Camera! (April 1919-April 1920)

CAMERA I "The Digetl of the Motion Piclurt IniuitT)f" Page Seven CHIT, CHAT & CHATTER OF INTEREST BY HARRY BURNS Fred Fishbach, it seems, liad his fill of making comedies. He is going to become more serious. Since he's .lust been married, that accounts for it, an'd we will now look forward to seeing him direct some comedy-dramas with great domestic touches in them. Let 'er go, Freddie! Hop to it! Capt. Leslie Peacocke is very anxious to produce some colored comedies, so elated is he with the success he made with "In Justice. 'S 'at so, Cap? Lillian Greenberger has been trying hard to surround the Big U directors with the cream of the filmland workers. With as high as fifteen companies working, she has had some task to keep everyone happy. Hobart Bosworth is being directed by Irvin Willet at Thos. H. Ince's studio and is keeping everyone on his toes to make things hum, for he has been off the silent boards for some time. Harry Oliver, formerly technical artist for the Harold Lloyd Comedies, then shifted to Lasky's, where he did quite a bit of work on the Houdini serial, is now connected with the Thos. H. Ince plant. Vin Moore says that he has learned to talk the animal languages of the ages, which mostly calls for a daily chat with the lions for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Oh, mommer, how he loves pets! William Sieter rides around in his new car like some of our best directors; and to think that he only makes 15000 a week has everyone guessing how he does it. He handles the megaphone for Carter De Haven and Billem Parsons. Marie Walcamp arrived at Mercury field, where Director Jacques Jaccard was directing Lieut. Locklear, just in time to see two machines in the air, one with Director Jaccard and the cameraman in it, the other with the air man making an attempt to pick up one of the leading artists in an escaping parachute. Talk about thrills; she got 'em fast and plenty. She also witnessed one of those most picturesque landings. Al Herman, who is manager of productions at the Lehrman home of fun-films, found time enough to run over to the barn dance given the other night at Brunton's. But he couldn't get a laugh out of the festivities, so he became desperate and talked to the soda water dispenser, and after that Al seemed to get into the spirit of things. All he had was Kremal and some punch; the mixture seemed to do it. He had a good time, according to all reports. Frank Keenan, wearing his usual cigar at the usual angle, was at the usual place at Doyle's fistic temple Tuesday evening, after being absent for a few usual such nights. Nothing unusual, did you say? Frank Coleman was dragged along Cahuenga Pass for about a mile, and he wasn't hurt at all. How did it happen? Why, he was seated in his car, which had broken down and was being towed In to a garage for repairs. No, I mean his car was. At any rate, I had you guessing. Max Asher shook hands with me in Petifils; asked me to wish him luck, as he was going to start something big for himself up in Frisco. Yes, it is in the motion picture line, and I'll bet it will be O. K., too. Alan Forrest is acting right out in the open for the Universal in the Jacques Jaccard serial. Joe Martin, one of the poorest paid actors on the Big U program, wants to register a kick against his director, W. S. Campbell, who has allowed him to associate with the roughest of animals at the zoo, and is now cutting his (Martin's) third picture, and keeping him off the screen till he finishes clipping this subject. Joe is an ourang outang. Vic Potel reports that he has been cast in a very good part at the Goldwyn studio, which suits his characteristics to a nicety. Harry Gribbon was the cause of a lot of trouble over at Sennett's the other day when he wrapped a lot of silverware and other valuable things in a baby buggy and started letting it out of a window and down the roof of an adjoining building. Some people thought there was a baby in the buggy, and the chase was on and excitement predominated, but when the baby was found to be safe, everything was all right. I almost forgot to tell you this was just a scene made by Director Reggie Morris. Fontlne La Rue has been cast for the T. Hayes Hunter production, in which she is to play one of those h-e-a-v-i-e-s who almost wreck everyone's life, steal the papers, save the child, burn the house, and still sit down to their dinner every evening at home at ease with the world. Albert Ray is going to Frisco to rest up. When he returns he will go to work once more under Scott Dunlap's direction in a race-track story with Elanoir Fair playing opposite to him as usual. Hurry back, A. R. Norman Dawn is getting things ready to direct Frank Mayo in a sort of a western Alaskan story at the Universal, and Norman is all eyes and ears and looking into the matter very seriously. Mr. Mayo, too, is anxious to get going. Turn 'er over and let's go, boys! Cecil B. De Mille saw the value of cornering the cream of ingenues who have had a world of comedy experience. Mack Sennett seems to be reaching out for comedians who have either worked for him or would have liked to for some time past, for he has our old friend Harry Gribbon back with him. Then he enticed Dan Russell, Hughey Mack, Phil Dunham and Billy Bevan away from the famous Stern Brothers and Jacobs L-KO plant. Rose Mullaney, over at the Metro, has been keeping Juanita Hanson, Hughey Fay, Vic Potel and others of the comedy field working in Metro pictures from time to time. There is something to this hide-and-go-seek movement of the directors, producers and casting directors, who look to the comedy field for their sure-fire talent. Fred Kohler is just finishing at the Thos. H. Ince studio, where he has been playing an excellent part, and making good, too. Lester Scott, who assisted Wallace Worsley in the direction of Blanche Sweet, has just finished at the Jesse D. Hampton studio. Caroline Rankin, who has been the The happiest men in the Southland today are the members of the Assistant Directors' Association, and what's more, they have every reason for feeling happy, for when it is remembered that they have labored for years and have never gained recognition, then over night they are the talk of the film rialto, it is indeed time that they strut about with a smile ranging from ear to ear, pleased that