The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

une 6, 1914 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW II Los Angeles Notes of Interest in the Realm of Photoplay By RICHARD WILLIS Grace Ciinard underwent an opera- tion at the Sisters' Jdospital this week ami was out of the Lucille Company for several days. Before going she and I'Vancis I-'ord put in two strenu- ous days, taking the scenes in which (iracc ai)i)eared. Lucille Love with- out Lucille seems like Llamlet with- out the melancholy Dane. Francis Ford lias worked up a very interesting "Xo. II," with the Mexican troubles for atmosphere. * * * Cleo Madison's l)urned feet are not normal yet, l)ut she is hard at work again. "Can't af- ford to be idle," she says. She is at jiresent entertaining a brother and his wife, who never .saw a picture in the making before. * * " Bess Meredyth is -pending a few days at Catalina Island, where the natives are won't to be surprised at her many disguises, for she is still l)ess the Detectrcss, hounding down villains who annoy- ingly turn Out to be very unoffending ])arties. Last week she wore a full iieard for the first time. "Never again," says Bess; "beards taste very nasty, ju.st like old-fashioned hair mattresses!" * * * Carlyle Blackwell liad (|uite a surprise in one of tlic New ^'ork picture houses recently, when he went in to see The Detective's Sis- ter, which he iiroduced and took the lead in whilst with the Kalem Com- pany. The manager was aware (^f his l)resence and had the spotlight turned on him, and Carlyle had an enthusias- tic rece])tion and had to make a little speech. * * * Harold Lock wood is very enthusiastic over his part in The Country Chairman, and is just as en- thused over his director, Allan Dwan, who was recently with the Universal. * * Edna Maison is being featured in a strong military story under the direction of Charles Gii)lin. Edna has a fine acting part as a Secret Service woman, and there is no better actress on the screen when it comes to re- l)ressed or expressed emotions. The Universal are outlining some big Uiings for this really fine performer. * Myrtle Stedman has received a ])articularly touching letter from an i x-convict who saw her on the .screen and remembered her face. He was in the Canon City, Colorado, penitentiary when she used to go and sing to the unfortunates. He writes, "My heart was as lead and I hated all mankind when your singing of The Eternal City touched me and set me thinking. I am working now and at peace, and will ever remember you." This is the sort of letter many of us would like lo receive. * * * Pauline l>ush writes from a ranch that her holiday is Hear- ing its end and that she has added considerable poundage. She has been writing a series of psychol(\gical ar- ticles for one of the prominent maga- zines. These are published under a pen name and are remarkable for their thought and insight. Miss Bush is one of the most intellectual actresses on the .screen, and certainly one of the most earnest and deserving. * * * William D. Taylor, now filling a spe- cial engagement with the Balboa Co., has received a contract to write three vaudeville sketches, one of which is for the Orpheum circuit. It is not generally known that Mr. Taylor has written a number of successful sketches, including The Mills of the Gods, or that he is engaged upon a psychological three-act play which may make its first appearance in Los Angeles. He is also the author of several photoi:)lays. * * * vMexandra Bhillips Fahrney has voiced her op'm- ions regarding the poster in the Script. the organ of the Photoplay Authors' League. She believes in good adver- tising- posters, but objects to the vi- cious paper put out by some manufac- turers wdiich shows but the seamy side of life; much of it gives a wrong im- pression of the film shown which alone does harm. This lady will find lots of people who agree with her. * * Louise Glaum, the irrepressible little comedian with Harry Edwards in the Universal Ike series, is known as the Princess at the Universal ranch, where the cowboys and soldiers wor- shi]) her. She knows them all and their troubles too. One of her self- imposed duties is to help some of the boys write letters home and to their sweethearts, and her ready .sympathy and engaging smile have brought her a number of hand-made presents which she appreciates. * * It is good to feel one is appreciated after years of endeavor. Harold Lockwood has taken leads and been ])opular in pic- tures for a long time, but he is just now meeting with the recognition he really deserves, lie is giving a ster- ling ]5erformance in the leading part of Tillford Wheeler in The Comity Chairman, in which Mackl3'n /\r- buckle is being starred. Lockwood's future is just coming up and some big things are assured him in his present company. Doings at the Movies SAN RAFAEL, June 2.