Miss Clifford as leading man, and other players in important parts in the play are Andrew Robson, Richard Morris and Esta Escovar. Film Zone Extended. The question of extending one of the moving picture zones so as to include the plants of Jesse D. Hampton and of Willis & Inglis, in the vicinity of Fleming street and Sunset boulevard, was considered at a public hearing before the city council's public welfare committee last week. Action has been deferred for three weeks in order that an amicable understanding might be reached between the moving picture people and the property owners in the district. The indications so far are that the petition of the moving picture producers will be granted. Romayne to Produce Sinclair Novels. H. Y. Romayne, president of the Romayne Super-Film Co., has announced that a new series of pictures will be produced in the near future by the Romayne company which will be based on the novels of Upton Sinclair. The first of these stories to be put into films will be "The Millenium." Work on the production will begin about June 1, at Brunton, but certain scenes will be filmed in New York for this production. Walter McNamara, who will direct the picture, is now engaged in putting the story into continuity form. John Hayes will play a leading part. Other Sinclair stories to be filmed later are "King Cole" and "Sylvia's Marriage." L. A. Lambs to Gambol Too. A second production of the annual Lambs' All-Star Gambol may be staged in Los Angeles next month. Fully sixty members of the Lambs Club of New York are now on the west coast, most of them employed in the west coast motion picture studios, and all are anxious to have a part in the annual gambol. If the plans carry through, the same material used for the big event in the East may be available for the Western frolic, which will be staged at the Morosco Theatre, which Oliver Morosco has offered for the occasion. The local Lambs are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Tom Wise, who is on his way West with the "Cappy Ricks," and with the final decision of the board of directors of the Lambs Club in New York. Charles Clary a Benedict. Charles Clary, well-known actor in Fox features, was married to Margatiet Bechtel, of Pittsburgh, who was visiting in Los Angeles at the time, early in Glimpses of the Interior Beauty and the Desert Wildness in "The Man Who Turned White.' H. B. "Warner is featured in this Robertson-Cole picture released through Exhibitors Mutual.