The Moving picture world (July 1920)

July 17, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 327 LOS ANGELES KEWS LETTER* BY A.H.GIEBLER Herman Films to Build Big Unit Plant at Santa Monic? ANEW unit producing plant, to cost approximately $250,000, consisting of three or more stages, is to be erected at 2435 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, Cal., according to an announcement made by E. P. Herman, president and general manager of the Herman Film Corporation. One of the stages now nearing completion will be ready for use as soon as a $15,000 electric generator plant has been installed. Work on the other two stages will be started within a short time. The plan of the Herman company is to put two or more of its own companies at work and to lease the additional space in the studio to independent producing units. The stages will be so constructed that each separate unit will have its complete set of offices, dressing rooms and cutting rooms fitted up on the stage. Mr. Herman intends to produce pictures that will have a big thought behind them. "That Something," recently put on the market by him, is said to be unusual and •different in many respects from the everyday five reel feature. His second production will be a sequel to "That Something," and will be called "Something More." Hannibal Clermont Returns. Hannibal Clermont, president of Clermont Photoplays Corporation, has returned from Washington and New York, where he arranged to open offices in the east, and possibly in London. Anna Q. Nilsson Incorporates. Anna Q. Nilsson, according to the articles filed recently, has incorporated her own company for the production of moving pictures. Miss Nilsson has been rising steadily to the top of her profession by her careful and thorough delineation of the parts she has been called upon to portray In many of the recent successful picture productions in which she has played leading characters. No announcement as to the plans of the new company has been ■made. C. L. Chester Expands. C. L. Chester, producer of "ChesterOutings," "Chester Comedies," "Screenics," and Gale Henry Comedies, is erecting a new administration building at Gower street and Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, to be completed about September 1. The new building will be three stories in height, and cover 60 by 100 feet of ground. The first floor will contain the executive offices of the various producing companies ; the second floor will be given over to the directors and cameramen of the corporation, while the laboratories and projection room will occupy the third floor. P»eview on "Diamond Mystery" Serial. A preview of several episodes of "The Hope Diamond Mystery" was given at the Iris Theatre in Hollywood recently for the "benefit of the cast, trade journalists and May Yohe, formerly Lady Francis Hope, author of the story. New Hotel to Have Theatre. One of the features of the new California Ambassador Hotel, now under construction on Wilshire Boulevard, will be a moving picture theatre with a seating capacity of 575, which will draw its patrons chiefly from the guests of the hotel. This theatre will be strictly modern and up-to-date, and will include a pipe organ as part of the equipment. Venice Theatre Opens. The new theatre that has just been completed at Venice on the ocean front and Zephyr avenue, was opened recently as The California with a highly attractive bill of motion picture features. The owners of the new theatre, George Cleveland and C. Gordon Parkhurst, are also owners of the motion picture theatre at Redondo, and are arranging to build a third house at Santa Monica. To Exploit "Neptune's Bride." Albert B. Ormsby, a Canadian steel king, and president of the Ormsby Film Corporation, has come to Los Angeles to supervise the exploitation of "Neptune's Bride," a seven reel water fantasy just completed by Captain Leslie T. Peacocke for the company. Captain Peacocke is the author of the story of "Neptune's Bride," as well as director of the picture and he has made it a sequel to his earlier screen play, "Neptune's Daughter," in which Annette Kellerman starred several years ago. Robertson-Cole Studio Is Begun. Actual construction work has been started on the new Robertson-Cole studio at Melrose avenue and Gower street, which is just a little west of the Brunton plant. The new studio will be the home of the Sessue Hayakawa, Pauline Frederick, Mae Marsh, Dustin Farnum and Lew Cody productions. Goulding-Desmond. Alf Goulding, director of the Rolin Film Company, was married to Marcella Desmond, leading woman of the Harry Pollard Company, recently. The wedded pair spent their honeymoon of one day at Venice, and both returned to work at the Rolin studio the next day. Los Angeles Studio Shots T_T OWARD HICKMAN has given up his megaphone and directorial puttees to accept an offer that has been made to him by a film concern for his services as an actor. Marshall Neilan returned last week from a flying trip to New York, where he attended a meeting of the Associated Producers. Donald MacDonald, Harry Myers, William Courtright and Eugenie Besserer have been cast for the new Charles Ray picture, "Fortyfive Minutes from Broadway." Lewis Cody has purchased a home in Hollywood, for which he paid the sum of $50,000. Courteney Foote has arrived from the East to play the leading part in the Metro film version of the Jack London story "The Sea Rover," which will be directed by Edward Sloman. George French, of Christie Comedies, has announced his intention of deserting comedy for drama. Mary MacLaren and her mother, Mrs. Lil lian MacDonald. are preparing to go to New York, where they will sail for England on July 16. Marcel Le Picard, who photographed Will Rogers in "Jubilo" and "Jes' Call Me Jim." has been elected to membership in the American Society of Cinematographers. Mary H. O'Connor, scenario and film editor of the Famous Players-Lasky West Coast studio, has returned from her annual trip to New York. Enid Bennett and her husband, Fred Niblo, who is also her director, left for New York this week following the completion of Miss Bennett's contract with Thomas H. Ince. Max Linder, noted French comedian, has started production on a special feature, with Wilton Welch as director. June Mathis has returned to Metro's West Coast studio to remain until the filming of "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" is completed. Antonio Gaudio, Allen Dwan's cameraman, has been loaned to Louis J. Gasnier to do the camera work on "Kismet," with Otis Skinner. Macey Harlam has come from New York to play the heavy in the new Betty Compson feature, now in preparation. Stuart Holmes will play an important role in "Body and Soul," Metro's new feature, starring Alice Lake. Ethel Clayton, accompanied by her mother and brother, left Los Angeles this week en route to England, where she will make two pictures in the studios of the Famous-Lasky British Producers, Ltd. Carter De Haven, who with Flora De Haven is making a film version of "Twin Beds," has recovered from a recent attack of ptomaine poisoning. Charles Fortuna, famous clown of circuses and in the Hippodromes of New -York and London, will play the buffoon in Eddy Polo's new serial for Universal. Doris Pawn, now the the Betty Compson company, has obtained a divorce from her husband, Reginald Ingram, a director at Metro. May Allison's sister, Mrs. Neill Wright, of Huntington, Tenn., stopped off in Los Angeles to visit a few days before going to San Francisco to attend the Democratic convention, to which she is a delegate. Harry Spingler, motion picture director, has instituted divorce proceedings against his wife, known on the stage as Vera Michelena, whom he accuses of desertion. The Ruth Roland Serial Productions Company has moved from the Astra studio in Glendale to the Brunton plant. Lois Wilson, Lasky leading woman, has just returned from a visit to home folks in Birmingham, Ala. "The Tiger Lady," starring Hope Hampton, has been completed by Director Maurice Tourneur, and Miss Hampton leaves for New York within a few days. Tsuru Aoki is expected to reach San Francisco shortly on her return trip from Japan, where she has been visiting for the past few months. David Butler is making plans to go to New York upon the completion of his current feature for the David Butler Productions. Doraldina, new Metro star, has arrived in Los Angeles with her husband, Frank Saunders. Mary Miles Minter, her mother and sister, and a party of friends will tour Northern California during the next few weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Otis Skinner and their daughter have arrived to spend the summer in I. os Angeles while Mr. Skinner works in the film version of "Kismet," under the direction of Louis Gasnier. Waldemar Young, formerly of the Louis B. Mayer scenario staff, is now a member of the Metro scenario department.