Motography (Jul 1918)

July 13, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 83 With Orchestra Hall showing "The Claws of the Hun," the Ziegfeld Theatre running "The Kaiser's Shadow," featuring Dorothy Dalton, and the Playhouse featuring "Our Navy," Michigan avenue is in a decidedly patriotic frame of mind for the week of July Fourth. 4. 4. 4 Salesmen of the drait age at the local exchanges are feeling decidedly uncertain about their standing under the "Work or Fight" ruling. So far no official ruling has been given and the managers and salesmen are patiently waiting to see what is to happen. 4* 4? 4? T. W. Chatburne, Vitagraph manager, states that the new Vitagraph serial, "A Fight for Millions," is the most thrilling one yet. Trade showings of the first six episodes are being held at the Vitagraph projection room now. 4. 4. 4. Private Dempsey is giving a talk on conditions "over there" at each evening performance of the Charles Ray-Paramount feature, "The Claws of the Hun," at Orchestra Hall this week. 4* 4* 4* •Little Mary McAllister, the youthful picture star, played the leading part in "A Movie Travesty," which was part of the program given at the advertising men's benefit for the Off-the-Street Club. ,4? 4* 4* "Berlin via America," the patriotic aviation picture, starring Francis Ford, with Edna Emerson opposite, has been purchased by the Unity Photoplays Company for Chicago distribution. 4. 4" 4> Harry Berman, general manager of Jewel Productions, has the sympathy of many friends in Chicago over the recent death of his brother, Sol Berman. 4. 4. 4. Julius Lamm, formerly manager of the Orpheum Theatre of Elkhart, Indiana, is now managing Schindler's Theatre, Huron street and Milwaukee avenue. 4, 4. 4. The De Luxe Theatre on Wilson avenue is closed for the summer. The house will be redecorated and put in readiness for a big business in the fall. 4. 4. 4. J. W. Sherwood, manager of the Grand Theatre, Madison, Wisconsin, was in Chicago last week visiting the various exchanges. 4> 4* 4* Ben Weisenbach has been made Milwaukee manager for Jewel. 4. 4. 4. C. W. Eckhardt, district manager for William Fox, is making a tour of the exchanges in his district. Los Angeles HOWARD HICKMAN, who is making his debut as a motion picture director by handling Bessie Barriscale's latest Paralta Play, has "arrived" in the profession; there is no doubt about that, for the other day he blossomed out in a silk shirt with radiant stripes, platinum gem-crusted cuff buttons, tie with soft collar and fancy collar link, and of course the regular brand of white trousers. In taking this step Mr. Hickman identified himself with the "silk-shirt" school of directors, as typified by other prominent professionals. He came near joining the school of riding trousers, puttee wearing directors, but the weather turned his decision toward the more summery school. Now he has committed himself irrevocably. 4. 4. 4. Mme. Rosita Marstini, who has been engaged by the American Film Company, has the enviable distinction of being one of the few women to act as interpreter on the war front in Europe. Mme. Marstini is of French-Belgian extraction, and owing to her ability to speak seven languages, volunteered her services at the outbreak of the war. and served for nearly two years until her health became impaired. She came to the United States and was engaged to plav Mme. De Fargo in "The Tale of Two Cities" with William Farnum as the star. Since then she has rapidly >come to the front. 4. 4. 4. A banquet celebrating the completion of "The One Woman," Mastercraft's screen version of the Thomas Dixon novel, was given by Robert Brunton, head of the Brunton studios, where the big production was filmed, to F. Eugene Farnsworth, president of Mastercraft, and the leading members of the cast. It was held in the Los Angeles Athletic Club last week and was attended by thirty guest*. Howard Hickman presided. Besides Mr. Hickman, Mr. Brunton and Mr. Farnsworth, the notables present included Bessie Barriscale and Louise Glaum, Paralta stars; Clara Williams, Adda Gleason, W. Lawson Butt, Joseph J. Dowling and Herschell Mayall of "The One Woman" cast, and representatives of the various departments of the Brunton studios. William Russell has begun the production of the novel, "All the World to Nothing." Wyndham Martyn, editor of various magazines published by Warner Publications of New York, is the author of this book. While in the East last winter, Mr. Russell made the acquaintance of Mr. Martyn and immediately negotiated the picture rights. The story is a virile one and it was at first decided to make a seven-reel picture of it. Stephen Fox, special writer for Mr. Russell, managed to put the story into five reels, however, so the production will be released as the fourth of the series of William Russell Productions. 4. 4. 