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

Page 14 'Camera!" The Digest of the Motion Picture Industry February 16, 192 Flashes from Frisco sy agnes kerr crawford Lon Chaney came to San Francisco last week to enjoy a little well-earned vacation in our Northern city, and is still a guest at the St. Francis. Tom Gibson and the company working under his directions on a picture for the Rinella Productions, spent last week at Monteray on location. During their stay they shot one of the big scenes of the film, a fight in the sea between a man, and a giant octopus weighing over ninety pounds, that ought to put a real thrill into the picture. On account of the rain the company came back to town on Saturday, and are hard at work doing interiors at the Gerson Studio on Page street, they expect to return to Monteray later on to complete their exteriors, as the story is one of the fishing fleet. Ted Oliver is the latest addition to the cast, and Walter Bell is handling the camera. Quite a bit of excitement was caused in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago by the reported loss of the sailing ship Narwhal, which set sail about a year ago with a crew of some twenty gentlemen adventurers, for a voyage to the far islands of the South Seas, in search of thrills, and also to make moving pictures. Anxiety was allayed, however, by the cabled report a few days later of the ship's safe arrival after a long and stormy voyage of fifty-three days from Sydney, Australia, to Noumea, New Caledonia. About sixteen thousand feet of film has already been received in San Francisco from the expedition, some of it in bad condition from being kept too long in the tropics, but the rest very good and must unusual, none of it will be released, however, till after the return of the party, now headed toward home, as they expect to bring quite a quantity more with them. ready to begin work on the actual filming i the picture Monday morning. All stud work will be done at the beautiful Pacif Studios at San Mateo. "Bumpers," the first of the series of comedies being made by the El Dorado Productions, was previewed in Santa Rosa, where it was filmed, last Wednesday before a delighted audience. Work on the second picture, "A Rural Roustabout," was begun on Thursday, nearly all of it will be shot on the White Ranch, supposed to be the finest model ranch of Sonoma County. Earl Olin is directing the series, with Frank Alexander as the featured player, and Troy Brown at the camera. Denison ( lift and R. G. Folwell arrived in San Francisco last Wednesday on the Tenyo Maru, enroute to Hollywood, after an extended tour of twenty-seven countries including India, China, and the Orient with a view to making motion pictures. After a short stay here they left for the South where they will begin work this week under William Fox on the picturization of John Galswoth's '"Loyalties." Much local interest is being taken in the ft showing in San Francisco, this week at t, Strand theatre of "Defying Destiny," first pr durtion of the Rellimeo Productions, a local e ganization, although they do their studio wo in the South. The film is a fast moving mil drama, starring Monte Blue and Irene Ric and met with a ver ywarm reception in ti East when first released through Selznick se era! months ago. The San Francisco Photoplays expect to be§ production March 15th. Just now Wayne Mac supervisor of production for the organizatio is very busy installing lights, having paintit done, and getting what used to be the large ca of the Van Dorn Hotel, into shape to be us. as a studio. Lieut. Bert Hall, well known to the world, spent a few days last week callin on friends in town, having recently returiK from the Orient, where he went thru all tl horrors of the Japanese earthquake Mademoiselle Judah, who is reputed to be the Mary Pickford of Russia's film world, spent several days here last week enroute to Australia. Sol Lesser and A. L. Gore were here for a few days last week on a tour of inspection of the holdings of the West Coast Theatres of Northern California. Gore is president of the organization, and Lesser one of its vicepresidents. Lesser being also president of the Principal Pictures Corporation had a special interest in seeing how the audiences liked "When a Man's a Man" one of the companies latest films which was shown last week at the Warfield Theatre. Max Graf, head of the Graf Films, has already signed for his forthcoming production of "The Wise Son," from Charles Sherman's widely read novel of the same name, the following well known stars, Alec Francis, Bryant Washburn, Eugenic Besseser, Frankie Darrow, and Peggy Bronson. Several others are still under consideration for the other parts, and will be settled within a day or two. Mr. Graf, his director Phil Rosen, Lyman Broening, head camera man, and fourteen members of the cast and staff, will arrive in San Francisco on Friday to be Pauline Lord closed her very successful rt in "Anna Christie" at the Alcazar theatre la Saturday night, and Wallace Eddinger on£_ on Sunday with his big Broadway hit, "Caput* A pplejack," in which the star is supported an unusually capable cast. Lionel H. Keene, who for nearly t\\ years has been Pacific Coast representath for Marcus Loew has been called East, an left for New York a few days ago. Whe Mr. Keene came to San Francisco he e pected to be here only for the opening the new Warfield Theatre, but various bus ness matters have conspired to keep him hei till he has grown to love California, and nc leaves with real regret. He will probabl have charge of the opening of the new V£ house in St. Louis. Palmborg's Paragraphs ( Being one of a series of impressions of film folk and cinemaland anecdotes as tcrilten by a motion picture Insurance man. By C. F. Palmborf. special analyst and Holly' wood representative of the l\eto York Life Insurance Company). Doris May and her husband Wallace MacDonald are splendid examples of matrimonial happiness in the motion picture colony. This interesting, talented young couple pull together in double harness — they work and play together— and the result is success in life and days filled with the joy of doing what one likes to do and doing it well. Both are home lovers and after the day's work is done, they have their happiest hours in their own home nestled in the quiet of one of the canyons that lead into Hollywood. A eanyo n that is cool and green with many shade trees — a restful spot that radiates the feelings of the country, while in reality, the city is just around the turn of the road ahead. So they have their fingers on the pulse of life on the outside yet their fireside is withdrawn into a little nook of their own, where life goes on and plans are made just as hundreds of other happy, young folks are doing. I had seen Miss May in many pictures — "The Common Law," "Conductor 1492" and "Tea with a Kick" and had pleasant memories of her long before when she played opposite Douglas MacLean. What royal entertainers those two were! So I was not surprised to find her a sweet, dainty little girl. She is only a little girl in the true sense of the word for an insurance man needs to know the correct age of his client, and 1 know that in years Miss May is very young. The general public is apt to shrug its shoulders in doubt when an actress is said to be of tender years, but I have found that usually the correct age has been given. Often the actress starts her career when a child and as her name has been before the public a number of years, the public takes it for granted that she is much older than she is. Miss May has quite a few years of good acting to her credit, but she too started when she was almost a child. Wallace MacDonald is a wholesome, athletic type, a fine looikng upright chap. He is devoted to his charming wife and proud of her success. He has a very fine record as an actor and is probably one of the youngest actors who has so many entirely different character roles to his credit. I particularly remember his work in "The Day of Faith" and "Thy Name is Woman," but his characterization of the kid gambler in "The Spoilers" is to me one of the finest thing? he has done. They are two earnest, serious workers enjo; ing life as they go along and planning for da) to come. Although young in years, they ha\ level heads and keen judgment in business a fairs as I learned when we discussed their ii surance problems. Both took out policies through me and in di ing so they feel they have created an estai which will always prove a comfort to them. Cast of the Week Selig Studios Present "WERE TIGERS" Directed by Paul Hurst Photographed by Frank Cotner Story by Ewert Adamson CAST Hedda Nova Jewels Cowels J. Frank Glendon Al. Hallett