Variety (November 1914)

22 VARIETY FILM FLASHES Edgar Lewis la directing the production of Bernstein's "Samson." The ca»l will Include William Farnum, Maud Gilbert, Harry Splng- ler, George De Carleton, B. Peteraon, A. Kyle and Cary Lee. Frank Kugler, president of the Camera Club, will be the photographer. Mr. Lewis expects to have the production com- pleted by December 15. Jack Pratt, director for the All Star Fea- ture Corporation started for Florida last Wed- nesday with a company of 15 headed by Jane Cowl to produce "A Tissue of Lies." Tim company will make its headquarters In St. Augustine. A new picture house is being planned for Fourth and Market streets, San Francisco. MUUcent Evans is enjoying a vacation dur- ing the present shutdown of the Colonial studio. Her salary goes right along. The Qlflh sisters, Lillian and Dorothy, are oo-stars in the two-reeler "The Sisters," which William Christy Cabanne Is directing. Sam McFarlane is no longer connected with the United Booking Office Feature Film Co. Frank Lloyd, formerly attached to the Turn- er Special Feature Co., is hereafter to direct one of the companies that will release under the Rex brand. With Lloyd will be George Larkin and Helen Leslie as leads. Marc Rob- bins will play characters. Harry Joel Parker has taken his wife's flay, "Under Southern Skies," away from the opnlar Plays Co., and is now negotiating with another film company relative to Its pic- ture production. The California Picture Co. has sent In to the New York market a completed edition of Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," in which Beatrix Mlchelena has the star role. The California Co. plans some new "westerns" this winter. The Otis Turner forces are making a pic- ture out of Hugh Conway's novel, "Called Back." In the cast will be Anna Little, Herbert Rawllnson and William Worthlngton. In "The Heart of Maryland" feature, which the Tiffany Co. Is making with Mrs. LeslU* Carter as the star and Herbert Brenon the director, William E. Shay will play the male lead. Others will be James McKay, George Fitch and George Stout Richard 8tanton is directing the picturlza- tlon of "The Master of the House," in which Arthur Maude will be the star. Z. Z. Goldfrap, formerly of the Evening World, has become associated with the pub- licity department of the Box Office Film: Attractions. Work on the film feature, "The Girl I Left Behind Me," will start In December. Robert Edeson will have the principal role. The company making the picture, "The Idler," has styled Itself the Wonderful Play and Players' Corporation. "Buck Shot John." a Charles Van Loan story, Is a "future film" by the Bosworth Co. The American Co. plana to make a new policy announcement within the near future. William Garwood Is now playing leads for the Imp Co. He was formerly with the Amer- ican forces. The Klelne Co. Is making arrangements to release the Mrs. Leslie Carter feature, "Ma- dam DuBarry," which was made some months ago. In the cast with Mrs. Carter Is Richard Thornton, Hamilton R«»velle and Campbell Oollan. George Beban, who Is now ennnKod in actlnc before the camera under Thoma? II. Ince's direction, has a trip to Italy mapped nut for him In order to give his picture mle In "Th< Italian" the real scenic atmosphere, "ftebun embarks for Naples and from there will pro- ceed to Venice, Italy. The "Alice of Wonderland" feature whi'i had work stopped on It has been taken over by the Nonpareil Co. and will now be rushed to completion. It'B a five reeler. Pictures of the Harvard-Yale football tanif. taken Saturday in New Haven by the Colonial Co., were shown this woek at the; Palace. New York. Mabel Taliaferro and her supporting com- pany are In a remote western mining town producing "The Three of IV for n. A. RoKr. to be released In the Alco program. The Temple theatre, Toledo; Willis Wood. Kansas City : Palace. Idttlc Rock ; Strand (formerly Swlr.eh.-r O. II.), Morirantown, W^t Va., and the Mary Anderson. Louisville, are among the prominent houses lately signed for the Alco program. Joseph Sklrboll. Pittsburgh and Chicago manager for the Alco, was In N«w York a few days ago. He reported the opening with Alco features of the New Regmt. East Liberty, Pa., built at a cost of $100,000 by Clark & Rowland. The William Penn theatre, Pittsburgh, Mr. Sklrboll said, bus contracted for the Alco service. "The Aviator Traitor" Is a now thriller scheduled this month for release by the Blink- horn Photoplay Co. It Is a war drama in which aeroplanes Qgure. It is In three reels. The Tlolboa Is sending out a second pamphlet of instruction In Its campaign of instruction to scenario writers. Notes