The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

22 -THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY Bett Wilson who is touring the country before starting another serial. I AVING completed the last episode of the serial, "The Voice on the Wire," one of the most successful I continued photoplays which the Universal Film Company ever issued, Ben Wilson, star of the serial, came East, and undertook a tour of the theatres where the "Voice" was running. Wilson starred in the picture, and assisted in directing the last few chapters, while Stuart Paton was engaged in filming the coming serial, "The Gray Ghost." Wilson visited the Marcus Loew theatres which are running "The Voice on the Wire," and then the Philadelphia territory, where more than eighty theatres asked for appearances from the popular actor. He was received everywhere with the greatest enthusiasm, packed houses, and crowds turned away being his record in all the theatres in which he spoke. He made speeches in half of the twentynine New York theatres which are showing the serial, and in every one of them the doors had to be locked to prevent a riot. "No," he said when asked about his preparation for the appearances, "I do not write speeches and learn them by heart beforehand. Every audience is different, and from every one I get a different response across the space between us. I adapt what I am going to say to that feeling. I cannot say that I had a reputation as a speaker rivaling that of Chauncey Depew, when I started this tour, but I had plenty of stage experience to help me. Of course that Ben Wilson onTour is not the same thing, as you have the protection of the character between yourself and the audience in a stage role. Still, it accustoms you to the feeling of having the flesh and blood creatures before you, who are looking at you and waiting to hear your voice. I do not agree that there is any proportion of the picture public which does not like serials. I think their universal popularity in the best magazines is proof of their universal appeal. All the reading world, and all the play-going world loves mystery, strong emotion, love, hate, and even crime in their books and plays — why should the movie public be any exception ?" Ben Wilson will return to Universal City about August 1st, after a flying tour of the country, to begin work on the leading role of another serial production, the scenario of which is being prepared for him during his absence from the picture city. This serial will be directed by Stuart Paton, and Ben Wilson finds that the audiences have so O. K.'d the cast in "The Voice on the Wire" that they demand the same cast for the next Paton-Wilson serial. Mr. Wilson has just signed another contract with the Universal, which insures a continuance of his fine work for some time to come. He received flattering offers from other companies, desirous of obtaining Wilson's highly prized services, during his recent visit to New York, but decided to remain in the congenial Universal surround i ngs , where he has made his screen reputation. Wilson declares that serial making is the most fascinating sport in the world, and that he is delighted to be going back to Universal City to produce another as great success as "The Voice on the Wire," which is at the present time filling picture theatres to capacity all over the country. High Spots T Tivo scenes from "Five Little Widows." HE week of July 2d is Fourth of July week, and it is no more than right and proper that the Universal program should have a patriotic three-reel Gold Seal feature. In "A Young Patriot," which features Mignon Anderson, Edwin Brown, Roy Stewart, Charles Mailes and Elw^ood Bridell, we have a military drama written by William Piggott and produced by Louis Chaudet, which fills the bill exactly. This gives the week a patriotic flavor. Every kid and grown-up will leave the theatre feeling that Young America is perfectly safe in such hands. The L-Ko feature for the week, "Bombs and Bandits" deals with an invasion of Mexico by the automobile railroad and airplanepolice. There is an unusual two-reel comedy entitled "Five Little Widows," featuring Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran, in which, if you don't know it, expert advice is given on what a young American engaged to a pretty girl should do, if his uncle in Turkey should die, and leave to him his harem of five beautiful Turkish trophies. Har "T/ie ry Carey in "The Wrong Girl In the LimoxLsiM?