The Bioscope (May-Jun 1915)

946 Tut Broscope, JUNE 3, 1915. a Famous Players and Lasky Activities. NOTABLE ENGAGEMENTS AND BIG PICTURES COMING. MARY, LOTTIE AND JACK. Mary Pickford’s sister and brother, Lottie and Jack, both of them picture plavers, will be seen in a forthcoming Famous Players production, “ Fanchon de Cricket,” in which the immortal Mary plays the title rd/e. ‘This is the first time that the three Pickfords have appeared together in the same piciure. “THE MOTH AND THE FLAME.’ Clyde Fitch’s celebrated) morality play, “The Moth and the Flame,” has just been adapted for the screen by the Famous Players Company. The four part pictorial version is said to enhance the dramatic value of the original work, if anything, and to add a new spectacular interest thereto. A FAMOUS DIRECTOR. Famous directors as well as famous plays and famous players are constantly being added to the already huge fersonnued of this great American Company. In_ tact, it should soon be possible to. say that everybody who is anybody in theatrical America has been connected with the Famous Players Company in one way or another. Following their engagement of Sidney Olcott, the Famous Players have now secured the services of another well-known director, Oscar Eagle. Mr. Eagle, who has_ produced many prominent screen successes, was for two years at the head of the Selig Company’s Chicago studios, and prior to that was associated for many vears with David Belasco, with whom he gained a national reputation as a stage director. He was also connected for a long time with the Leibler Company, for whom he produced many of their greatest dramatic successes. Mr. Eagle’s first production with the Famous Players Company will be a version of Richard Harding Davis’ celebrated romance, ‘‘ The Dictator,” in which John Barrymore will appear. In order to re-enact the work on the original ground described by the author, Mr. FEagle transported an entire company of plavers to Cuba—an interesting example of the Famous Players’ well-known policy of sparing no expense in their search for perfection. ’ GREAT OPERATIC STAR ENGAGED BY LASKY. The Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company have just engaged the famous opera singer, Geraldine Farrar, whose contract with the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, has recently been renewed after a scries of appearances, sensational and almost unequalled in their success. It is said that the negotiations between Miss Farrar and the Lasky Company were in progress for more than seven months before the contract was actually signed. It is also said that the great artist will be remunerated at the rate of two dollars a minute while before the camera. This engagement has been arranged by Mr. Morris Gest, representing the diva, and Mr. Samuel Goldfish, representing the Lasky Companv. Negotiations have been in progress practically throughout the grand opera season just concluded, and were consummated the day after Miss Farrar’s farewell for the season at the Metropolitan, when thousands of admirers cheered her for more than an hour, and refused to Google leave the auditorium until, breaking all rules of that Institution, she made a speech announcing that she would return to the Metropolitan next season. Miss Farrar, who is now on tour with the Metropolitan Company in Atlanta, will return to New York City before she starts for the Lasky studios at Hollywood, California, and while in this city will make new records of “ Carmen’’ for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Miss Farrar will leave for California on June 15th, and will make the trip from here to the Pacific Coast in a special car, which has been arranged for by the Lasky Company. Miss Farrar will be accompanied by her father and mother, Mr. Morris Gest, her manager, and Mrs. Morris Gest, the daughter of Mr. David Belasco, who has also helped to bring about the contract between the star and the Lasky Company. Miss Farrar will also be accompanied by four maids and her special hairdresser. In Hollywood, Miss Farrar will reside in a villa which has been practically leased and furnished for her by the Lasky management. The contract between the Lasky Company and Miss Farrar, by arrangement with Mr. Gest, covers a period of several seasons. Miss Farrar will spend exactly eight weeks working for the Lasky Company this season, and it is assumed that during this period she will appear in three and possibly four productions. It is not possible to announce at the moment the exact nature of the productions in which Miss Farrar will appear, except to say that it is highly probable she will assume some of the characters with which her name has been conspicuously connected in operatic presentations. These matters are now under daily discussion and will be settled in the near future. VICTOR MOORE IN TWO MoreE LASKY PRODUCTIONS. Mr. Victor Moore, the celebrated Broadway comedy star, who has achieved an extraordinary hit in his first photodramatic appearance under the Laskv management in ‘ Snobs,’’ has agreed immediately to star in two more picturisations for the Lasky Company. With this purpose in view, he left last Wednesday, and will, upon his arrival at the studios, immediately begin work in the picture version of a famous Irish comedy, ‘‘ Chimmie Fadden.” Mr. Moore played this vdde in stock some years ago and savs that the character of the bright young Irishman, who is befriended by a rich lady, is, to his mind, absolutely ideal for screen possibilities. The second of the two additional Victor Moore productions has not been definitely decided upon, but will be announced in the near future. WELL-KNOWN DRAMATIC CRITIC AS SCENARIO EDITOR. A somewhat unique engagement has been made by the Lasky Company who have induced Mr. Hector Turnbull, dramatic critic of the New York Tribune, to give up his position in order to become associated with their scenario department. Mr. Turnbull is the brother of Miss Margaret Turnbull, the wellknown author and playwright, who is already assisting Mr. W. C. De Mille in the preparation of Laskv photodramas.