Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

66 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 2. Director Lund explaining a perilous undertaking to Sonia Markova during the filming of "A Heart's Revenge." Tom Mix and his knowing horse Aggie, who appear in "Cupid's Roundup." Both are William Fox productions. William Fox Takes Over Victor Studio Forced to Provide Additional Accommodations for His Rapidly Expanding Producing Organization WLLIAM FOX has taken over the former Victor studio at 638 West Forty-third street New York City, and already has a company working there. The acquisition was necessitated, according to the Fox management, by crowded conditions existing at the five studios in New Jersey which have been operated during the past year. The matter of studio expansion has been under consideration for some time, it is announced, but decision has been put off from time to time because, by changing companies from studio work to work on locations, it has been possible temporarily to overcome congestion. Bad weather however prevented this arrangement from being continued and recently the problem arose as to what was to be done with the June Caprice company which was to make a" new production under the direction of Harry Millarde. All of the New Jersey studios were in use. Some of the "Queen of the Sea" sets occupied one building entirely. George Walsh was engaged under the direction of Carl Harbaugh in preliminary filming of the big Fox Special Feature based on the Saturday Evening Post story, "Jack Spurlock — Prodigal." Virginia Pearson was finishing a picture entitled "Stolen Honor," set for January 6 release. Jane and Katherine Lee were well along with a successor to "Troublemakers," and J. Gordon Edwards was directing a vampire picture requiring a great deal of studio work. About this time, Madame Sonia Markova and her company returned from Buzzards Bay where they had been taking the sea pictures and exteriors for "A Heart's Revenue." It was obvious that additional space must be provided immediately unless Miss Caprice was to be kept idle indefinitely. There was no possibility of solving the difficulty by sending one of the companies to Hollywood, Cal., the Fox management explains, because all of the available studio space there is in use. Its capacity was reached when Jewel Carmen was sent there recently from the East to make her first picture as a star under the direction of Frank Lloyd. Taking over the Victor studio saved the situation, but it is understood that even this arrangement affords only temporary Telief, the Fox interests having plans under way for further expansion during the coming year which probably will necessitate even larger studio facilities being provided. "Birth of a Nation" Goes to Picture Theaters Announcement was made last week that after January 1 D. W. Griffith's spectacle, "The Birth of a Nation," will be booked by special arrangement in the representative picture theaters of the country. The booking plans for this picture are being arranged by J. J. McCarthy, general manager of the Epoch Producing Company, Longacre building, New York City. Four Marie Dressier Comedies Finished Word comes from the Hollywood studios of the company that Marie Dressier has completed two more film comedies for Go'ldwyn release, making a total of four finished and ready for exhibitors. Two of these — "Fired" and "The Scrub-Lady" — are already being shown throughout the United States. New Production Company Formed America Photoplay Corporation Enters Field with Plans for Making a $1,250,000 Motion Picture ANEW feature picture company, the America Photoplay Corporation, is in the field. M. K. Higginbottom of Chicago will be in New York City, at the Waldorf Astoria, on and after January 9, completing arrangements and making contracts for the company's million and a quarter dollar production. Mr. Higginbottom has submitted the outline of his projected photoplay to some of the pioneer motion picture men, and to a number of prominent educators and business men, all of who claim that if the photoplay is produced as outlined to them it will prove to be one of the greatest, most spectacular and realistic pictures ever produced. Mr. Higginbottom says no expense will be spared in casting and securing material for a mammoth twelve reel photoplay. His visit to New York is for the purpose of getting in touch with a capable staff of the most competent directors, scenario writers and also a large number of picture performers of national reputation. Eastern offices will be opened in New York at an early date. The new company's western offices are now located at 123 West Madison street, Chicago.