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

Page 6 The Digest of the Motion Picture Industry" Camer Wire Walker By PETER G. SMITH From circus wire walker to a prominent niche in the hall of screen fame ! From ragamuffin in the streets of Forest City, Pa., to an eventful picture trip to Ireland and back again in the whirl of America's theatrical circles ! That, in brief, would convey a very good idea of what Pat O'Malley, one of the screen's leading players, had to go through to occupy his present unique position in filmdom. After a half hour's chat with O'Malley it would be an unusual procedure if one failed to call hirn "Pat." And in becoming so intimate the warm humanness that characterizes the man would sparkle in his Irish blue eyes, and in his rose tinted cheeks. "When I was a kid," said Pat, with a look that brought back visions of the coal mining neighborhood in Forest City, "I had a sneaking desire to become an actor. Just what kind I didn't know then. In fact, I didn't have any time to think about it, because my dad was a coal miner — and all fathers want their sons to follow in their footsteps as closely as possible. There is a certain family pride in that, you know. "But one day a circus came to town. Right then and there I decided to become eligible for circus work. I didn't know whether to start as the water boy for the elephants, or as a messenger for the circus owner. Neither appealed to me very strongly until I sneaked through a hole in the circus tent, and saw a young coupie do a wire walking act. They were so thrilling, that for many days afterwards I could think of nothing else bus the circus and the two wire walking experts. And so I decided to be one of them. But how to do it was a problem. "When I was about six, an opportunity was afforded me to act in several school entertainments. When I was seven I got another chance to act. At eight still another chance. During these years I was practicing how to walk a wire in my mother's back yard. Many's the time my parents gave me up as being fit only for the insane asylum, since I fell from the wire as often as I tried to keep on it. But I was persistent, and during my eighth year I was given a chance to perform for a local stock company. Well, I apparently made good. "For several years I performed the wire walking act, played small juvenile bits, carried the drum in street parades, and distributed hand bills before the performances. This work carried me up and down the Lackawanna Valley, in fact throughout most of Pennsylvania. My career had been launched, and I was becoming successful in a small way. So much so that for many years afterward I toured all over America; years which were very trying indeed, but withal full of experiences that have since proved very valuable in my picture work. "I have been in pictures for about twelve years, and I frankly confess that all my dreams, my waking hours are spent in the fascination of motion picture making. I love the game and 1 don't ever hope to leave it." In the early fall of 1912, Pat O'Malley was given his first part in a motion picture. In those days only one reel pictures were being made, and he was cast for a part in "The Alien," being made at that time by the Kalem Company. It is significant that Robert Vignola, who is directing Marion Davies in the Cosmopolitan productions, was at that time directing and playing the male lead in the Kalem picture. Pat's work must have been good, for he says that he was kept on the job for six months. Another significant feature of the early days of picture making is that the Gene Gauntier Flashes from Frisco Bv AGNES KERR CRAWFORD San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 6th, 1923. Frank Alexander, four-hundred-pound comedian, who is soon to be featured in a series of comedies made by the newly-formed Eldorado Films Corporation of this city, spent Thanks giving at his home in Hollywood. He returned to town on Monday with the report that he had eaten so much home-cooked turkey that he had added several pounds to his merry little weight. The world photoplay rights to the widely read novel "The Wise Son," were purchased last week by Louis Graf, executive head of the organization that bears his name. The deal was consummated thru Grace Inglis of Hollywood. Vicente Blasco Ibanez, world famous Spanish author, best known to the film public for his masterpieces, "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" and "Blood and Sand," arrived in San Francisco on Saturday on the steamship "Franconia," bound on a tour 'round the world. The ship stayed in port for two days, and almost all of that time was spent by Senor Ibanez in his room at the St. Francis writing a scenario for Mae Murray's future use. Howard Strickling, director of publicity for Metro, spent most of last week in San Francisco, on business for the organization. Kenneth Hodkinson, general manager of United Artists, came to San Francisco last week to spend