Camera - April 14, 1923 to February 16, 1924 (April 1923-February 1924)

Page Twelve Weekly Wake-'Em-Up — CAMERA'S Neivs Section NOTED N. Y. ACTOR NEILAN ENDS NEW FILM AND GOES TO GOTHAM CUMMINGS DEFENDS HIS HOLLYWOOD FROM PULPITS WON BY FILM COLONY Harry Mestayer, one ol" the most popular leading men of stage and screen, who is wellknown to Los Angeles as well as New York audiences, has arrived in Hollywood with a view of launching himself actively in motion pictures. For ten years an actor and director for Oliver Morosco in Los Angeles, Mr. Mestayer has appeared in suppoit of and directed a great many of the foremost stats of the footlights and silversheet. Me has been an actor tor the pa3t thirty years, playing heavy leads with Lenore I'lrieh, George M. Cohan, Mme. Nazimova, Jack Barrymore, Henry Miller, James K. Hackett. Mrs. Fiske, E. H. Southern, Ruth Chatterton, David Belasco, Churles Frohman and many ot^. . s. For two years he was leading man at the Princess Theatre, New York, with Holbrook Blinn. Mr. Mestayer came to Los Angeles eight years ago as leading man with the original "Fair and Warmer" company and his work in the play brought forth the greatest praise of dramatic critics here. Although he has now been in Hollywood only a few days he has already received a number of Haltering offers from different film producers to play leads and Featured ro'es in forthcoming pictures. His arrival here is considered a great achievement for filmland. Producers in the past strenuously endeavored but without success to obtain the services of the noted actor, for at that time he could not be induced to give up his work on the legitimate stage. Now that he has announced his intentions of becoming a member of the film colony it is being freely predicted that he will soon achieve the same amount of popularity on the screen that he has enjoyed during his long and successful career before the footlights on Broadway in New York. Peggy Fools Them Peggy Cartwright. popular screen juvenile, plays the part of a boy in the new Universal production of "A Lady of Quality," starring Virginia Valli and so perfect is her makeup that even her most intimate friends failed to recognize her the first day she appeared on the set. The youngster lias been in pictures four years and has played in support of practically every star of the silversheet. She is an expert horsegirl and has won two cups at Ambassador Horse Shows and one at the Yentura Horse Show. With the completion of the camera work on "The Rendezvous," Marshall Neilan, who has been directing the Russian drama at the Goldwyn studio, left for New York. Mrs. Xeilan (Blanche Sweet) plans to join her husband for a short vacation as soon as she completes the role of Dolores in the Funnel t Flvnn production, "In The Palace of The King," now bring made at the Goldwyn studio. Although actual camera work is completed on "The Rendezvous," Neilan will be busy for reveial weeks on the details of the film, He will spend part of his time on the journey East in the preparation of "the cutting community" of the film, so that 1 1. J. Cray, his film editor at Goldwyn's, may begin at once upon this stage of the production. As soon as the film has been (in and assembled, Gray Wi!l take it to New York for Neilan's inspection there. Leeds Baxter, general manager of Neilan's productions, accompanied the director to the metropolis. REALTY FIRM ENGAGES PICTURE PRESS AGENT It begins to look as if other lines ol business will make inroads on the army of press agents in the employ of various motion picture companies. Ted Le Bert lion, formerly press representative for tl\f King Vidor Studios, has been engaged to do the publicity work and to conduct a special advertising campaign for Rainbow Valley, a new subdivision the lots of which are now being offered the public. This tract is called "the throne of the big Tujunga" and is located near Glendale. A. W. Stratling and Company is handling the sales, with headquarters at 180 East Colorado Street, Glendale. One of the interesting features of this real estate promotion is the plan to give away a bungalow. There is still time to register for this free bungalow, which will be formally presented to some lucky person at Rainbow Valley soon. Registrations are taken at the Rainbow Valley office which is situated at Brand Boulevard and Colorado Street. Fhillippe Wins Prize Philippe deLacy, five-year-old film starlet and French war orphan, who has won the unstinted praise of photoplay critics lor his brilliant performance in "I ivorce," now enjoying an extended run at Grauman's Rialto, has attracted no little amount of attention from members and officials of the Y. M. C. A., Los Angeles, for his abi.ity as a swimmer. At a recent aquatic contest staged at the "V" Philippe won high honors with his exhibition and as