Motion Picture News (Apr-Jul 1915)

June 12, 1915. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 57 Harris Signs with Knickerbocker Features Minister Who Became Scenario Writer, Brings Long Experience in Pulpit and as Man of Affairs, to His Work REV. CLARENCE J. HARRIS, writer, editor and critic, has been secured by Knickerbocker Star Features. Rev. C. J. Harris has an unusual record as a scenario writer and man of affairs. He has preached since he was eighteen years of age ; he is now forty. During his ministry his work was of a very varied nature, all of which makes his work as a photoplaywright the more valu REV. CLARENCE J. HARRIS able. In his early days he had charge of the Chinese missionary work in one section of Boston. He was also a prison missionary and besides devoted considerable time to slum work in Boston. His first preaching was in northern New England, after which he went South, working among the poor whites. Afterward he became a Southern missionary, helping to establish a white theological seminary. He has worked also in the Middle West, Colorado, California and Oklahoma. His churches have been in prominent places during the past ten years and in San Diego, Cal., and Oklahoma City, he was identified with all social and literary movements. Mr. Harris' first work as a' scenario writer began about two years ago, with a drama, "The Trail of the Lost Chord," which had a remarkable reception in Europe and this country, and, according to reports, from the producer, "Brought fame to producer and company in Europe and America." This work had back of it ten years of considerable literary work, in which Mr. Harris wrote and preached constantly, contributed to papers and magazines, and lectured on many lines. The success of the first drama prompted Mr. Harris to write more, and he has a record of having sold nearly all he has produced since his first success. Mr. Harris' drama, "The Footprints of Mozart," created a great deal of interest among music lovers throughout this country and England. As the writer for Knickerbocker Star Features, Mr. Harris will offer an unusual line of three-reel stories, varied in thought and ideas. In a recent interview he said. ■"I do not want to be known by my stories ; [ prefer to have each story have individual ity, than to embody all individuality in myself, and have the many stories express the one." The first Knickerbocker Star Features story, "The Kick-Out," will be followed by the most dramatic and intense story ever written by Mr. Harris Called "The Cup of Chance," which will be followed by others already in course of completion, as "The Fools' Paradise," "The Edge of Night," "The House With Nobody In It," "Like Viper Eyes" and "The Tigress and the Cub." PLANS ON FOOT TO ENLARGE UNIVERSAL CITY Special to Motion Picture News Los Angeles, June 1. Universal City in several respects has not proven adequate to the demand of the ever increasing needs of the Universal Company, and plans for additional buildings are being made. Besides the erection of an additional enclosed studio with sufficient capacity for five or six companies, plans are now being made for additional dressing rooms for the front stage. The present double row will be practically doubled, making a total of about one hundred. This will be accomplished by the second story being built on the entire building. Myrtle Tannehill Is Glad to Be Bad Film Prophet Kalem Star, Sorry She Failed to Enter the Field Eight Years Ago, Now Realizes That Photo Drama Is Not a Fad THERE is one star of the legitimate stage who admits being a mighty poor prophet. And in making this admission, she asserts that, had she been able to look into the future, she would have become a motion picture player eight years ago. The actress in question is Myrtle Tanne. hill, who recently made her screen debut in Kalem's three-act Broadway Favorites feature, "When the Mind Sleeps." And although she has cored successes both here and abroad, she frankly admits regretting not having entered the silent drama sooner. "It was this way," Miss Tannehill explained recently : "Shortly after I made my debut upon the legitimate stage I was approached by a motion picture director who wanted me to join the company he was forming. I was playing with William Gillette, in 'The Admirable Crichton* at the time. "Convinced that I had a most promising career before me," Miss Tannehill went on, . "I declined the offer. As a matter of fact, one of the principle reasons which led me to turn my back upon the offer was my belief that the motion picture was merely a fad and would presently die out." The charming actress then went on to say that the ensuing years convinced her of her error. One by one, the brightest stars of the legitimate firmament drifted into the motion picture fold. Once she was on the verge of following suit, when she received an offer to appear with George M. Cohan in "Broadway Jones." She accepted this PAULINE MORAN (Keystone) MYRTLE TANNEHILL engagement and the long run achieved by this success caused her to forget all about the silent drama. Then came engagements in "Snobs," which was presented at the Hudson theatre, and in various other successes. According to Miss Tannehill, the productions iri which she appeared were so uniformly successful that she had no time to think of the screen. Later, the talented player was sent to London, where she was starred in plays that had scored here. When the Kalem company made Mis.; Tannehill an offer for her appearance in "When the Mind Sleeps," the star promptly accepted it.