4. Alfred Whitman, Vitagraph star, is not to play in the O. Henry story, "A Matter of Mean Elevation," after all. Al had purchased his wardrobe for the part when the company received a wire from New York to keep J. Frank Glendon and Hedda Nova together, whereas it. was intended that Miss Nova should be Whitman's leading woman. Al has been given a vacation until the scenario department turns out another script for him and has taken advantage of the rest by hiking for Big Bear — and trout. 4. 4. 4. Vitagraph improvements at the studio in Hollywood include the drilling of a 150-foot well on the lot adjoining the negative department. This will insure the department having cold running water throughout the year. An additional row of dressing rooms for the men of the company also has been completed. The next construction activity will be the converting of one of the entire buildings into directors' rooms. 4. 4. 4. Owing to injuries received more than a year ago, Dorcas Matthews, wife of Robert McKim, a well known member of the Thomas H. Ince players, will be confined to her home for about two months. During the filming of a sea picture Miss Matthews was pitched into the ocean when a terrific explosion, incident to the story, destroyed the boat. She suffered injuries to her spine which only recently became somewhat serious. 4. 4. 4. Margarita Fisher, American star, is now the proud "mother" of the 14th Aviation Squadron at North Island, S'an Diego. Miss Fisher was given a rousing reception by her "boys" when she visited them, and showed she appreciated the honor by distributing a goodly supply of cigarettes and cigars and also donated a gold medal to be given the first aviator to get his boche. 4-4-4 The Hydroplane "F-l," built by the Loughead Company at Santa Barbara and christened by Mary Miles Minter of the American Film Company, had as passengers on its trial tests, Mrs. S. S. Hutchinson and son of Chicago, Roland .Carpenter and Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Charlotte Whitney, Mr. and Mrs. Alois Heimerl and Miss Margaret Shelby of the American Film Company. 4. 4. 4. W. S. Van Dyke has completed the first Al Jennings picture entitled "The Lady in the Dugout." Mr. Van Dyke cut and titled the picture in three days and invited a small number of friends to see a private showing of it at Tally's Theatre one night during the past week. From all reports "The Lady in the Dug-out" plus "the Jennings outlaws," Al and Frank, is a very good western. 4, 4. 4. L. C. Shumway has just finished playing the leading role opposite Jewel Carmen in her latest William Fox release, "You Can't Get Away With It," adapted from the famous novel by Governeur Morris. Shumway is delighted with the way his part turned out and believes the story is one of the most entertaining he has seen on the screen for some time. 4. 4. 4. Ashton Dearholt, Universal juvenile lead, was honored by his home town, Milwaukee, during the past week when a "Dearholt Night" was declared and three pictures in which Mr. Dearholt had leading-man honors, were run at the Princess Theatre. "The Girl in the Dark." "The Two Souled Woman" and "The Bride's Awakening" were the three pictures. 4. 4. 4. Nell Shipman, plus one or more of the malamute dogs which she used in the Vitagraph picture, "Baree, Son of Kazan," will figure prominently among the lobby attractions at Quinn's Rialto Theatre early in July when the Rialto lobby will be transformed into a make-believe icepalace by way of advertising. 4, 4. 4. H. Tipton Steck, head of the newly-created reconstruction department at Universal City, has equipped himself with a touring car, and has settled down in Hollywood as though to stay. Incidentally the reconstruction department is one of the busiest at 'that busy film plant known as Universal City. 4. 4. 4. Everybody's talking about the light between Mitchell Lewis and Thomas Santschi that took place this week. Oh, it's no case for the police, although there was considerable assault and battery, because it was all staged before the camera by Bert Bracken. What a scrap it was ! You will be able to see for yourself shortly when the feature will be released. 4. 4. 4. Blanche Sweet is the latest of film stars to have their own producing company. The Blanche Sweet Film Corporation is the name of the new concern, which was formed by Harry Garson, manager of Clara Kimball Young. Miss Sweet leaves for New York July 5 to complete the necessary arrangements and will start work upon her return on "The Unpardonable Sin," by Rupert Hughes. 4, 4, 4, Lloyd Hamilton is now on his fifth Sunshine comedy for William Fox, and is again appearing without his mustache. He liked playing without it much more than when he wore it after viewing his last Sunshine Comedy, so decided that he would abandon it altogether. 4. 4. 4. Earl Montgomery of the Vitagraph "Big V" comedy team was attacked by hold-up men recently and came out of the scuffle somewhat the worse for wear. It was something like the comedy scenes he and Joe Rock stage, Montgomery said afterwards, except that Rock was not there to come to the rescue. Roy Stewart in the Triangle picture, "The Fly God."