Reel Life (1916-1917)

LsVdi) AMERICAN SIGNS GAIL KANE Another noted actress added to growing list of “ Only Big Stars" AIL KANE, celebrated star of the screen and the speaking stage has signed a long term contract to appear in American Film Company productions for Mutual distribu¬ tion. The contract and all formal legal agree¬ ments were closed Friday, December 23, by the signature of Samuel Sheffield Hutchinson, presi¬ dent of the American Film Company, in Chicago — thus ending long negotiations which were opened through the Mutual’s New York office. Miss Kane is now preparing for her departure for Santa Barbara where she will begin work at the American western studios about January 22. She is now appearing with important success in '‘The Harp of Life” at the Globe theatre in New York. “Special preparations for the coming of Miss Kane have been begun on telegraphic instruction to Santa Barbara,” said Mr. Hutchinson. “We are selecting for Miss Kane dramatic vehicles of the type which have con¬ stituted her greatest successes. Also our whole staff is devoting its efforts toward the selection of the proper supporting casts for each of the Kane productions. The selection of the supporting cast is being given unusual attention, with an eye on both the New York and the west coast fields. Gail Kane is the third important star announced for Mutual productions for 1917. Marjorie Rambeau and Nance O’Neil, both now at work before the camera at the Powell Producing Corporation’s studios in New York, were the first announced following President John R. Freuler’s declaration of policy, “Only big stars for the Mutual.” Gail Kane is one of the most beautiful women known to the screen. She is of the statuesque type, classically perfect, yet with the endearing charm of intense human¬ ness. Miss. Kane’s large hazel eyes and her masses of red-brown hair, are sufficient in themselves to afford an artist inspiration, to which her perfect features would at once convert into an obsession. Miss Kane’s career was begun under Charles Frohman six years ago. She first appeared under Mr. Frohman’s management in “Decorating Clementine,” appearing in the first production at the New Theatre with Winthrop Ames. Later she was presented in “As A Man Thinks,” by Augustus Thomas, at the Thirty-ninth Street Theatre in New York. She was the young actress then picked by Mr. Thomas to star in his successful play “The Model,” and later again appeared for Mr. Frohman with Winthrop Ames in “Anatol” at the Little Theatre. After that Miss Kane became Chauncey Olcott’s leading lady in “Macushla.” The next big Broadway hit of Miss Kane was as “Myre The Adventuress” with George Cohan in his Broadway hit, “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” delivering in this play the famous “Go to Hell” speech, which was one of the most discussed theatrical bits of all time. Miss Kane was then selected to appear in Cohan’s only serious play “The Miracle Man,” put on at the Broadway Theatre, New York, which launched her for an appearance at the Astor Theatre two years in suc¬ cession. Miss Kane then appeared in the last play produced by Mr. Frohman before he was lost on the Lusitania — “The Hyphen.” In her present engagement at the Globe Theatre, New York, in “The Harp of Life,” Miss Kane is enjoying a great success. She was booked for this engagement last year, after she had made a great triumph for herself in Augustus Thomas’ famous play “Arizona,” in which Mr. Thomas himself induced her to make her first appearance before the motion picture camera. REEL LIFE — Page One