The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY 15 Items of Interest— Universal and Otherwise Polo Wears Ring From Mons Shell QNE morning recently Eddie Polo, the well-known athlete and Universal actor and one of the stars of "The Gray Ghost," received a letter from Albert Witts of Portsmouth, England, praising him for his work in the patriotic serial, "Liberty." In this letter Witts told of having been wounded three times at the front and losing four brothers in the titanic struggle. The same afternoon another letter dated exactly one month later was received from Ethel Webster of Liverpoor, a sister of the soldier, conveying the sad news that her brother had been killed at the battle of Mons. The letter brought a ring to Polo made from a piece of the German shell which had wounded him during the fighting. The letters follow. "113 Sultan Rd., "Portsmouth, Eng. "Eddie Polo — Dear sir. I am glad indeed to write and let you know how I and my comrades admire your work on the screen. I have seen the first three episodes of the film 'Liberty.' It is the first time I have seen your work on the screen, but I hope it won't be the last, as I and my comrades think you are the best actor in all the Liberty company. We don't get much time to go and see any films over in this land. "My regiment is the Rifle Brigade and I have been out to the front three times and wounded each time — twice in the last battle. By the time you receive this letter I shall be gone to fight again, so if you write me and don't get any answer don't think I am neglecting you. I don't know if you have any brothers, but if you have give my luck to them, "Sincere regards, "ALBERT WITTS." "Liverpool, England. "Dear Mr. Polo — No doubt you will be surprised to hear that my last brother was killed in Mons. Now I have lost five brothers and father and mother. I am all alone. My husband was killed in the early part of the war. He was only a young man — 21 years of age. My brother Albert was always talking about you — how wonderful you were and how glad he would be to receive a letter from a hero like you. "He made the ring that is enclosed in a special envelope and he told me before he left it was for you. He made it while he was in the hospital from a piece of the German monster shell that wounded him -in the battle of Mons. "I hope you will accept it as a token of thankfulness for your photo of yourself which I am keeping in remembrance of you. Will you please drop me a line, as it will cheer me up knowing that I have some one in faraway America — that wonderful country— that thinks of me. "With my fondest thoughts, "Yours sincerely, "ETHEL WEBSTER." MISS BALDWIN'S NEXT. [^UTH ANN BALDWIN of the Universal directoral forces has begun work upon a new five-z'eel Western feature, which is being produced upon a more elaborate scale than any play she has yet handled. This is a dramatization of Wallace Cook's novel, "The Old West Per Contract," which appeared recently in the Argosy Magazine. Miss Baldwin is the author of the scenario. Donna Drew, who aroused much comment recently by her pleasing work in "The Flame of Youth," will have the leading part, opposite Leo Pierson. Jean Hersholt will appear in the heavy role. Other important characters in the production will be played by Joseph Girard and George Pearce. A number of large sets have been especially constructed for this feature, the most picturesque of which typify a pioneer mining settlement of the days of '49. Miss Baldwin and her company are now engaged in filming exteriors for the drama in the vicinity of San Diego. Cartoon which appeared in the Chicago American as a protest against Movie Censorships as carried on in Chicago. PRAISES LAEMMLE'S PLEA. (From the Charleston Gazette, Charleston, W. Va.) The suggestion that during the summer months "the movies should be kept moving" seems to be a wise one, for, in the last analysis they are the joy of the masses. The fear that the war might cause some to close their places of amusement, should be discouraged, for every sort of amusement that will tend to banish the thoughts of death and injury should be stimulated. We have only to remember that England has learned this fact, and the very inexpensive nature of this kind of amusement has caused the British government to classify picture shows as necessities rather than luxuries. Of course, conditions in England are different from those in this country, but relatively speaking the same conditions will soon exist here. We have no selfish motive in urging this, but one born of the belief that until actually forced to do so by more serious events than now experienced there should be no curtailment of any industry, and if movies cause one to even forget they have more than fulfilled their mission, and a state of mind purchased for a dime is happiness bought at the minimum expense.