Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

\ vvc 111 b c r i , 19 2 5 2127 TAMPAS HIGH JINKS HE A. M. P. A. is giving its Western brother, the Wampas, strong competition these days, socially as well as professionally. List week's meeting proved one of the best to date, with a program of entertainment that included Milt Gross, the fastest rising humorist on the comedy horizon (wonder why somebody doesn't get him to title a suitable picture in his unique vernacular?), Harry Hirschfield, cartoonist and president of the Cheese club, Hal Shubert, playing in "Abie's Irish Rose" (flops may come and flops may go, but this goes cn forever!), and Wade Booth, a Keith vaudeville songster. This week's meeting promises to be an unusual one. It is to be one of a series of twelve presided over by the men selected as the leaders of the industry, the first being Adolph Zukor. Mr. Zukcr's talk promises to be an interesting event. Under the leadership of Glen Allvine, the A. M. P. A. is doing very nicely. Of course, as Harry Wilson remarked this week, the Wampas has one big advantage over the Manhattan chapter of the Read Men (pretty bad, that one!), in that it can hold its meetings evenings at the Writers' club, which permits of more extended affairs than the noontime luncheons of the A. M. P. A. with everyone keeping one eye on the clock and the other on the appointment list. However, Harry is becoming more of a native son every day, and his enthusiasm for all things that grow under the California sun can be readily understood, if not so readily forgiven. Perhaps a long distance checker tournament would be in order, to decide the relative merits of the two thriving organizations — and may the best clan win ! M OPPORTUNITY? YES! ACK SENNETT, the comedy producer, takes a healthy swing this week at the pessimistic individuals who say that the studio door is closed to newcomers and that the field is overcrowded. "If you think the field is overcrowded, just try casting a picture," advises the comedy veteran. "The other day we interviewed a hundred girls to find one of the type we wanted — something on the order of Alice Day. I was astonished to find what a scarcity there js of this type of girl. Nine out of ten today look alike. They have their hair cut in the same fashion; their clothes are similar in style and color; they even carry themselves in some manner that is strangely standardized. "Out of the hundred girls, only one answered our requirements. This was a little girl of whom I had never heard, who has youth, vivacity, refinement and a natural talent for acting — Ruth Taylor. Naturally, we signed her to a contract at once. "The field for new faces in pictures is wide open, but there are too many rubber-stamps and too few real personalities." Evidently, then, the formula for screen success is to "be yourself." At that, the past year has seen a remarkable number of new faces on the screen, of various individual types, bearing out Mr Sennett's contention. T THRESHING IT OUT EN years ago Roy Carpenter was chauffeur to a threshing machine in the wheat fields of Kansas. This week First National appointed him head cameraman for "Men of Steel." A decade ago, when he tired of separating the wheat from the chaff, he went to Hollywood, where he decided that the life of a cinematographer was much to be preferred. So he became an assistant and finally a full fledged cameraman. Earl Hudson brought him to New York, where he has photographed three Sills pictures. You wouldn't imagine that a threshing machine was the best training school for a future cinematographer, but if you've seen Carpenter's photography in the recent Sills vehicles, you may decide otherwise. T ARRIVING AND DEPARTING OM MOORE, after finishing the title role in "The Song and Dance Man," sailed for Europe on Wednesday of this week. Bessie Love, of the same cast, sailed last Saturday, also for a brief vacation. Meanwhile, Alice Joyce has arrived in New York to prepare for the leading role in "Dancing Mothers," following Conway Tearle and Betty Bronson, who preceded her for the same cast. Some of the members of the large First National party which arrived in New York from the Coast last week; left to right: Mrs. E. M. Asher, Mr. Asher, producer of the Corinne Griffith vehicles, Anna Q. Nilsson, John E. McCormick, general manager of production on the West Coast, Mrs. M. C. Levee and Mr. Levee, head of the United Studios. B "STELLA" ARRIVES ELLE BENNETT, selected by Samuel Goldwyn for the title role of "Stella Dallas" after tests had been made of 72 other candidates, arrived in New York on Thursday of this week to appear in a picture and to be present at the premiere of the Henry King production when it opens at the Apollo theatre, Monday, November 16. It is said by those who have seen the picture on the Coast that her performance is one of the outstanding characterizations of screen history. She appeared on the legitimate stage in New York, headed two successful stock companies, and played minor roles in "In Hollywood with Potash and Perlmutter" and "His Supreme Moment" before essaying "Stella Dallas." A AMONG THOSE PRESENT— N elaborate party in honor of the Talmadge sisters was given last week by Pearl Doles Bell, the novelist and screen writer, at the LidoVenice. Among the guests were numbered many screen favorites, leading stage players and prominent society people. Later the party adjourned to the roof-garden apartment of Robert M. Catts for a late supper and dancing. Al Boasberg of the home office of F. B. O. visits the West Coast studios; where he is mapped by the still man with Larry Kent and Kit Guard, two of the 'unmakers in "The Adventures of Mazie," now in production.