the Thanksgiving holiday season in his old home town. He left on Friday for Los Angeles to confer with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Charlie Chaplin, but will return here for a further stay before his return to the east. Hal Nites, long connected with the film industry in San Francisco, but who left here several months ago, has returned as manager of "Scaramouche," the film which is making a hit at the Capitol Theatre. Mr. Nites brings with him his bride, as he was married during his absence from our city. Helen Howell, popular screen actress, and Frank Capra, assistant director of the Gerson Pictures Corporation, were married at the home of the bride's parents on Thanksgiving Day. The wedding itself took place before a few members of the bride's family and some intimate friends, and was followed by a large reception. Miss Howell had been for some time a member of the company making five-reel melodramas for the Gerson company, and Berthold Berger, general manager of the organization, Ora Carew, its star, Tom Gibson, the director, Jay Morley, leading man, and other members of the company were among the wedding guests. Bobby Newhard. head cameraman on "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and many other famous films, came to San Francisco on Satur day, accompanied by his mother, to meet a welcome his brother who is returning after absence of eighteen years in Russia and t far East. Loyal to his San Francisco, Max Graf, sup< vising director of Graf Production, who is nc in the east, has just declined an offer from Nt York's Rivoli Theatre to hold the world's pi mier presentation of the latest Graf pictu "Half-a-DoIlar Bill," in that edifice. Graf c dares that as "Half-a-Dollar Bill" is purely San Francisco product it shall have its pn productio nhere, so it will be given to the woi at the Warfield Theatre where all the font. Graf-made pictures have had their first pub presentation. The exact date of the showi has not yet been decided but it will probably about the first of the new year. The film is b ing released thru Metro, and New York w have it the week following its opening hei After closing several big deals in the E; Max Graf will leave for home this week, to here in good season to spend the holiday seas* with his family. The world's premier of "Reno," latest Rupt Hughes picture, took place at the Californ Theatre last Saturday. It is rumored that Max Graf .supervising rector of Graf Productions, is bringing Rtl Ince, director, with him from the east to wi( the megaphone on his next picture, "The Wi Son." Ben Lyon was a week-end guest at the Francis, coming to town to be present at t opening on Saturday at the Warfield Theat of "Flaming Youth," in which he plays a prot inent role. San Francisco has a new and very beautif neighborhood playhouse in the Alexandra atre at Geary and Eighteenth Streets, open* last week to a brilliant audience. The Ale. andra built by George Oppenheimer and Al E. Levin at a cost of $350,000, not only tak rank among the beautiful theatres of the cit but has the distinction of being the first wi' an Egyptian motif in decoration to be erectt| here. Mayor Rolph was the speaker at tl opening. Ben Black's Band, recently returm from Grauman's Metropolitan theatre in L Angeles, is furnishing the stirring music, at was heartily welcomed. Priscilla Dean and Harry Myers spent la week in San Francisco, having come up to l| present at the big California-Stanford gam and to christen an oil well. The oil well is i the bay district oil field, and has been nami the Dean-Myers well. Miss Dean will retui to the south to begin production as the hi of her own company. Her first independei picture will be made at the Hollywood Studh under the working title of "The Pirates." Feature Players decided ot make all their pictures in Ireland. Pat O'Malley was engaged to play the leads in pictures of the Coleen Bawn type. While abroad he visited France, England, Germany, Italy. This was in 1917 when the company changed its name to Sidney Olcott Productions. Now in Ireland picture making was prohibited when the war broke out, and the entire company was forced to return to this country. There followed a long period with the Edison Company as the featured leading man for three years, after which he appeared in productions made by Marshall Neilan, Universal, Vitagraph, lnce, Mayer, Schulberg and others of equal prominence in the industry. To the best of Pat's memory some of h best features are "The Blooming Angel," "G and Get It," "Dinty," "Bob Hampton of PI: cer," "Lying Truth," "Brothers Under trj Skin," "Wandering Daughters," "The Etern: Struggle," "The Virginians," "My Marai Rose." At the present writing Pat is playing tl leading male role opposite Laurette Taylor ) "Happiness," the J. Hartley Manners play.bi ing picturized by Metro. It's a long lane to fame and fortune, but pe: severance and a stout heart (be it Irish t otherwise) will bring its due reward.