Camera! (April 1919-April 1920)

CAMERA ! "The Digest of the Motion Picture InJustr^" Page Five PRODUCTION NOTES AMONG STUDIOS WEEK BEGINNING TODAY Mitchell Lewis Producing Company Expanding — After a flying visit to New York, Cyrus J. Williams, general manager of the Mitchell Lewis Producing Company, has returned with new contracts and plans for the extensive expansion of his company's producing activities. He announces that in addition to the organization he dispatched Sunday to locations at the old Indian village of Temecula to start filming the first of the new Bradbury productions, "Hollyhocks," an original play written by Robert North Bradbury, he is planning to send out two other new producing units to film screen adaptations of popular books, the titles of which are withheld for the present. Mayer Productions — The first exteriors of "The Inferior Sex," Mildred Harris Chaplin's new starring vehicle under her Louis B. Mayer contract, will be shot this week along 'Seventeen-Mile drive," near Del Monte, Cal. Millard Webb, casting director, has signed up Milton Sills as Mildred Harris Chaplin's leading man. Mary Alden, who has just finished in "Love, Honor and Obey" for the Garson studios, where she played opposite House Peters, is to support Mrs. Chaplin in "The Inferior Sex." Second Alkire Production — With the ofTicial O. K. of approval by President Walter H. Alkire on his organization's first production, "An Ace in the Hole," featuring Joseph Bennett, under the direction of Fred Kohler, Production Manager Philip H. White has started the company on the second play of the series of eight to be made on theii new contract and has titled it "Excuse My Dust." Dorothy Dane has been engaged as principal feminine suport in the cast. Pasadena Location — Director William Seiter and his entire company, including Elinor Field, Lloyd Bacon, Francis McDonald and John Cossar, have been shooting numerous scenes on the beautiful estate of Mr. H. Jevne at Pasadena for the production, "Hearts and Masks," the latest National Film feature. The production roster includes Scott Beal, assistant director, and Walter Griffin, camera man. Brentwood Location — Henry Kolker has left for a few days' location work at Idylwild with his assistant, A. D. Ripley, his camerman, property man, carpenters, helpers and several members of the Brentwood company which he is directing, including Mahlon Hamilton, Edward Cecil, Herbert Jones and Miss Betty Blythe. Mi-. Willard Barrows, treasurer of the Brentwood, accompanied the party. Mills Directing Moore — Tom Mills is the latest director to join the big Goldwyn staff at Culver City. He has just started work on "Dud," in which Tom Moore is to be featured. The continuity is by Harvey Thew. After getting his cast and other details complete, he will leave for New York, to take the exterior scenes. At National — A new company will start work early in the week, at the National studios, under the direction of Franklyn Hall. The featured players will be Neal Burns, well known screen comedian, and Marie Elaine, famed a few years ago as the "Thanhauser Kid." The team will make two-reel comedies. New Director— Reports from New York Goldwyn offices state that Paui Scardon, the well known director, has been engaged to make "Partners of the Night," the LeRoy Scott Eminent Authors production. This picture will be made in the east. Work will com mence shortly on this story. Continues N. Y. Production — Thomas H. Ince has chosen a Louis Joseph Vance story, "The Dark Mirror," for Dorothy Dalton's next picture, which will be produced at the Famous Play ers studio in New York. New Story — Screen rights to "Alias Jimmy Valentine" have been purchased by Metro, and Paul Armstrong's drama will be Bert Lytell's next production. ON THE LASKY LOT New Director — Charles Maigne will arrive at the Lasky studio scon to direct two special productions for Paramount-Artcraft, one of which will be "The Fighting Chance," based on the celebrated novel by Robert W. Chambers. Mr. Maigne has of late been directing at the New York studio of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. Clayton Starts — Ethel Clayton has finished "The Thirteenth Commandment" and will start work November 10 at the Lasky studio on her next picture, "Young Mrs. Winthrop." Melford Returns — George H. Melford and his "Sea Wolf" company are working in the waters up the coast from San Francisco. They will return to the Lasky studio in another week to take interior scenes and then will go north again. Noah Beery is playing the title role of "Wolf Larsen" and Mabel Juliene Scott is leading woman. M inter Begins — Mary Miles Minter, under the direction of William D. Taylor, started work Wednesday at the Morasco studio on "Judy of Rogue's Harbor," her first Realart production to be made in southern California. Director's Debut — Wallace Reid will finish his latest picture, "Speed Carr." the early part of next week. Sam Wood, formerly Cecil B. deMille's right hand