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

Weekly WakeEm-Up— CAMERA'S News Section Bright Outlook for a Rising Juvenile Alton Brown, a rising young juvenile, could well be termed "a typical embodiment of the essentials that go to make the successful screen artist." Born in Maine, of American and Spanish parentage, he completed his education with high honors at Harvard, which training reflects invariably an aristocratic demeanor. Athletic accomplishments, which are essential in motion pictureacting, were easily gained through his prowess on football and baseball fields and in addition he became an expert tennis and golf player, learned to swim, dance, became an expert motorist and an able equestrian. Experience on the legitimate stage to the extent of five years; three years in stock with celebrities such as John Craig and Mary Young, the Sommerville Stock Company and others, followed by two years with "The Bat" in New York City, playing the part of the Crook Chauffeur. Thus motion picture acting came along as second nature and when offered small parts with the Fox Film Company, in New York, he not only accepted but made good as well, and followed that engagement with important roles in "La Belle Rose," with Theda Bara, then "Foot Lights," "When Knighthood Was in Flower," "Sonny," a year's contract with the Inspirational Film Company, and a prominent role in "Ali mony," recently filmed at the R-C under the direction of Jas. W. Home. Truly, Alton Brown, though still in his twenties, is a "seasoned actor" and it is not hard to forecast an early ascendency to stardom in the realm of the motion pictures. Page Twelve Griffith Claims Films Will End War "Motion pictures will eventually end all wars. "The films speak a universal language which every human being in every section of the globe can understand. "Thus they make a universal medium of education which presents human ideals and motives simultaneously to all peoples, whatever their race, sect, creed or language." This is the gist of a statement of D. D. Griffith, pioneer producer, who refers to the present deplorable crisis in Europe and contends that in time, through the abolition of ignorance, by the medium of the films, such a crisis will be impossible. Mr. Griffith goes on to say, "The fomented condition of Europe, giving rise to the pending war between Italy and Greece and perhaps involving other nations in the world conflict, comes about largely through world ignorance. Such ignorance will be in time more or less removed through the instructive power of motion pictures and other educational mediums. "Up to the time of the advent of the motion picture, the printing press held the most important position in the enlightenment of the world," Mr. Griffith further states. "As every nation had its own language, the power of the printed word was limited. Now the motion picture speaks a universal language which can be understood in the four corners of the globe. "Regardless of the country in which it is shown, the motion picture tells a faithful story in a manner easily understood. American pictures of American life have done much to create good will for this country. Foreigners are enabled through the films to see life as it actually is and a respect is created for the American people where formerly a hatred perhaps existed because of malicious propaganda. "Motion pictures are continually spreading the gospel of brotherhood and the fellowship of. man. Ever building and striving for the highest goal of human achievement, eventually the films will accomplish , that which the idealists of the day are striving for— world peace and the final abolishment of war." Jos. Tynan, well-known publicity man, has joined the ranks of the Grand-Asher Studio Publicity Department. Louise Lorraine, playing the leading feminine role in the "Fighting Blood" series, opposite George O'Hara, is now at work in the seventh picture of the group, under the direction of Henry Lehrman. XEIV UNIVERSAL STAR Margaret Morris returned from Keen Camp this week, where she has been on location shots in the new Universal serial, "The Ghost City," starring Miss Morris and Pete Morrison and under the direction of Jay Marchant, the "veteran" director of a long series of western two-reelers, in many of which both Miss Morris and Pete Morrison were co-starred. "The Ghost City," however, is Miss Morris' first full-fledged feature vehicle and while it has taken her less than one year to ascend to the heights of stardom the predictions are many that she will retain her hard fought position for many years to come and that her popularity will reach the pinnacle of fan-fame, second to none in the profession. . CAMERA Death Valleyitei Are Home Intact Erich von Stroheim and hiscoi pany making "Greed" have r turned to the Goldwyn Studi from tiieir cxprdition into Dea Valley. Twent> five men and o: woman, bronzed by thereler less sun and intense heat of t' desert, completed a journey ofh days and a half from their la camping place on the floor of t Valley, when the special carbea in» them from Death Valley Jun tion pulled into the Santa Fe St tion at eight o'clock this mornin The troupe left Los Angel August 5. and have since tour many miles, by automobiles, . burros, or on foot, on the edgear through the desert. Campil places were established at an ave age of three day periods, and t last fifteen days of the trip we spent in what is known as "Dea Valley proper." Here the par underwent discomforts and plac itself in danger., never before e pericnccl by a motion picture COt pany. The troupe returns intact. were no fatalities, but lour of t nun narrowly escaped death I heat prostration and several e perienced minor illnesses owing the high h mperature, which fr clucntly touched the 1,30 degr mark. Ml ot tho-,e recovered n) . idly and no permanent harm w the result. Upon the departure of the expl dition, predictions by persons' wl are well acquainted with the mar hazards of Death Valley were th von Stroheim could not take t caravan into the desert witho serious mishap to some of the cot pany at least. They stated ul no white people could at this til of year stand the strain of livi in the lowest, dryest. hottest sp in America. The success of t von Stroheim expedition prov this to he wrong, but in doing suffered acutely, almost to t point of hav ing to give up the i : tempt several times, and undent! hardships that are seldom expe enced by intrepid explorers M never hy a motion picture on t pany. On returning von Stroheim col pleted a tour that has the distil tion of being the first expediti into Death Valley for a featli motion picture. Previously, t : only important film of any leng to come out of Death Valley « a scenic made by Milton Moore, member of the Goldwyn Stuc staff. Moore acted as one of t guides for the von Stroheim car van. Of the forty persons that ma up the expedition only twenty-fo are returning to Los Angeles. T others were cowboys, burro drive auto truck drivers and guides w live in towns near the edge Death Valley The one wort) with the troupe. Eva l'.a.->ette. w is von Strohemi's script clei I stood the rigor of the tour as v J as any of the men.