Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1916)

36 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 13. No. 4. FRED MACE, COMEDIAN, KEYSTONE IT^RED MACE left a trail of laughter from coast to coast when he starred i in "A Chinese Honeymoon," "Piff, Paff, Pouf," "The Umpire," "The Time, Place and the Girl," "The Chocolate Soldier" and other musical successes. During that time he was undoubtedly a stage star of the first magnitude, but later when he starred in Keystone comedies, his pantomimic characterizations placed him in the rank of screen celebrities ; the people have never grown tired of him. Whenever Mr. Mace appears upon the screen he is greeted with the same shouts of laughter that made him famous four years ago" during the first flush of his screen success. Mr. Mace was born in Philadelphia thirty-three years ago, and after a common school education graduated in medicine and dentistry. During his school days, however, Mr. Mace began to show a strong inclination for the stage, and shortly after receiving his diplomas he journeyed to New York and started his stage career, playing a small part in a musical comedy production. The theatregoers of New York and. other cities are well aware of the success that followed, and when Mr. Mace deserted the stage and joined the pioneers of the picture business, it was with general regret. However, this regret was soon turned to joy, as when the admirers of Mr. Mace's work began to see him on the screen, his popularity, instead of fading, began to increase. After an engagement with the Biograph Company, Mr. Mace became associated with Ford Sterling", Mabel Normand and others in the new Keystone Film Company, which was organized by Mack Sennett in 1912. Mr. Mace worked opposite Mr. Sennett in a series of comedies that established the permanent popularity of the Keystone brand. Becoming ambitious to produce his own pictures, he resigned from the Keystone ranks and organized a new company. Later Mr. Mace received an offer from Mr. Mack Sennett to return to the Keystone Company, at one of the largest salaries ever paid a film comedian. After brief deliberation the offer was accepted and it was with much joy that the film fans of the world heard the news that Mr. Mace would again be seen under the direction of Mr. Sennett in Keystone films. Since his return Mr. Mace has appeared with Raymond Hitchcock and other stars, and has shown that his vacation increased his ability and added freshness to his peculiar line of comedy. Mr. Mace will frequently be seen in Keystone-Triangle reels. ARTHUR SHIRLEY, LEADS, NATIONAL DRAMA CORPORATION A' That Mr. Shirley is a ficers feel indebi' d m him fo RTHUR SHIRLEY, former leading man for the Rex Universal company, now with the Thomas E. Dixon National Drama Corporation, is an international motion picture star, having played for manufacturers in Australia as well as in the United States. Mr. Shirley was born at Sussex, England, in 1886, and went to Australia with his parents. He had special training for the stage, and during his legitimate stage career played with Nellie Stewart in everything from bits to leads, and for a number of seasons was under the management of the J. C. Williamson company playing leads. This organization is the largest theatrical producing company of the Islands. It was with the Australasia Film Company that Mr. Shirley did his first work in motion pictures in 1913. One of his best subjects was that of the leading part in "The Shepherd of the Southern Cross" which was filmed by Higgins Brothers. Mr. Shirley remained with this organization for almost two years, during which time he was featured in all subjects in which he appeared. At the end of this engagement he came to America and played with the Kalem company at their New York studio, and was later transferred to the Glendale studio where he played in the detective series. It was while finishing these that Mr. Shirley received an offer from the Universal company, which he accepted, and has since been playing leads exclusively for Director Joseph DeGrasse. He was featured in "The Pine's Revenge" and "The Fleur-de-Lis," the title of which was changed to "The Lily." Mr. Shirley has just signed a two years' contract and will first appear in "The Fall of a Nation," from the pen of Thomas E. Dixon, author of "The Clansman" and others. Mr. Shirley is to be starred in the first production of this organization. y That Mr. Shirley was very popular in Australia was brought out recently by the statement of Ernest Higgins, of the firm of Higgins Brothers, motion Jr • ' * iniiuiv tn.miif;n iurcrs nf Sydney, who came to America to study manufacturer ' <:,'lH 'm" con(htions. While here Mr. Higgins made a number of pictures of Mr. Shirley at the request of Australian film manufacturers, exhibitors and fans which he took back to Australia, good judge of talent is duly appreciated by the management of Universal City, and the ofr the recommendation of Louise Carbasse. Bo sure to mention "MOTION PICTURE NEWS" wlion writing to advertisers,