of approval have been received from David W. Griffith, Capt. Leslie T. Peacocke and a host of other leaders in the cinema art. The new folder carries more extensive views and rules for the prepara- tion of scenarios for the instruction of ama- teurs. Bertram Bracken has resumed his position of director-general of the six Dulboa com- panies In California. His tirst production will be a six-reel version of Mrs. Augusta Evan's novel "Beulah." Announcement is made by the lialboa of the engagement of Dorothy Granville, niece of (jranvllle liarker, the London producer and playwright, to appear before the camera. Be- sides appearing in American legitimate at- tractions. Miss Granville bus been a vaude- ville feature. This note came to the Bijou, Lincoln, Mi., where the Mux Figinan feature film •■WIi.k His Name" was being exhibited: "Max Fig- man, Dear Sir: The reason for my writing you this letter Is that 1 am looking for u good, clean company of players to travel for Haskel Players.' I offer you the chance to obtain this chance as 1 hear that It Is a good clean company. Please send me particulars for about the price you would charge me." The writer gives a postofflce box as his ad- dress. O. A. C. Lund sailed for Havana this week for a three weeks' stay to recuperate from the severe cold which he contracted at Marble- head, Mass., a fortnight ago. He entrusted the direction of the last three "close ups" of "The Marked Woman" to bis assistant, George Cowl. The Star at Waterloo, N. Y., has been sold to Albert Archer by John B. Flanagan. Flana- gan will remain as manager. William Rubin, Syracuse, has purchased the new Regent theater (pictures) from Joseph and Frances E. Boudy. No change in man- agement of house. One of the coming releases by the World Film Corporation, to be produced In the Peer- less Studios, is "The Flash of an Emerald, which is being adapted by CupL Leslie T. Peacocke from a "Smart Set" story by Ethel Watts Mumford. Director Frank Crane has secured a re- markable realistic shipwreck off the coast of Gloucester, Mass., for the five-reel feature "As Ye Sow," in which Alice Brady Is to be 8 tarred. Director James Young is hard at work on a four-reel production of Paul Armstrong s play, "The Deep Purple," In which Clara Kimball Young Is to be featured. Frank Kcenan, who Is to appear In a plc- turlzed version of "Thu Hon. John Grlgsby," is nlso to do "A Poor Relation." Both are former stage pieces of the late Sol Smith Russell. Wells Hawk has tak«n up his new pub- licity duties for the L'nlversul's new feature, "Damon and Pythias," but found so much to look after in managing the New York theatre during the L"s tenancy there for tour weeks that Lew Woed was engaged this week to handle the job. Hawks will de\oV» all his time to promoting the picture. Further additions and cb;r: -;es in the sell- ing organization of the World Film Corpora- tion were ma<l<> public this week, in line with the concern's recent si-'ning of Frank H. Vine to handle the New F.ngland branch of the business. Robert Etrls will be In charge of Philadelphia and II. C. Holah of Cleveland. General Maa.-.g-r Lewis J. Selz- nick hn^" secured Arthur S. Kane to head the new organization and act a, his assistant in the sHiin£ end. Other c'i.-ingcs in the World's liiii'-up include the transfer of Fred Young from Ilu!TaI<» to St. Lour--, the appoint- ment of I^eoii Uii-uber a-r, i'nrmerly special representative. t»> ;e I as assistant "to C. It. Seelye, director of s:ile*. and the transfer of E. I). Seldcn from Cleveland to the newly opened brarcli l.i Newark. V. .1. Ella Wheeler Wilcox paid h. r first visit to n lilm-uandlini; plant this week when •A'.f inspected the rviniliVi' otT'n.'es of Pat Power;' Warner's Features, inc., is handling the pict un/ations of .Mrs. Wiley's verses. W. S. Ferguson, who rrea'ed the role of "Pop." the hypercr'f ie:ii crook in The Deep Purple." lias been eni'agvd for the same rob- in the World Film Corporation picture ver- «|r>n. Other hp-mi'm i's of the cart are: Clara Kimball You it-,'. Milton Sills, Walter Craven. Crauford Kent. Mrs E. M. Kimball and Grace Aykuworth. LASKY'S FIRST ANNIVERSARY. Dec. 5 will mark the first year of existence of the Jesse L. Lasky Fea- ture Play Co. Though but a year old the firm is world-wide known through its productions of feature films. The Lasky concern, starting with one stock company and director, now has four, is building an enclosed studio on the Coast to continue through Cali- fornia's rainy spell, and its weekly pay- roll is said to be $20,000. The Lasky general manager, Samuel Goldfish, has gone rapidly ahead in pic- tures. According to