Motion Picture News (Apr-Jul 1915)

60 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 11. No. 23. MORRIS TRAVELS 800 MILES TO SEE PICTURE Gouverneur Morris visited the studios of the Vitagraph company last week, making a trip of eight hundred miles from his home in Aiken, S. C, to Brooklyn in order to see the first five chapters of "The Goddess" produced. Mr. Morris wrote "The Goddess," and EAKLE WILLIAMS AND ANITA STEWART IN "THE GODDESS" was so anxious to see the first work of his pen produced on the screen that he decided to take the long trip. The author expressed himself as greatly pleased with the work that Ralph W. Ince had done in directing the picture under the supervision of A. E. Smith and J. Stuart Blackton, and he had high praise for Anita Stewart and Earle Williams, who played the leading roles. Mr. Morris arrived in Brooklyn in the morning and departed the afternoon of the same day on the return trip. ARTHUR S. KANE IS OFF ON TOUR OF THE COUNTRY Nine months ago Arthur S. Kane and his family caucused and decided unanimously to take the summer of 1915 for their own. Consequently, they began appropriating it Saturday, May 29, when they left for Washington, D. C, and Chicago, to be followed by Kansas City, Topeka, Omaha and Fort Dodge. Mr. Kane is well acquainted in those sections, both with film and theatre men, but perhaps not more so than in the Pacific Northwest, where he will arrive the middle of July after visiting Minneapolis, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver. Following a month in Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and nearby places, he will spend the latter part of August and part of September in California, visiting the Expositions and calling upon friends and acquaintances in San Francisco and Los Angeles. While in California Mr. Kane expects to visit most of the big producing plants. On his return to New York, about September 15 or October 1, Mr. Kane expects to resume his activities. From time to time during his trip Mr. Kane will write articles analyzing business conditions as he has observed them, and these yvill be published exclusively in Motion Picture News. HAZEL DAWN LEAVES STAGE FOR FAMOUS PLAYERS Closely following the announcement that the Famous Players had secured the exclusive motion picture services of Pauline Frederick for number of years comes a statement from that company that it has induced Miss Dawn, who made her screen debut under its management, to abandon the stage permanently and devote all her time to the production of an elaborate series of photoplay features under it;~ direction. Hazel Dawn attained popular prominence as one of the foremost of the younger stars of the American stage through "The Pink Lady," and more recently completed a successful tour in "The Debutante." After her first film characterization, as "One of Our Girls," she attracted such wide popularity that the Famous Players at once re HAZEL DAWN engaged her for a second screen appearance. A number of important dramatic and literary successes are being secured by the Famous Players as screen vehicles for Miss Dawn, notable among which are "The Fatal Card," in which she will co-star with John Mason, "Clarissa," based on Ronald MacDonald's strange story, "Gambier's Advocate," and "The Dainty Boss," a unique comedy-drama appropriately suited to the capabilities of the star. With the acquisition of the permanent service of Miss Dawn, the Famous Players now control the exclusive screen management of the greatest array of stage and screen favorites ever assembled under one banner, including Mary Pickford, Marguerite Clark, Hazel Dawn, Pauline Frederick, Marie Doro and Gaby Deslys. EMPRESS-UNITED COMPANY IS ENLARGED With the return of Joseph Levering, director of Empress pictures which are a part of the United program, from a Western trip, the Gaumont company studios at Flusing, L. I., have been enlarged. An outdoor stage has been built, and the work of making first class photodramas has started with a boom after a four weeks' vacation. The outdoor stage, furnished with every modern improvement, has been constructed so large that twelve sets can be placed at the same time. The company, composed on Mr. Levering's departure of Marian Swayne and himself, in the leads, and Flavia Arcora and Fritz Orlamond as a supporting cast, has been enlarged since Mr. Levering's return to include Mrs. Mary Baker, Bessie Keene, Madge Orlamond, and T. Mose Kaupel. Mr. Levering has on hand a splendid list of exceptionally strong sociological and psychological plays, written expressly for him by Rev. Clarence J. Harris, the Empress editor, who has left the pulpit to write plays for the United. EDNA PAYNE HAS APPEARED IN 200 ROLES FOR IDEAL Edna Payne's parents were both of the theatrical profession. She started in at a very early age to play juvenile roles in the stock companies in which her parents played the leads. Before she reached the age of twelve she appeared with the Spooner, Payton and Gotham companies in Brooklyn, New York, and on the road. While she was playing on the Keith time circuit in Philadelphia the chief director of the Lubin company, struck by her simplicity and charm, engaged her for ingenue roles. Miss Payne's natural artistry, winsome face and attractive mannerisms immediately made a splendid screen magnetism, and during her two-year stay with Lubin she endeared herself to thousands of motion picture fans. When the Ideal Western contingent was formed two years ago, EDNA PAYNE the charming ingenue was picked as leading lady and during her two years has appeared in two hundred film pictures for the Ideal on the United program. One of the most attractive photodramas in which Miss Payne will soon appear will be "Shadows of the Harbor."