Camera (May 1922-April 1923)

CAMERA ! "The Digest of the Mi.luni /'u titu lihiusiry' Page Seven Pickups By The Staff ACTORS EQUITY SCORES Well, if they all are going to be as good as the "Preview," we are going to occupy a front seat at the rest of the Actors' Equity Association programs. An overflow crowd witnessed the opener, and laughed or applauded until midnight, through a diversified program of vaudeville. A minstrel show that knocked them over; an OrpheuLO sketch, singles, doubles and a one-act burlesque, "When Caesar Ran a Newspaper," but feebly conveys a hint of the bill which carried names known all over the world. Chairman J. Frank Glendon announced that there would be one of the same, with different acts and numbers, every now and then. For us, the more the better. "Teddy," the Mack Sennett dog actor, is starting on Orpheum time this Monday in a single act. His trainer, Joe Simpkins, is taking him. Denton Vane, formerly with Vitagraph, is appearing in Los Angeles on the Orpheum circuit. Lester Adams, of the Pickford-Fairbanks studio, is staging an entertainment which will take place on the nights of September 28-29-30, at the Ambassador theater. Those in the cast are Murray F. Bernard, Charlotte Wood, Claude Gibson, John Bribner and Ann Newhardt. The title of the piece is "Lawdy W'ut a Night." RAZE ASTRA STUDIO The Astra studio, on the Verdugo road in Glendale, is being razed. It has been quiet since June, when a series of Baby Marie Osborne pictures were completed. Fred Caldwell, Jimmie Adams, Jack White, Lloyd Hamilton, Helen Gibson and Lew Cody have worked there in the past two years. Ben Grose, Santa Fe boilermaker, posed as Crane Wilbur and asked the Venice and Santa Monica chamber of commerce to help him find young men and girls for a big film feature. He is now in jail. Sam Mogi's first two-reel comedy, starring Max Mogi and little Bebe Ellen, is now under process of editing. Final arrangements for a preview have been completed. Jack Mintz was gag man for the "Ghost Breaker," starring Wallace Reid, and now showing at a local theater. Immediately after her arrival in Los Angeles, Mabel Normand and her producer. Mack Sennett, will go over the story already selected and make ready for the screening of her next starring vehicle, the title of which is not announced. Kathryn McGuire is expected to return to the Sennett studio shortly, when plans will be discussed for her future appearance in Sennett comedies. It is understood that owing to her recent success in "The Shriek of Araby," she will continue to support Ben Turpin. Ben Hewlett has finished his second engagement with the Irving Cummings productions, playing the part of Willy-boy Tober in "Chicago Sal." A screen magazine to be known as "The Graphic," will be issued by Educational, beginning October 1. There will be fifty-two Issues a year. "The Graphic" will put into pictures genuinely dramatic and appealing short stories taken from life itself. We hav.r another little prize winner in Dorothy Saey, who is -proviny that her acting ability is not unmatched hy her heauty. Frank S. Mattison of the Sanford productions has just returned from a trip covering all the distributing centers of the United States, with the result that the Tweedy series of two-reel comedies, and the Pete Morrison series of Semi-Westerns are now sold for the entire world rights. POLA NEGRI ARRIVES Pola Negri is becoming acclimated to California and, with George Fitmaurice, is making preparations for "Bella Donna." She was greeted by swarms of reporters and photographers on her arrival Monday, and Tuesflay met the dramatic editors and motion picture correspondents at a dinner in her honor at the Ambassador. John Flynn, director of foreign distribution and exploitation for Famous PlayersLasky (and incidentally the new president of the A. M. P. A.), introduced Miss Negri, while Jesse L. Lasky and Fitzmaurice said a few informal words. Electrical Illuminating Engineers Society had a meeting scheduled for last Thursday evening at the Metro studios. The committee lor the annual picnic was to give a report, together with the safety committee which will visit the various studios to arrange a universal safety program. G. M. MacCormac, of the Charles Ray studios, is president. A REAL STAR CAST The press agent's wildest orgy of description and adjectives has been so far outdone right here in Hollywood, that his most stupendous effort sinks into oblivion with a faint, sizzling sound. "The Midsummer Night's Dream," to glorify the Hollywood bowl, October 7, without question of a doubt, carries the greatest list of stars, at least monetarily speaking, of any ten entertainments ever given upon this old globe. A conservative estimate of salaries which necessarily would have to be paid, should these artists consent to appear, including a two-week's rehearsal, totals the sum of $675,000 easily. And the overhead would add at least $25,000 to this amount. One performance! * Represented in cost, $700,000! Whew! You don't believe it? Look at the names of this cast as provided by the Directors' Association, which is putting on the great Shakespearian event for the actors' fund benefit: Charles Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, Pola Negri, William Farnum, Charles Ray, Viola Dana, Mary Miles Minter, Agnes Ayres, Florence Vidor, Mae Murray, Priscilla Dean, Bebe Daniels, Dorothy Phillips, Clara Kimball Young, Helene Chadwick, Bert Lytell, Larry Semon, Fred Niblo, Colleen Moore, Doris May, Ethel Grey Terry, Mae Bush, Virginia Valli, Enid Bennett, Shirley Mason, Louise Dresser, J. J. Dowling, Wm. Desmond, Wallace Beery, Patsy Ruth Miller, Lionel Belmore, Tully Marshall, Mitchell Lewis, Otis Harlan, Jane Novak, Kathlyn Williams, Ruth Roland, Edna Purviance, Lottie Pickford, Marie Prevost, Mabel Normand, Wanda Hawley, Anna Q. Nillson, Lois Wilson, Gertrude Astor, Madge Bellamy, Marjorie Daw, Marguerite De la Motte, Bessie Love, Lila Lee, Carmel Myers, Ruth Renick, Pauline Starke, Estelle Taylor. CLARKE MADE LASKY'S AIDE Jesse Lasky has a new assistant. He is Victor H. Clarke, who will act as connecting link between the Paramount official and his writers, directors and stars. A personal aid has been found necessary by Lasky in order that the latter may give more of his personal attention to special productions. Clarke has been on the job since August 1, but the studio has just made the announcement. Charley Eyton remains as business manager of Lasky's. HAS PERUVIAN FILM Victor I. Mackenzie, cameraman with Fox in the east, and in motion pictures since 1910, is in Hollywood after three years making commercial fiilms in Peru. Horsley laboratory is printing 4000 feet made by Mackenzie for a chemical concern. In filming this he spent one month in the uncultivated interior of Peru, riding 240 miles on horseback and travelling two weeks on foot over trails. The film show valuable properties growing wild, which are expected shortly to be developed on the strength of this photographic record.