Motion Picture News (Apr-Jun 1917)

Mav 19, 1917 A MOTION PICTURE NEWS JU9 1 I Either End Are Maxinc Elliott and Madge K 0 from Her Second Goldwyn. New Director for Baby Gloria Joy Series Director Henry King, who has been with the Balboa Company four years, has accepted a position with the American Studio, where he will direct Gail Kane. Mr. King's successor will be Robert Eiisminger, formerly assistant director under Mr. King. Mr. Ensminger will be assisted in his new duties by Lewis King, Henry Kings younger brother. George Rizard will continue in his capacity as cameraman, having officiated throughout the entire " Little Mary Sunshine" series. The first of the new series in which Baby Gloria Joy is featured, was finished prior to Mr. King's departure. Mr. Ensminger will begin immediately on the work of directing the second picture in the baby series, from a scenario written by L. Virginia Waters, a writer on the Balboa staff. iiiil I WiinU'd a big man to direct the work; there was too much in tlic play to trust it It) any s^tuihI i.,l<' dii.clor. So Ralph Incc liis own enterprises III h. mI U) 111,' III]. ner is an inlnisrly ^l i n actor of ahilily ^itid [insi ticc. After cunsid, rlu names niy choice (i ll n seif a wcli-knowii ^t;ti aclor of cxlr;iiiriliii;u s ily. Tliuii I si riii r.l ( . Gale and K.ilc I .i.;,i(.i , hand of Lilly WagiiK one, and only an lion TOuld do it jus; iii'.tilv a lumdrcd II iM.iiik Mills, hiniiii llii' I'lltns and an i.ili'iil ;iimI jKipniarii- \VViiil„-,^.„ Alice It 111 tlic iiriKinal cast of * To-Day,' and rounded out this powerful ensemble with another strong name, that of Lconore Harris." Jackie Saunders' Latest Director Sherwood Macdonald has finished Will M. Ritchey's latest vehicle f-or Jackie Saunders, the Sunkist Mutual star. The production was filmed at rhe Balboa studio and will be released on the Mutual program. Arthur Shirley plays opposite the star and Captain Leslie T. Peacocke, the scenario writer, accepted the role of the father. The balance of the cast includes Moilie McConnell. Albert E. Ellis, William Reed, Ben Rossier, Mignoii LcBrun and C. H. Voute. New Yorke Studio Manager Wiley J. Gibson has been appointed studio manager at the Yorke-Metro. following the resignation of N. W. Aronson, who has gone to New York. Gibson's first connection with the motion picture business was with the Universal Company several years ago. Later he joined the forces of Thomas Dixon, engaged in putting on The Fall of a Nation. He came with Fred J. Balshofer's producing company in June, 1916. Rapf Names Essentials for Quality Production President of To-Day Company Tolls of MtMhod Followed in MnkiiiR 'To-Day"— Slats, Direclor and Strong Snpiiorling Cuhi N«cd«d riRST to get big names, and the ability * that went with them, secondly to get a director who was a director and give him a free hand, and, lastly, to compile a strong supporting ca;.!— such was the idea of Harry Rapf, president of tlic To-Day Feature Film Corporation, when he began to plan production of "To-Day." AH this, of course, after lie had the story. In giving his views on the policy he thought best in making this picture, Mr. Rapf said last week : " There is nothing like starting right. I decided it was more than half the battle to secure people whose names were so potent in the picture world as to need no introduction— names of paramount value, whose worth would be instantly recognized by the exhibitor. "At that time Flort-iicc Reed had scored a sensalinnal succ.^ in ' Tlir Wanderer,' following many ^m.<ii .iiM.sses. And when I learned, on ^ll |l^|||^; d,,.. rights of the play, 'To-Day,' that the leading part had been originally written for her, and that only other contracts had prevented her playing it dnring its year's run an Broadway, I knew hcTc was the one woman to play the role of Lilly WagiiiT. It was not easy to win Miss Reed to tin point nf ing a contract that would call tm In r doing such an important pirturc at lli» ^airu: lime that ^he was phu'ing in the sjjcakin;,' drama, Kloreiici l"<ced is first and last an artist— a great actress, with temperament, charm, beauty and unparalleled acting skill. It required only one reading of the scenario to win her consent. She declared it the most powerful that had ever been offered to her, and arrangements were promptly concluded whereby Miss Reed would work on 'ToDay ' during four days of the week, exempting her for her regular Wednesday and Saturday matinees. " This seemed a pretty good start, and almost any other producer would have been satisfied to secure a star of such importance. Ralph Herz in New Piece "The Mystery of No. 47," a ScHg Red Seal Play, for release by K-E-S-E, on Monday, June 4, has been placed in production at the Sclig Studios, Chicago. Otis B. Thayer is the director in charge. Ralph Herz is the .star. The Sclig Company has engaged a very capable cast to support him, it is announced. Augment Rialto Program Joseph Dc Frcnes and Paul M. Fclton, who arc now associated with C. P. Bosworth in the production of advertising films in Wilkes-Iiarre, Pa., supplied some excellent travel and cartoon subjects for the Rialto (New York) theatre's first anniversary program. Edwin Directing Jean Sothern Van Dyke Film Corporation has engaged Walter Edwin, well-known director, to supervise Jean Sothern's picture activities. His first picture with Miss Sothern is "A Mute Appeal," released May 28.