The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

34 THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY— RFECTLY IMTO STUART PATON, DIRECTOR. No matter what your show may consist of, "The Universal Screen Magazine" rounds out the program in a very satisfactory way. It is a strong attraction in itself — ^it is fascinating to young and old; male or female. It leads the list of novelty features and will surely bolster up a weak performance. On the Regular Universal Profitram— Or Booked Separately If you take the complete Universal Program Service the Universal Screen Magazine is included. But you can book this fascinating one-reel feature separately. It is as interesting as any of the big, popular magazines— and like them, is full of something for every member of the family. Book it for that dull day, through your nearest Universal Exchange, or Universal Screen Magazine 1600 Broadway New York (Continued from page 25) that raconteurs who can make their audiences laugh till they cry, are as rare as the dodo. Like so many who possess the gift of amusing others, Paton is himself a serious person. His favorite roles are tragic ones, and his favorite book is the rather ponderous "Life of Johnson," by the immortal Boswell. The opposition of his family, which is a very old and respected one in the Scotch capital, kept him from taking his own name when he went on the stage, and Stuart is the only part of it to which he is really entitled. That may give the inquisitive reader some line upon this noted Universal director's real lineage and ancestors. Paton's fame in England rests principally upon^ his work in the roles made famous by Sir Henry Irving, and so successful was he at imitating this wonderful tragedian both in resemblance and manner that he shocked a number of his intimate friends on several occasions by pretending that he was Sir Henry in the flesh again. Paton's faculty of mimicry caused his thoughts to turn to the stage first. He discovered this faculty when he was less than twelve years old, and cultivated it in private, and at the expense of a number of members of his own household, until he was sixteen, when he made a few club appearances. This gave him such confidence in himself that the allurements of chemistry, law, and the church, toward which his family directed his thoughts, had no weight with him. When he came to this country. Paton discovered that America was far different in its idea of idol-worshipping from England, that Sir Henry Irving meant very little as a remunerative institution, and that vaudeville cared nothing. In desperation the Sir Henry Irving disciple applied to the despised movies for almost anything they had to offer, and after the director at the Imp studio had removed all trace of Sir Henry Irving from Paton's face, he put him to work. Paton's boundless ambition, however, would not be satisfied with acting. He was soon writing scenarios and acting as assistant director, and in the first year of his work at the Imp studio he wrote and assisted in directing twenty-two two, three and four-reel pictures. This record gained him a full-fledged directorship, and the thanks of Mi-. Laemmle into the bargain. Since that time his record is known to every film fan in the United States, and the fact that he has just signed a two years' contract with the Universal is the best evidence of their opinion of Stuart Paton. The picture on page 24 shows Paton at work on a script, wearing the brown glasses which in the full length picture he has taken off for our benefit. At his right is Gene Gaudio, the cameraman he has had ever since he started "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," and for a year before that. Mike Murphy, assistant director, who is at his left, has served Paton in this capacity also for nearly three years. They have done their share toward making the films that Paton has turned out the great success that they have been. CHIEF JOHNSON DRILLS UNIVERSAL POLICE. L. JOHNSON, Chief of Police at ' Universal City, and who was a member of the police force at Los Angeles for many years, is busily engaged daily at the motion picture institution drilling his officers so that they will be prepared for any emergency that may arise. The men have been equipped with rifles, and under the direction of Chief Johnson are becoming thoroughly adept in their use. The head of Universal City's police force only recently returned to 'the plant after an absence of several months due to a broken ankle. Duringthe first week after his return the Chief moved about on crutches while he was putting his men through the military maneuvers. Chief Johnson is the proud possessor of a heavily mounted solid gold police star studded with diamonds, which was presented to him upon his retirement from the Los Angeles police force several years ago. FARNUM AND MORAN SCINTILLATE AT BEACH. pRANKLYN FARNUM and Lee Moran took advantage of the beautiful weather on Sunday last to visit the beach at Venice and make use of the new bathing suits which they won in the prize dancing contest at the Strand Cafe at Venice on Universal City night, and which, with a handsome parasol won bv Miss Alice Lake, were donated by Miss Marie Walcamp, fair star of the Universal forces. The contest was held in connection with "Come Through," which just had its premiere at the Broadway in New York City. The first honors in the contest went to Famum — "the man with the million dollar smile" — and Miss Lake, his dancing partner, and the next couple to please the judges were Lee Moran and Miss Ethel Davis. The bathing toggery presented by Miss Walcamp is made of bright red silk ^vith white trimming, and the two Universalites were the c>Tiosure of all eyes while they disported themselves in the surf or raced through the breakers. Both Famum and Lee Moran are fine swimmers and could have won a water contest as easily as a land dancing contest.