at last they have arrived. The barn dance that they "staged" at Brunton's did it. Everywhere the same question is being fired at members of the A. D. A., "When are you boys going to give another of those wonderful dances?" Time alone must answer this query, for right now the Assistant Directors are more interested in making better pictures. Harry Schenck was out to the Rig U the other day. Guess he was there just to pay his respects to his A. D. A. pals and look for locations. Art Flavin says driving hay wagons isn't his regular "biz" — lie just did it to help bring the folks to the dance busiest girl in filmland since last April, has just completed a very pleasant engagement at the Goldwyn. Jim Flynn, they tell me, is the latest addition to the Fox Sunshine lot, which makes the fistic lights of the plant loom up as follows: Cliff Jordan, Jim Flynn, Tom Kennedy, Ed Kennedy, Len Powers and a few lesser lights of the padded ring, past and present, which isn't so bad in case some fellow hollers "Hey, Rube!" Glen Cavender denies that Jie and Jack Copper are cast in a picture that calls for him to play the chauffeur to Jack, who is supposed to be a wealthy chap. Cavender says that there was some talk of Jack playing that part, and he playing the other, but since it hasn't been decided upon, it wouldn't make much difference who played it, or if they didn't do it at all. Of course you know that this is just another case of a make-believe movie comedy, so it doesn't matter just what they do as long as they make you laugh. Harry Woolsey has been walking around the Alexandria with a large package neatly tied up. He had every one wondering if he carried a bomb, until he unwrapped it and drew out a half dozen first-class scenarios he had just finished and which ranged from comedy to drama. Guess the boys about the Alex will rest easier now, but he sure had the mworried for a while. IN SERIAL Eileen Sedgwick has been cast for the ingenue part in "'The Radium Mystery," eighteen-episode serial now being made by the Pacific Producing Co., 6100 Sunset Boulevard. She plays the part of Eileen Marston, heiress to billions. TTie juvenile lead is played by Bob Reeves, a new discovery from the Texas plains said to be the handsomest horseman on the screen. WITH GRIFFITH .Josephine Crowell is doing a better part now with Griffith than she has ever done before. TWO LEADS In "The Duke of Chimney Butte," being filmed at Irwin's ranch in Wyoming, Frank Borzage, the director, has two leading women playing opposite Fred Stone. Josie Sedgwick and Vola Vale. the other night. Giddap! William Crinley is co-directing a five-reel feature with Marjory Wilson called "That Something," taken from the book. Dave Hovt^ard, who is to Director Slomann what an ordinary man's right hand is to him, is very much on the job at Brunton's these days. Mac Wright has a new way of letting studioites know he is coming. He wears one of his loudest shirts; that announces him ahead of time. William Dagwell, who assists Dave Smith at the Vitagraph, seems to have dropped out of sight. Last reports give Workville as his destination. Park B. Frame looked so dapper and cute at the ball the other night that all the girls wanted to know who that juvenile actor was. Douglas Dawson, they tell me, is to associate with some rough looking people. It's all right, folks; it will bo in a New York tough story. Herbert Sutch made such a fuss over the barn dance that everyone wants another such affair staged for Mister Sutch's own benefit. GIRL FROM OUTSIDE In Los Angeles, the Kinema Theatre has secured "The Girl From Outside" for presentation early in September. The cast includes Clara Morton, in the title role. Wilton Taylor, Cullen Landis, and others who arc recognized as screen players of the highest order. NEW MORENA SERi«L Director Wm. J. Baumann is busy casting for a new serial in which Antonio Moreno will be starred alone. Pauline Cv,'ey wil be featured opposite Mr. Moreno and Brinsley Shaw will play the "heavy." The new chapter play will go into production under the working title of "The Secret Service Serial." The script is from the pens of Cxtus Townsend Brady and Albert E. Smith. BIG TIME STUFF Larry Semon has transformed stage No. 1 into a reproduction of a Barnum & Bailey circus and with Lucille Carlisle is putting on stunts that the veteran showman never dreamed of. FARNUM EAST William Farnum is returning to New York again, this time to play the part of Francois Villon in "If I Were King." Farnum likes New York, and although he wants to get west now and then, the lure of New York, the Lambs Club and old associations always tugs at him. The result is that he makes some of his pictures in the east and others in the west. NEW CAR David Thompson, manager of the Screen Classics, Inc., studios in Los Angeles, has purchased a new Hudson Super-six. MISS CARLISLE ILL Lucille Carlisle, who has been suffering from a severe attack of laryngitis, is reported to be improving rapidly. It is thought that she will be able to take up her work again this week on the Semon picture which has been held up because of her illness. ANOTHER James Parrott has gone and bought himself a flivverette. FAIRBANKS WEEKLY NOTES Miss Joan Bosson is back from her vacation. Douglas Fairbanks is hard at work to make the coming rodeo for the visiting sailors a big success. Doug has been chosen to "put on the show" and you can bet that it will be full of thrillers. Assisting him will be Fred Burns, his star cowboy and world champion roper. Doug will soon take possession of his new home at Beverly Hills. Charles Warrington, Doug's still cameraman, celebrated his fourth anniversary with Douglas Fairbanks pictures. He is one of Doug's oldest employees in length of service, having been with him ever since he entered pictures. RUNS IN FAMILY Catherine Van Buren. daughter of IMabel Van Buren, one of the best known screen actresses, is cast as a P^rench Canadian girl in the latest Mitchell Lewis production. Yvonne Mitchell Is essaying the role of an Indian girl in the same production. Wonder if thoy will find any fire-water uj) In Oregon? Another addition to the present Mitchell Lewis family (nr. offense, girls) is Ajax, a giant wolfhound, who has appeared in recent Lewis pictures. DOINGS OF ASSISTANT DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION By Harry Burns