Camera (May 1922-April 1923)

Camera's Weekly Wake-em-up SPECIAL NEWS SECTION SATURDAY, FEB. 3, 1923 MRS. REID AND INCE RUSH PLAN FOR ANTI-DOPE FILM AccordiDi? to the latest announcement from the Thomas H. Ince Studios of Culver City, plans are being advanced rapidly for the production of the spectacular anti-dope photoplay, Dorothy Davenport Reid proposes as her initial effort to continue the fight her late husband, Wallace Reid, started against the drug evil. The famous widow's idea is to present through the medium of the screen the true story of the narcotic menace, going into dramatic detail as to how it is being forced upon humanity by vicious men bent on amassing fortunes at the terrible cost of countless lives. Immediately upon learning of Mrs. Reid's determination to undertake this commendable propaganda work in behalf of the common welfare, Mr. Ince volunteered his fullest co-operation with the result that an arrangement was made quickly whereby she would direct the filming of the picture at his studios. "1 don't think there is anyone who knows better than I do the heroic struggle Mrs. Reid made to save her own home from the drug evil and I think the entire nation has been inspired by her spiendid fortitude," Mr. Ince says. "There are many of us in the industry who would be glad to give of our time and experience in the building of a picture story that would at once hold the attention of all America and yet would drive home a warning against this terrible drug trattic which appears to be the most serious menace that has ever confronted the American peopie. "I have talked with a rew leaders of the industry here concerning the support in a big way of the Wauace Reid Memorial, an institution that would provide a scientific foundation for the elimination as far as possible of the drug habit. "The facilities of my studios, the services of my studio staff and my own time and experience are at her disposal. I have so informed her by telephone today for I would consider it a great honor to have a hand in bringing to the screen the big dramaiic story and the lesson that Mrs. Wallace Reid has to give. And I am convinced that the screen is the most powerful medium of expression there is in the world today to be directed against a menace of this kind." WARNERS "CORNER" GRAND ARRAY OF PLOTS Warner Brothers, one of the biggest independent producing companies liaven't been letting any grass grow under their feet when it comes to buying the greatest stories in the country for filming. Their list for producing in 1923-24 has been completed and it includes "Beau Brummel" and "Lover's Lane" both well-known stage plays by Clyde Fitch, "Babbitt" the popular follow-up book of "Main Street," now under production by Warner Brothers, both by Sinclair Lewis, "Being Respectable" from the book by Grace H. Flandra, "Irene" the popular stage success of a season ago. Two popular George M. Cohan plays which William Beaudine will direct with Wesley Barry in the leading role "Little Johnny Jones" and "George Washington, Jr.," both of which will be adapted for the screen by Julien Josephson, "Lucretia Lombard" from the book dealing with the intimacies of a woman's heart by Kathleen Norris which Sada Cowan will adapt for the screen, "Wolf Fangs," a story of the northern snows which Chester M. Franklin will direct, "Broadway after Dark," by Owen Davis, "Age of Innocence" from the book by Edith Wharton, "Cornered," the stage play in which Madge Kennedy made such a success on Broadway written by Dodson Mitchell and Zelda Sears, "How to Educate a Wife," a new book by Elinor Glyn, and "Shadowed Lives," by Justin Adams. Warner Brothers are busy at present lining up well known novels and play successes which they will buy to follow the above pictures. Elfelt Finishes "Danger" Clifford S. Elfelt completed the photographing of his latest independent six-reel feature, "Danger," Monday after a fourweek siege of night-and-day filming at the Fine Arts studios. J. B. Warner is starred in this picture, which unfolds a semiwestern story, said to be replete with thrills. Betty Giles, child actress from New Orleans, is playing a pilgrim at the Ray studio. FRENCH AVIATRIX READY FOR BIG U. S. FLIGHT Negotiations are under way whereby a specially constructed aeroplane, designed to withstand the rigors of a transcontinental flight, will be placed at the disposal of Andree Peyre, Pathe player and aviatrix, in her forthcoming attempt to fly from New York to Hollywood, according to a telegram received here from Mile. Peyre. The aviatrix left Los Angeles for New York several days ago for the execution of personal business at the conclusion of which she has begun preparations for her flight across the continent. Mile. Peyre, an experienced flyer holding licenses both in this country and France where she is known as "the most daring woman in the world," will pilot her machine herself. Her purpose of essaying the transcontinental flight, the difficulties of which, — such as have prevailed over Lieuts. Kelly and MacReady for the time being, she fully realizes, is to seek to hasten the day when the aeroplane is popularly regarded as a means of conveyance rather than as a novelty. The fact that she is one of the "weaker sex," Mile. Peyre declared before leaving Hollywood, should not militate against her success. By police orders Mile. Peyre was viitually driven from her native city of Paris because she refused to discontinue her daring aerial exploi-ts. Thereupon she was starred in a series of productions made in Vincenues and later came to this country where she has made her debut with Pathe. Pearl White Mystifies bias Pearl White decided to quit the screen for good'/ This is the question in the minds of her Los Ange.es friends as the result of her forsaking the life of a screen celebrity to seclude herself within the walls of an Alpine convent. One report indicates Miss White has entererl the convent to en^oy a long rest and regain her health. Another has it that slie is brooding over the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Waldo McCutclieon, who has never been located. Eva Novak has completed her engagement at tht; I'OX studio where she played opposite William Russell in a feature production. SPECIAL COINS FOR EXPO ASSURED President Harding's signature to Senator Hiram Johnson's bill providing for the coinage of 300,000 half-dollars commemorating the Monroe Doctrine Centennial, has removed the last possible obstacle confronting the American Historical Revue and Motion Picture Exposition in obtaining the fullest government co-operation for the motion picture industry's project of staging a huge international celebration here next summer. The event, lasting a month, will be a great patriotic observance of the Monroe Doctrine's hundredth anniversary. It is expected that the first of the new half-dollars will be in circulation early in March. The coins will be distributed through local banks and will be sold for $1 each, the proceeds to be used in financing the Revue and Exposition. The design of the new coin will be worked out by the National Commission of Fine Arts in New York. The dies will be cast in the East, then probably sent to the government mint at San Francisco, where the half-dollars will be turned Out lor immediate shipment to Los Angeles. According to the tentative design for the new half-dollar, it will bear the heads, in profile, of President James Monroe and his Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, on one side; and on the other an outline of North, South and Central America, the territory whose integrity has been protected by the Monroe Doctrine for the past century. President Harding has given his fullest approval to plans for the Revue and Exposition. He is said to be planning a trip to the Pacific coast this spring so he can attend the formal opening of the event. A. D. A. Hears Tax Talk At the last bi-monthly meeting of the Assistant Directors Association of California, held on Thursday evening, Feb. 1st, Miss J. M. Berger, Income Tax Specialist, gave a very interesting and instructive talk to the members on Income Tax. The .Association was highly honored by the attendance of Roy Stewart and Herbert Rawlinson. Two very clever vaudeville skits were put on by talented members of the Cinema profession. The next meeting will be held Feb. 15th.