The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

February 7, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 923 Corinne Griffith Resting. Corinne Griffith, one of the most indefatigable workers at Vitagraph's Brooklyn studio, is taking a brief but enforced rest while the cast is being assembled for her next feature, "The Memento," based on one of O. Henry's short stories. Two men provided the scenario, Lucien Hubbard writing the "small town" scenes and Graham Baker arranging the action, which takes place in a large city. Their work has been completed, and great care is being taken in selecting the cast. Miss Griffith, however, has a feature awaiting release. This is "Deadline at Eleven," a newspaper story by Ruth Byers. McCormick Hires Zimmerer as Art Director of Circle ANOTHER notable advance in the world of showmanship has just been made by S. Barret McCormick, managing director of the Circle Theatre, Indianapolis, by the engagement of Frank J Zimmerer, one of the most distinguished of the new school of stage decorative artists, as art director for the theatre. In music, pictures and stage embellishments, the Circle has been regarded as the leading theatre in the Middle West, and in order that even more serious consideration can be given to the artistic presentation of elaborate prologues and stage settings, the engagement of Mr. Zimmerer was made. The new art director will execute the stage settings and decorative effects and, with Mr. McCormick, will produce the various tableaux, ballets and stage features in the future. The work of Mr. Zimmerer is already well known to Indianapolis theatregoers, a few of his stage decorations having been presented at the Circle at different times during the last year. His work first came to the attention of the Indianapolis public during his engagement with the Stuart Walker Company during the company's first season in the Hoosier capital. Mr. Zimmerer just recently returned from Europe, where he went to observe the methods of the new theatre movement in Paris and Glasgow and also to confer with Lord Dunsany. Mr. Zimmerer was the first decorative artist to create the settings for the Dunsany plays in America. The famous Irish dramatist had never seen any of the productions and Mr. Zimmerer's sketches of settings and costumes so appealed to him that they are now framed and hang in the Dunsany castle in County Meath, Ireland. Rothacker Leaves for The Coast. Watterson R. Rothacker, president of the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company, left for Los Angeles on January 27 to get construction started on the Los Angeles laboratory, the site for which has already been purchased. Full announcements in regard to the location of the site will be made to the trade later. While on the coast Mr. Rothacker will make tentative arrangements for the production of a six-reel feature, which he will personally present to the trade. He has already secured the story for the picture, having purchased the motion picture rights to a popular novel. Omaha Showman Induces Pershing To Attend " Soldiers of Fortune" GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING occupied a box in the Sun Theatre, Omaha, last week to witness "Soldiers of Fortune," the Allan Dwan production. The famous soldier's visit came in response to the invitation of Harry Goldberg, live wire showman, who learned that his home town was next on Genera' Pershing's itinerary and who decided that the \isit would be incomplete wi:hout a view of the American adventure story. A telegram was dispatched to headqunrters of the Pershing party in Lincoln, Neb. Here is the message: "General John J. Pershing, the Greatest Soldier of Fortune. We herewith extend to you a most coidial invitation to visit the Sun Theatre when you aie in Omaha on January 8 lor we earnestly desire that you see the pictnrization of the Richard Harding Davis immortal classic, 'Soldiers of Fortune.' We feel quite sure that this epic of the screen will appeal to you not only because it has made history in the annals of literature and the stage, but also because it typifies the principles of clean two-fisted Americanism and chivalry for which you stand." Persuaded City Fathers. Through one of General Pershing's aides came a response which was not over-encouraging, but which spurred Mr. Goldberg on to put through his ambitious plans. Acceptance of the invitation depended upon consequent arrangements to be made by the city authorities when the Pershing entourage appeared in Omaha, according to the telegram. Did Mr. Goldberg come to the conclurion that it was a rather impossibly big stunt to get one of the most famous so diers of the world to come to his theatre and witness the current attraction? If he felt that way, he didn't show it in his activities with the city authorities, persuading them that the gereral really ought to see the picturization of Davis' great novel. General Pershing came to the theatre, accompanied by a formidable staff. Crowds gathcicd. Photographers got bu-y. And the newspapers quite naturally gave the Sun Theatre liberal publicity. "It is fine entertainment," General Pcching told Mr. Goldberg, "and the battle scenes are excellent." After the picture had been shown Mr. Goldberg had no trouble in inducing General Pershing to stand in front of a welcoming, home-made three-sheet to be photographed. The general was very bu.=y and there were no gaps in his schedule, but "Soldiers of Fortune" had compensated in advance for the delay. Sidney Olcott Signed to Direct for Goldwyn SYDNEY OLCOTT, who started directing at the very beginning of motion pictures, and has come to be recognized as one of the foremost experts at his craft, has been placed under contract by Goldwyn. He will be assigned immediately to the making of one of Goldwyn's big feature productions. Mr. Olcott has enjoyed a long and successful career as a director of motion pictures, starting with the Kalem Company after he had profited by considerable stage experience in this country and Canada. "From the Manger to the Cross," a multiple-reel production that still remains a classic of its type, was made by Director Olcott with a company of player that he took to the Holy Land in order to secure the proper settings. This was the first pretentious production of a serious nature to be made by an American director. Too Bad We Used That Caption on "Pointed Remarks" Before. It's a good line, though, and it'd go for this pointed situation, with Edmund Breese In the Levering feature for Hodkinson, "His Temporary Wife."