—The Cali- fornia Motion Picture Corporation are finishing up their first feature picture, Mignon, this week, and are getting ready to produce Salome Jane, a four- reel feature film. * * * Ed. Realph has succeeded Marshall W. Zeno as as- sistant director, with Earl Enilay as assistant. * * * Beatrice Michelena, leading woman, has been suffering from an attack of ptomaine poisoning and as a consequence has been laid up for several days. * * * Belle Ben- nett, who was engaged as leading woman, but w ho has only been pla}'ing the lead in the prologue of Mignon, is closing. The company is now fin- ishing their studio. On the lot they have an extensive laboratory, com- ]ilete in every detail—a large stage, carpenter shoji, scene room, wardrobe room, over 30 dressing rooms, and everything is modern and convenient. In course of construction there is an artificial light studio, a brick safe for keei)ing films, a restaurant, several bungalows and office buildings, and the entire lot is to be inclosed with an eight-foot fence. * * * Chas. Edler, director and manager for the Golden State ImIui Co., located at San Rafael, has completed his four-reel feature and has closed dcnvn temporarily while he negotiates the sale of his jMCtures; but as soon as the company gets a little more money in the treas- ury he intends to reopen stronger than ever. Much credit is due Edler, for A m PRIINTIING PLANT IN A BIG SHOW TOWN ALLES FREE! DateBook,1914-15 Southwest Theat- rical Guide Sharing Contracts Actors' Contracts Agents' Advice Sheets Agents, make this your headquarters. We date and reship paper for you WE FILL ■•RUSH" ORDERS QUICK ■ LOS ANGELES ■ 222-224-226 EAST FOURTH ST. he has comjileted his pictures under the most trviii"' conditions. The Loftus Features, of Los An- geles, will manufacture tw'o features per month of four reels and more in length. Constance Crawley and Ar- thur Maude will star in one series, while modern pictures, manufactured on the burning questions of the hour, will be utilized for the second outinit. A large monitor investiture has been made in studio and equi])nient and Joseph Shipman has quite an interest in the company, acting in the cai)acity of general manager. luMiest Shipman, general manager of the Pan-y\merican Film Company, has been forced to take a temporary rest from the strenuous labors of the past year. Since the first of June, he has been working strenuously building up the Pan-American Vilm Comjiany to its present state of effi- ciency, and it is now managed under departmental heads, so that the chief executive can take an occasional breathing spell. Photo=Drama in Chicago By Owen II. Miller Pictorially sjU'aking, the drama in Chicago is in a lively condition, ni)t- withstanding the more or less financial stringency which seems to prevail in Chicago. It has really come to pass that the cinema actors are the idols, all the more so because of their im- pali)ability, of a large and ever in- creasing populace. To the ])opidar mind, at least, the film player is al- most of another realm, hence the pe- culiar fa.scination which he radiates. A few weeks ago a ball was promoted by some wise gentlemen, who an- nounced it was a ball given for the purpose of having the public meet some of their film favorites, admis- sion and meeting thereof costing them just one dollar. The ball was given at the Coliseum, and to say the public fell for it is expressing it mildly. They ate it up. What wonder when the dashing and debonair iM-ancis X. Bnshnian, with a broad riband jilaced diagonally across his wdiite shirt front; Marc McDerniont, Miriam Nesbitt, Bryan Washburn, Helen Dunbar, Adrienne Kroell. Wallie \'an. Mar- guerite Snow, Flo Labadie, and a host of others, all were there in real fleshy glory, and the pcoi)le grasped them by the hands and saw for the first time how very real they were. The players held (|uite a levee, and admira- tion and compliments were indulged in and responded to by the public an 1 their actors. lUit the cinematogra]ih is a great educator as well as a delight- ful entertainer. We see productions thrown upon the screen now which reveal art, skill, power, of both actor and author; which visualize splendid technic|ue and artistry of men and women, who reveal in every expres- sion, in every pose, the sober earnest- ness and the faith that is within them. .\nd let it n(il be doubted that the conscientious and capable player will revel in these adjuncts to his art, thar his acting will combine fervor with freedom, that freedom which trees and flowers inhale, and the vistas of beau- teous landscape and soft blue skies impart. It is an era of real art which we think has come into the world, an understandable and coni])rehensive art which is within the reach of the Imvly no less than the rich and great. Look at the roster of ])hot(iplays which are being presented at downtown theatres in Chicago: The Spoilers, The Battle of the Sexes, A Million Bid, Si)arta- cus, or the Revolt of the Gladiators, Neptune's Daughter, Under Sealed Orders, and one becomes forcefully, insistently cognizant that the drama and the impresario of the future are here, and are actively, .strenuously, constructively spreading the new gos- l)el. Messrs. Jones, Linick and Schaefer are presenting The Spoilers at The Studebaker, The Battle of the Sexes at the La Salle, Alfred liam- burger has the Fine Arts and the Ziegfeld theatres, upon the screens of which are being exliibited, respective- ly, Annette Kcllermann in Nej)tune's Daughter and Under Sealed Orders. George Kleine, of Cines-Kleine, is re- sponsible for the tremendous exhibi- tion of Spartacus, which has just end- ed its exhibition at the Auditorium. The story of Spartacus is (nie (d the classics of ancient Rome, and calls for heroic acting, magnificent costumes anil a degree of emljellishment which is remarkable. The music written for the ])roduction is from the jien of Modest .Mschuler, who was also the leader of the forty-piece orchestra. The Cines-Kleine Com])any of players are exceptional artists, and their con- ce])tion of those old days of arenic combats and the luxury and evils of the Roman stale was a marvel of veri- similitude. The final presentations at the Col- umbia Theatre of the .\nnelte Keller- mann motion i)ictures, entitled Nep- tune's Daughter, will be given on this Saturday afternoon and night.