Motography (Jan-Jun 1915)

754 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIII, No. 19. Thomas Ricketts and the company of feature players from the American Film Manufacturing Company, under his direction, spent several days in Los Angeles, Calif., recently getting slum scenes for the coming feature "The House of a Thousand Scandals." As guides the company had a sergeant and two deputies of the Los Angeles police force and some wonderful material was secured. Olive Johnson, one of the best known of the popular kiddies appearing in motion pictures, is now a Mutual leading lady. Olive is four years old. Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley gave a delightful tea at the Hotel Alexandria last Sunday afternoon in honor of Mrs. Carl Laemmle. A number of film notables attended, including Mr. Laemmle, P. A. Powers, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Standing, Winnifred Kingston, Myrtle Stedman, Courtenay Foote, Mrs. Hobart Bosworth, Laura Oakley, Richard Willis and ever so many other clever people. On next Saturday afternoon, Grant H. Longenecker, physical director of the New York Association for the Blind, will head a company of thirty Blind Boy Scouts, who will march from the Institute, 111 East 59th street, to the Vitagraph theater, where they will attend the performance of "The Lady of the Lighthouse," as guests of the management. While some of the scouts are blessed with partial sight, those who cannot see with their eyes will enjoy the picture from a description by their more fortunate brothers. Pat Rooney, Marion Bent and their clever young son, Pat Rooney, Jr., three of the most popular vaudevillians on the stage today, make their initial appearance in the Lubin comedy, "The Busy Bell Boy." The May issue of The Movie Magazine, the clever publication which comes from Los Angeles, Calif., is even more interesting than the previous numbers. Among the many items which are sure to attract attention are an exceptional story on Tom Mix, the Selig cowboy-leading man, an interview with Mary Pickford and a department containing the latest west coast news. The town of Caliente, Nevada, one of the remaining wild and wooly communities reminiscent of the days of Bret Harte, is planning to accord an enthusiastic reception to the Selig Movie Special tourists who will pass through that section. Alfred Raymond is a new salesman at the Dallas office of the World Film Corporation, and W. H. Allen is now traveling out of Indianapolis for the same concern, having been appointed to that office by Central Division Manager Scates. Lillian Peacock, of the Joker comedy company, who was badly hurt in an automobile accident in Los Angeles on March 12, is now rapidly recovering and expects to be back at work by May 1. "The Chalice of Courage," in six parts, a picturization of the Rev. Cyrus Townsend Brady's widely read novel of the same name, has been completed by the Western Vitagraph Company under the direction of Rollin S. Sturgeon, and will be an early Vitagraph release. Scarcely any of the Lubin players or "extras" think of riding to the studio these delightful spring days in trolley cars. _ The reason for it is the arrival of the jitney. Philadelphia is almost jitney overrun, and as a result it is possible for everyone to ride to work each morning in some sort of an automobile for not over ten cents at the most. "Love Finds the Way," a one-reel Selig drama, to be released by the Selig Polyscope Company on May 19, was written by Mrs. Otis Skinner, wife of the distinguished actor. The first Vitagraph production in which Robert Edeson will be seen is a picturization of "Mortmain," or "The Dead Hand," from the story of Arthur C. Train. Last Wednesday evening, E. S. Porter, producing manager of the Famous Players Film Company, was tendered a surprise dinner at the Hotel Knickerbocker to commemorate his forty-fifth birthday. The party was carefully planned and organized by Mrs. Porter, the wife of the noted director, and it is interesting to note that though eleven of Mr. Porter's closest associates were invited, the guest of honor did not have the faintest intimation that the dinner had been arranged, until his entrance into the dining room. Gretchen Knorr, the popular little pianologuist, recently of the Orpheum Circuit, who was one of the popular members of the Garrick Players, the stock company in which James Hawley played the leading parts, has left the stage and has joined the United Program where she will appear in ingenue leads with the Lariat Films. The widespread demand for motion pictures is demonstrated by the fact that it finally has been taken up by the church. The first motion picture of a Sunday School ever made has been produced by Essanay. The film was made for the Board of Sunday Schools of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America. The picture is of the Brazil, Ind., Sunday School of 3,500 members, said to be the largest Sunday School in the world. The operations of the Sunday School from the opening hymn to the closing prayer are shown in the picture. Rev. Clarence J. Harris, the Unitarian minister, has just left the pulpit to become scenario editor for the United Film Service. ROLL OF STATES. VERMONT. The new Empire theater on Kingman street, St. Albans, will shortly be opened to the public. VIRGINIA. Ground has been broken and a contract let by John W. Hamilton for an up-to-date motion picture theater, between the Masonic Temple and Brown's corner, Martinsville. It will have a seating capacity of 250 persons and will be known as the Hamilton. The Olympic theater of Norfolk, which has been run for several years under the management of S. P. Hutchins, Jr., has been acquired by the Bonita Theater Company, Incorporated, of Norfolk, which contemplates the establishment of a chain of theaters in Virginia and North Carolina, according to a statement by the management. Harry G. Church, of Norfolk, will be in charge of the Portsmouth theater. WASHINGTON. H. D. Williams recently purchased from Walter Casey the moving picture theater in the Odd Fellows' Temple at Colville. G. E. Widger and Arnold Reading have purchased the moving picture theater at lone from George Peone. Henry D. Allard recently purchased the Gem theater at Twenty-first street and Portland avenue, Tacoma. Spokane capital is interested in the building of a new motion picture theater in Hillyard. The house is to be known as the Rose, and it will be located on Market street. Seating capacity 250. Ground has been broken for the new Liberty theater to be erected on South Second street, Walla Walla. The theater will cost $40,000. Work has been started on the construction of F. E. Starkey's new motion picture theater on the corner of Post and First streets, Spokane. The building will cost approximately $50,000. One of the most up-to-date theaters in Washington was recently opened at Ballard. It is the Majestic theater, owned by J. G. Jonson and W. W. Kastner. The new theater is valued at $17,000 and has a seating capacity of 500 persons. Hillyard is to have another motion picture house to be known as the New Rose theater, the property of Mrs. Clara A. Holmes, who will manage it. The theater will be at 525 Market street, where the building has been remodeled. WEST VIRGINIA. Work is rapidly progressing on Bluefield's newest photoplay house, the Rex, which will be opened to the public about May 3. The work of repairing the Theatorium theater at Moundsville, which was recently damaged by fire, is rapidly progressing, and same will be opened within a very short time. WISCONSIN. Ground has been broken for a new photoplay house at Baraboo. The theater will be under the management of A. Ringling. The Oregon Opera House is now under the management of F. L. Buskirk. Mr. Buskirk will make many improvements on the theater. Plans are under way for the construction of a new photoplay house for the Badger State Investment Company on Grand avenue, Milwaukee. The building will be of concrete and brick, with a seating capacity of 1,300 persons and will cost about $80,000. It is expected the theater will be ready for occupancy in the early fall. The Rex theater, Fifty-third and National avenues, Milwaukee, was recently damaged by fire.