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

Page Ten Weekly fVake-'Em-Up — CAMERA'S News Section CAMERA!* Congratulations To and From Peggy Baby Peggy Montgomery is the recipient today of a congratulatory telegram from Peggy Hopkins Joyce, on the little Peggy's newly signed three year contract with Sol Lesser. Peggy Joyce says" : Congratulations on your new contract. I am happy to see another Peggy rise to full stardom. It more than ever convinces me the name is a lucky one. Signed, Peggy Hopkins Joyce, care Vanities of 1923, Earl Carroll Theatre, New York City." The two Peggys met when Miss Joyce was in Hollywood some time ago, and a warm friendship sprung up between them. Peggy Hopkins Joyce thinks the tiny star is the dearest ever, and Baby Peggy in turn thinks Miss Joyce a grand, beautiful lady. The baby's first production for Principal Pictures will be announced within a short time, and it will likely be an adaptation from a well-known story. She will take up quarters at the new studio sometime in October, and begin work prior to Mr. Lcsser's return from abroad. A suite of rooms is being equipped in the new East wing of the dressing room building at Principal Pictures Studio on Santa Monica Boulevard, for the advent of the little star. Cunning devices are being installed to fill the needs of the little girl, and in truth a royal suite it will be when the little princess arrives on the lot. Her director and story will be announced shortly after the return of Mike Rosenberg from New York, where he has been in conference with the Lessers, Sol and Irving, for the past four weeks. WELCOME KATHLEEN Among the many visitors inquiring their way to the studio of Principal Pictures Corporation, where Harold Bell Wright is making his headquarters this week, was Mr. Crosby Hopps. Mr. Hopps was director of music at the Forest Avenue Church, Kansas City, Mo., in the days before Wright had achieved his fame as a writer of fiction and was accomplishing celebrity as a vigorous and eloquent minister at the Forest Avenue Church. Mr. Hopps introduced to Mr. Wright a lady whose screen name is Kathleen Ridgway but who in private life is Miss Kathleen Hopps, daughter of the musician. Mr. Wright relished the fact that he remembered many occasions when he had held this pretty girl on his lap, a highly decorous thing to do under the circumstances since she was then only six. It is likely Miss Ridgway will be enrolled in Mr. Wright's picture version of "The Winning of Barbara Worth" which Principal Pictures will produce. Gibson Contracts With a New Co. Kenneth Gibson has an honestto-goodness dilemma on his hands. In fact, it is difficult to believe that America's great lexicographer, the honorable Noah Webster, LL.D.. in compiling his dictionary on the English language, could have had any such case in mind when he set forth one of his answers, to-wit : "an awkward or vexatious situation." Kenneth Gibson, besides being an able and conscientious artist, is ambitious to a marked degree and after finishing a number of important roles in recent productions such as "Daytime Wives," "Ashes of Vengeance" (his character role of "Phillippe" in "Ashes of Vengeance" is illustrating this article), "The Dangerous Maid," and others, he hied himself to the Artists' Colony at Carmel for a few days' relaxation. On his return, he was at once signed up for one of the principal roles in the productions of South America Company's first production, "The White Queen," featuring Miss Charlotte DuPuis, the new French star, by the president of the company, J. Barstow Budworth. The preliminary camera work was shot here a few days ago and arrangements had been made by Mr. Bud worth for the entire company of some sixty members to be sent to producing headquarters in Peru, South America, to finish the film in the wilds of the jungles and in deserted Inca villages. Then one of those unaccountable delays happened to Mr. Budworth's plans and the trip was postponed for a few weeks. Being ambitious and to bridge the delay, "Ken" signed up for the juvenile-heavy role and has started work in "The Turmoil," the new Universal-Jewel, co-starring George Hackathorne and Eleanor Boardman, under the di rection of Hobart Henley. Now comes the glad tidings — or is it sad tidings — that the productions of South America Company has finally completed arrangements and will soon depart and "Ken," being ambitious, is determined to finish both roles, but with a few thousand miles of land and sea between the two studios, it will be interesting, indeed, to learn his manner of solution. CHILD STAR WITH GASNIER Maxine Tabnac, five-year-old player who recently completed parts with Dustin Farnum in "A Man" and House Peters in "Held to Answer," is now enacting a role in "Maytime," which Louis J. Gasnier is directing at the MayerSchulbcrg studios. Maxine made her film debut in commercial motion pictures produced by a St. Louis company about three years ago and it was not long after that she turned to the broader and more lucrative field of romantic films. She is a little lady who promises well. CHESTER SETS RECORD PICKS 'EM YOUNG And now comes screenland's youngest star. No one can take exception to this claim of Chester Bennett, whose latest production, "The Lullaby," is now being released. Enter Miss Gloria Elinor Dyer into the hall of fame. She's four days old and not even camera shy, and she played an important part, too. When "The Lullaby" was being filmed a new born babe was required, and Mr. Bennett was frantically searching the city for a mother who would permit her offspring to enter movieland. He returned to the studio discouraged and dejected, when his cinematographer, Elmer Dyer, divulged the information that a four day old Venu graced his household, and was positive the young lady would willingly enact the role. Mr. Dyer pressed the young miss into service and she finished with colors flying. The picture title proved most appropriate, as there was a "Lullaby" sung during the filming of the scenes, and Miss Dyer did the singing. The proud father still insists that the babe was really trying to sing a ballad. Henry Walthall L Prominent in Cast J. K. McDonald has assemble, his cast for his next Booth Tark ington feature "Old Fathers an Young Sons," The cast includes Henryil Walthall, Irene Rich, Ben Alexan der and Rockliffe Fellowes. , The picture is a screen adapts tion by Hope Loring and Looi Lighton, of Tarkington's dramatic story of typical American Horn. Life, dealing with a tragedy fount in many homes where the fathei is too old to understand his chil dren. "Old Fathers and Young Sons is to be directed by William Beau dine who directed McDonald's las Booth Tarkington success "Penrot and Sam." Several members ol the "Penrod and Sam" cast wit also be seen in the new picture including Ben Alexander, tB played the principal role and Joseph McKay. "Penrod's" "cullud' boy friend. Booth Tarkington considers that "Old Fathers and Young Sam' has greater screen possibilities thn any story of his ever filmed, ^fl withheld it from motion pictur* producers until he was satisfied that it would be handled in a ma*-1 terly way. He was more than satisfied that McDonald should pro*1 duce it after he had witnesiB# "Penrod and Sam" which he declared in a letter to the produced was the finest screen version V any of his stories so far filmed. I Wattorson Rothacker, president1 of the Rothacker-Aller LaboratoTii ies, is making his half yearly visit to the Western laboratories of the concern several weeks earlier than usual in order to be here during the stay of two of First Nationals executives, Richard A. Rowland, general manager, and Samuel Katz, member of the ex* ecutive committee. On his arrival here, Mr. Rothacker went into conference with the two visiting First National executives and with John McCormick, Western representative, and Earl J. Hudson, production man' ager of this company. The meeting is to lay out the extensive laboratory details for First Nationad big fall and winter production schedule. A Southern girl attracts a tot of attention in New England. A Southern girl is attracting a lot of attention in a motion picture supposedly taking place in New England, but really being filmed at Robertson-Cole studio. The girl is Lela Sue Campbell. She has been cast for an important role in "Born of the Cyclone" at R-C. Her work and beauty haw won her the praise of her director and others and it is probable that she will be offered further opportunities for even bigger roles.