Camera (May 1922-April 1923)

Camera/ THE DIGEST OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY Published in Los Angeles by Ted Taylor Vol. V. Saturday, September 9, 1922 No. 22 INDEX , Page { ! Cameral's Criticisms 5 t ( i j Chatter by Harry Burns 8 ) i Editorial comment 3 j Criticisms of contemporaries 15 I Pickups by the staff 7 i Production news 4 { Pulse of the studios 1 0 { j Rushes (cartoon) 18 I I Screen writers' page by William { E. Wing 9 I Story by I 8 • What Folks Think 15 I i VX'here to find people you know.... 6 ; Who's wh ere on Screens 6 L ^1 DENOUNCES REPUTATION WRECKERS In an editorial titled "Hy.sterics or Cussedness?" the Los Angeles Times has this to say about the charges brought by a 16-vearold girl against Eugene O'Brien, film actor: "Although The Times has no iii.side inlorni.itlon as to the truth or falsity of her story, an examination of the stated facts would seem to indicate that the girl made up this yarn about Mr. O'Brien out of whole cloth— a yarn adorned by gifts of automobiles that she can't describe: by alleged mock marriages the details of which she cannot remember. ".\nother girl of about the same age has brought to the public notice somewhat similar charges against another movie actor, Herbert Rawlinson. "Although occasionally it is announced that the girls in Question have decided to 'drop' the charge.s, the questions at issue still remain undecided. "It would seem that the public has nome rights in ihe.se matters. If the charges made by the.se girls prove to be true, both the actois in question should be driven out of the films. If the charges are not true, these girls sho.iici he imprisoned and punished. "There is altogether too nuich of a tendi-ncy to allow these sensational-hunting flapi)er.s to i)ring disgrace and shanit! upon .some c<-l< brity and -scandal upon the public: then dismiss the whole affair with an indulgent smile as the vagaries of a hysterical girl. "Any girl IG years old. with brains enough to concoct an elaborate story such as these girls concocted is old enough to be held responsible. "If it is proven that these girls have lied such an example should oe made of them that the next girl seeking notoriety will find another avenue for her avid egotism without destroying the reputations of men in the public eye or destroying the faith of the public." Crane Wilbur has written a play that for grisly horror is said to exceed anything on Broadway. It is called "The Monster." Larry Semen's pictures have caught the eye of Sid Grauinan, who has signed to take three subjects. The first will be "Golf." recently completed and shipped to New York. Semon week will be celebrated Septehiber 3 to 11 in California. In the Ring With Toreador The p. A.'s Friends Returning to the studio, members of the "Captain Blackbird" company tell of being caught in a gale off Tahiti. The Goldwyn press department promises to let us know next week whether they were saved, or not. Mary had a little smile That used to knock 'em dead; She took it to a casting man And stood him on his head. Speculators are hastening to purchase junk of several years ago, to foist upon the market. Now if the exhibitor could discover which is the ancient flivver, and irhich the jiresentday production, he might do somexhing about it, couldn't he? Prohibition agents pretend to be film folks on location making "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in order to trap five Polish moonshiners near a New York town. Guess that'll hold the reformer who charged that motion pictures were interfering with dry law enforcement. "Oh, ma, qjay I go in to swim? No, no, my precious pearl; That sure would spoil your chance to be A movie bathing girl." AS WE GO TO PRESS A RUMOR FLOATS UP CAMERA! ALLEY THAT BILL HART, JR. PLANS HIS OWN COMPANY TO PRODUCE "WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT A POPPA!" IN FIVE SCREAMS. "I am hopeful of the day when motion pictures will go out of control of the devil." — William Jennings Bryan in Bible school talk. Thanks. Bill. We'll try to feel optimistic about politics, too. "Manslaughter" This stunt cannot fail to attract attention. Buy a dozen sheets — ordinary Irisli linen will do — and paint on them; "If you approve of 'MANSLAUGHTER' see picture at Blank's theater." Now hire a dozen assorted b;illyhooers and coach them. Send them out one at a time. The Director-General of Exploitation should follow with a sheet. The ballyhooer approaches a pedestrian and inquires courteously: "Good day, sir! Is it hot enough for you?" When pedestrian goes on, the D.-G. of E. throws the sheet over the ballyhooer's body and goes back to the theater for another. James Starr is editing a daily syndicated newspaper column called "Movieganda" from 6401 South Park avenue. Alma Whittaker, 1040 Kensington road, is writing a weekly film news letter for British consumption. The Greenville (S. C.) News has added a four-page Sunday rotogravure section. The Worcester (Mass.) Sunday Times starts publication tomorrow (September 10.) Among newspapers of the United States the first half of 1922, four Los Angeles dailies held the following positions in volume of advertising: Times, first Sunday, third morning; Examiner, fifth Sunday, seventh morning; Herald, fourth and Express ninth, evening. Editor & Publisher lists net paid circulation as follows: Herald. 150,463; Examiner, 127,033 (Sunday, 261,229); Times, 110,190 (Sunday, 163,396) ; Express, 83,008. Figures on The Record were not given. The El Paso (Tex.) Post started publication August 21. It's a Scripps-McRae afternoon paper. The Morristown (Tenn.) Evening Mail has been merged with the weekly Gazette, and becomes the Daily Gazette. ABOUT FILM PUBLICITY "We tried to eliminate it once, and while we get a kick from the picture houses, we got a bigger kick from our readers," says Frank D. Throop, publisher of the Davenport (la.) Democrat and Leader. "I find that people are very much interested in how pictures are made, what is being made, and various incidents concerning the making of pictures." Throop relates that when he returned home after the Rotary Club convention in Los Angeles, he found everyone more interested in Hollywood than in any other feature of the entire trip. William S. Hart, Jr., weight 9 pounds, arrived at Santa Monica, Wednesday morning. Winifred Westover-Hart is doing well and so is the new juvenile. Joseph A. Jackson and Peter Grldiey Smith were Monday appointed Wampas correspondents to Camera! by Arch Reeve, presid^t. Jean Hersholt has completed his engagement with Marshall Neilan in "The Stranger's Banquet." He will not return to directing by taking charge of the megaphone at J. Warren Kerrigan's studio as reported. Mr. Hersholt intends to continue playing the parts of bad men in front of the camera.