Motion Picture News (Apr - Jun 1914)

40 Mr. 1 lorkhcinn.-r ^^,(l^tly leaves tor London, England, and will arrange with a firm in that city to handle the Balboa Feature Film products throughout Europe and foreign countries. The Shuberts. the New York theatrical managers, will soon open up a hundred of their new houses for the exhibition of motion pictures. At least half this number will continue after the summer season is over. A large producing plant is being built at Fort Lee, closely adjoining that of the Eclair Company. THE MOTION' PICTURE NEWS an arrangement with tlie "Photoplay -Magazine'' these adventures will be published in story form in that pul) lication each month. "Fighting Death," a four-reel picture, the local rights for which artheld by the Box-Office Attractions Company, has received much favorable comment from exhibitors. Rodman Law and Constance Bennett play the leading roles. Virginia Pearson, who created a sensation when she appeared as the Vampire with Robert Hilliard in ".V Fool There Was," has signed a contract to act for the [\ithe films. She VIRGINIA PEARSON is a talented and beautiful actress and her engagement should prove ol great value to the Pathe Company. Miss Pearson recently appeared m "Nearly Married," one of the season's hits, and it is understood that she received an offer to continue her legitimate stage career with Charlotte Walker, but evidently the offer of Pathe Freres was too good to decline. Monte M. Katterjohn, editor of the Eastern scenario department of the Universal, has collaborated with Captain Leslie T. Peacocke on a series of stories which will feature Ethel Grandin. The series is to be known as "The Love Adventures of Doris Mason" the first of which is now being produced by Ray Smallwood and will be released under the title of "The Dawn of Romance." Through Sydney Ayres, of the American Company, has been made a producer to succeed Lorimer Johnston. Mr. Ayres has had considerable experience as producer on the legitimate stage and in connection with the Jack London pictures. The Twentieth Century Feature Film Company, of No. 216 West Forty-second Street, will release in April a four-part feature, "A Cry in the Night," a sensational melodrama which has met with success abroad. One of the thrilling scenes show a convict swimming under water. This is the first time that motion pictures taken under water have been exhibited. Jesse J. Goldburg, the secretary and publicity manager of the Life Photo i'ilni Company, had this picture taken JESSE J, GOLDBURG just after signing William Gillette for "Secret Service." Mr. Goldburg predicts great success for this picture, as well as that of "The Banker's Daughter." Augustine, Florida, where slie lias been at work on a number of productions for that company. Miss Mayo is being featured in these pictures and is said to have done some excellent work. There were a number of other com CHRISTINE MAYO l)anies taking pictures in the City of Maines while the Aetna Company were there and made the time pass quicker. Miss Mayo was the recipient of a number of mementoes from friends made during the trip. The 'Hearts of Oak" company has returned to New York after an extended stay on the coast of Maine, where the chief scenes in the forthcoming screen version of the James A. Heme drama were made. The Mohawk Film Company, it is expected, will release the picture about April 20. Julian M. Solomon, of Philadelphia, lias left the World Film Corporation and is now with the Continental Film Companj', controlling Mutual pictures in the Quaker City, at 902 Filbert street. Mr. Solomon recently joined the World Film in the capacity of road booker. Christine Mayo, leading lady for the Aetna Film Company, has returned from a trip of six weeks' duration at St. The South Pacific Islands are the most recent bits of land to be put on the map by the motion picture camera, and Albert Blinkhorn has just acquired the sole rights to a five-reel subject dealing with the expedition specially organized to explore that quarter of the world. Many of the scenes shown are of secluded spots, reached only by secret and almost inaccessible passages. The animal life on these islands is made up of many all but extinct species, and these have been carefully pictured. Many highly interesting incidents that took place during the course of the voyage, some quite thrilling, have also been recorded