a result was presented with a Y. M. C. A. Prize Swimming Award Medal. William A. Brady isn't the only producer who .can preach. Irving Curumings is treading in the church steps of his one-time "boss" by telling New York congregations what Hollywood really is. Since he has been in Gotham arranging for the distribution of his "Broken Hearts of Broadway," adapted to the screen from the stage play byJames Myrle McCurdy, Cummings has been occupying Sundays by talking from the pulpits of New York churches twice on each Sabbath. He has been explaining to the religiously inclined just what Hollywood is like and what are the true conditions in its studios, his purpose being to combat the propaganda which paints the cinema capital in words with scarlet letters. Brady, who also has occupied pulpits for the purpose of defending the stage against unkind criticism, starred Cunimings in "The Whip," and now the former leading man has risen as the champion of the screen to combat some of the unwarranted attacks that are made upon Hollywood from Eastern pulpits. BABY STAR LIVES IN OLD HOME OF MANY STARS II living in a house formerly occupied by several motion picture celebrities could be of any help to one's efforts in achieving success before the camera, then Baby MacCormae would now perhaps be the most popular star in the film world, for the house in which she resides on Lemonyne Street, Los Angeles, has been occupied by such well-known artists as Kathryn Williams, Louise Fazenda, the late Wallace Reid and others. Judging from the important parts Baby Muriel has been playing in pictures — and she has played in no less than forty successes— it is generally conceded that some producer one of these days is going to place the youngster under contract for a series of pictures, and capitalize on her versatility and her ability to interpret difficult child parts. In the list of photoplays in which Baby Muriel has appeared are "Poor Men's Wives," "Miracles of the Jungles," The Call of Home," "Pernod," "Borderland," "Pawn Ticket 210," and "A Daughter of Luxury." She recently completed work in Dustin Farnum's latest picture for Fox. "The Man Who Won." To Adapt Glyn Novel Grant Carpenter, the scenarist, has been selected by Warner Brothers to do the script of "How to Educate a Wife," the widely read Klinor Glyn novel, recently purchased for screen adaptation, and which will go into production within the next few weeks. The story deals with caveman tactics of a husband bent on getting happy results out of domesticity. CAMERA! MARY ALDEN GETS CAKE BEARING 70 CANDLES Mary Alden, who is portraying one of the leading roles fc! Metro's all-star picturization of "The Eagle's Feather," recently had a birthday. She also had a birthday cake. The cake came as a complete surprise and was tendered to the noted character actress by Edward Sloman, the director, immediate!., after the completion of a highly emotional scene, tH cake was rushed onto the set and and for a few moments the serfr ous business of making motion pictures was entirely forgotten. Just how many birthdays had preceded this one, no one seemejL to know, so the cake bravely bore 70 lighted candles. "No one ever admits that tfl number of candles on a birthday cake is correct," Mr. sloman stated in explanation, "so I gate Miss Alden the opportunity Qf making a truthful denial." .Motion pictures were made of Miss Alden cuting the cake, and she insisted that every member of the technical staff be serv* first. However, the choeolafil pastry was of such generous pr# portions that James Kirkwom Elinor Fair, Lester t'nneo. George Siegmann and the ra of the cast came in for the! share. TITLE OF MARY'S NEW FILM CHANGED AGAIN The name of Mary Pickfo^H new picture will not be '"^M Street Singer," but will W "Rosita," originally the workhK title. This change was mam necessary by the fact that the title of "The Street Singer" has been previously used. Many years ago Hal Reid, father mi the late Wallie Reid, wroteH play called "The Street SingeBH and in the early days of films*! picture by the same title was pdt' out by Kalem, all of whifibj makes it impossible for Mary t<> use this name. This information was obtained! by Dennis F. O'Brien, attorn^ for the star, after he had wo* the title contest within tfl Pickford organization by suggestion of "The Street Singer." It was decided to go back He the working title not only lfy cause it seemed suitable, but bf"> cause the film has already be<B' given wide-spread publicity a."Rosita." It will be release* through I " n i t i'il Artists as a Fall attraction. Sam E. Allen looks like a p«f manent fixture on the Mayer Schulberg lot. After fluishittj a part with Tom Forman fe "Are You a Failure?" he wen with Gasiner in "Mother 1 Law." Now he is cast as UncU Hughey in "The Virginian,"* a Tom Forman production.