report, Lasky is spending from $35,000 upward for each of its productions, and "The Rose of the Rancho," the latest Lasky re- lease, is said to have cost $44,000 be- fore seeing the sheet. The firm's biggest film venture to date will be David Belasco's "Darling of the Gods," probably as a longer reeler than has yet appeared under the Lasky brand. * SHOWING WAR PICTURES. The Belgian War Pictures or Chi- cago Tribune pictures as they are called, will open at the 39th Street theatre next Monday. The pictures did business when shown at the Studebaker, Chi- cago, mostly according to report, be- cause the Tribune out there gave much publicity to them. At a private exhibition of the film last week in New York, spectators held various opinions concerning the film, one exhibitor stating they were little better than the war pictures shown in the picture weeklies. Defining Union Jurisdiction. Philadelphia, Nov. 25. The American Federation of Labor, in convention here, has decided that the picture operators are to remain under the jurisdiction of the Theatrical Stape Employes and has denied the claim of the electrical workers' union which contended the operators should be a part of their organization. BLANCHE SWEET. Announecmcnt was made this work that Hlanehe Sweet, who has attained a high place m lilmdom through her association with the David W. tinffith productions, had been signed for two years to play leads in forthcoming fea- ture pictures to be made by the new Jesse L. Lasky-David Belasco combination. The first release (marked for Feb. IS), in which Miss Sweet will figure under the new arrange- in. nt will be a picturization of "The Woman," the Iblasco dramatic success of two years ago. Miss Sweet's services will be confined to the Belasco-Laiky productions. COAST PICTURE NEWS. By GUY PRICB. Mrs. Olga Clements, former scenario writer for the Balboa, la now chief scenario editor for the Santa Barbara company. Dustln Farnum le wavering between pictures and an offer from William A. Brady to appear in a play called "Jim's Women/' He will probably accept the latter. M. De la Parelle, Masterpiece director, hss retired and Max Flgman le directing hie own pictures. The Masterpiece company Is now occupying the entire stage of the Bunker Hill studio In Loe Angeles. Many of the photoplay actors In Santa Mon- ica, Cal., are attending night high school. Alfred L. Chapman, sole survivor of the Custer massacre, will be featured In a Uni- versal picture. W. J. T. Miller, a motion picture Inventor, visited Los Angelee last week. Bertram Bracken hae reeumed the director- ship of the Balboa company. C. Phil Norton hae opened a motion picture publicity bureau in Loe Angelee. Ben Deely has Joined the Balboa company. Baldy Belmont Is now with the Reliance-Ma Jostle. Ralph Lewis is laid up with a crippled foot ae the reeult of an accident sustained while appearing in D. W. Griffith's "The Clansman. Helen Holmes is fixing up her new bungalow in Los Angelee. Adele Lane hae left the Bellg company and is resting for several weeks. Frank Boreage hae been elevated to the posi- tion of leading man with the Broncho com- pany. Myrtle Stedman is playing opposite Maclya Arbuckle. Merle Wayne la now a member of the Bolboa organisation. TAKING ADVANTAGE. Exhibitors are complaining the ex- changes are taking out of their regu- lar releases, films that "draw/' making an extra charge for these. They point to the General Film Co., charging five dollars extra for Lubin's single reel productions featuring Ar- thur Johnson, and to the Mutual's charge of $15 extra for two-reel Key- stones. BIO STUDIOS DULL. It looks like a blue Christmas around the local Biograph studio. Word has gone forth that the Bio is going to send its New York players and direct- ors to the Pacific Coast Dec. 29 but will take only those deemed necessary to get the winter work started out there. Fully 100 picture people will be out of a job when the Biograph goes into its winter quarters. Among these are some principals who thought all along that they were going to be taken along to the western studios. ALCO GETS MISS COUNTISS. The Life Photo Co., releasing through the Alco program, this week announced it had secured the services of Catherine Countiss, who will ap- pear in the principal character of "The Avalanche," the picturization of the legitimate success, which will follow the release of "Springtime" by the same organization. Another Alco announcement was the forthcoming release by the B. A. Rolfe Co. of "Satan Sanderson," following the showing of Mabel Taliaferro in "The Three of Us." The name of the star in the new feature has not yet been disclosed. •'