man, made his debut as a director in this production. \ Lytell Going to Tahoe — Bert Lytell and members of his company who are now filming 'The Right of Way" for Screen Classics, Inc., will depart the first of next week for Lake Tahoe, where many exterior scenes for the production will be filmed. Erich Von Stroheim has returned from several days spent at Exposition Park, where some huge scenes were filmed for his forthcoming Universal feature, "The Women in the Plot," among them a reproduction of the Paris Grand Prix, the racing classic of France. The story is based on the novel by Baroness DeMeyer, "Clothes and Treachery," and has for its principal players Una Trevelyn, Sam De Grasse, Clyde Fillmore, Maude George, Mae Busch and Leo White. "The Breath of the Gods," the initial Tsuru Aoki production, is nearing com-pletion under the direction of Rollin Sturgeon. The Japanese star is supported in this special by Stanhopo Wheatcroft, Barney Sherry, Arthur Carew, Ethel Shannon, M. Seki, Pat O'Malley and Marion Skinner. Lynn Reynolds and his company, starring Harry Carey, have been on the desert east of Victorville for the past week, filming scenes for "Overland Red." The scenario is founded on the popular novel of the same name by H. H. Knibbs, and the star is surrounded by Vola Vale, Charles Le Moyne, J. Morris Foster, Harold Goodwin, Charles Anderson and Joe Harris. Work on "The Day She Paid," the photoplay based on the Fannie Hurst story, "Oats for the Woman," is well advanced. Rex Ingram is directing this story of New York life, with a cast including Francelia Billington, Charles Clary, Lillian Rich, Harry Van Meter and little Nancy Caswell. Monroe Salisbury's forthcoming feature, "The Phantom Melody," is progressing satisfactorily where tho company, under Douglas Gerrard's guidance, is now engaged after two weeks spent at Santa Barliara. This story is by F. McGrew Willis. Mr. Salisbury has the support of a splendid cast, in which are Barney Sherry, Jean Calhoun, Charles West, Ray Gallagher, Joe Ray and Milton Markwell. Warwick Busy — Robert Warwick is well under way on "Jack Straw." Carroll McComas makes her film debut in this picture. Washburn Returns — Bryant Washburn and his company welcomed their return to the Lasky studio during the past week, following eight days spent on the high seas taking scenes for "Too Much Johnson." Donald Crisp is director and Lois Wilson is again leading woman for Mr. Washburn in this production. Mayor Visits — Mayor Meredith P. Snyder of Los Angeles visited the Lasky studio recently and saw Houdini in a particularly hazardous fire scene. Bracken to Leave for Kentucky — Bertram Bracken is now casting for the all star feature, "The "Kentucky Colonel." Many of the members have been selected to date and immediately upon signing the remainder he plans leaving for Kentucky, where the majority of scenes will be taken. Jack Laver is assisting him and i Walter Griffin will probably preside at the camera. New Stories — Everett C. Maxwell, scenario writer at the National studios, is now doing stories and continuity for the "Hall Room Boys" comedies, starring Flanagan and Edwards. They will be directed by Harry Edwards after the completion of the one now in the ma,king, which is under the supervision of Messrs. McGowan and Goldaine. It is titled "Go West Young Man" and was written by them in collaboration. Arno Marsh is holding the script and Walter Bell is still shooting. The Metropolitan Opera House scenes in Dorothy Phillips' feature, "Ambition," directed by Allen Holu bar, are being filmed this week. The most pretentious set ever constructed for a motion picture interior, a replica of New York's famous temple of music, and nearly two thousand people are being used in these scenes. The scenario of the piece was written by Holubar, and in Miss Phillips' support will be seen Robert Anderson, Rudolph Valentine, William Von Hardenburg, Frank Elliott, Emily Chichester, Elinor Field and others of note. Harry Franklin is progressing on the new Mary MacLaren feature, "Rouge and iRichejf," by W. Carey Wonderly. Supporting the star are Alberta Lee, Dorothy Abril, Syn de Conde, Wallace McDonald, Fritzie Ridgeway, Lloyd Whitlock and Helen Sullivan, William C. Dowlan and his notable cast, filming 'The Peddler," has been at Santa Barbara for a week, taking scenes for this photoplay based on the current Saturday Evening Post story by Henry C. Rowland. The company that will appear in the production includes Frank Mayo, Ora Carew, Dagmar Godowsky, Harold Miller, Truman Van Dyke, Ora Devermaux, Flora Hollistcr, James Barrow, Bonnie Hill, Ray Ripley and William Brown. Christy Cabanne has surrounded himself with a notable galaxy of players for his forthcoming Universal production, "The Triflers," chief among whom are Edith Roberts, David Butler, P^orrest Stanley, Katherine Kirkham and Charles Arling. The story is by Joseph Franklin Poland. "The Man Hunter," tho Universal serial starring Art Acord, supported by Mildred Moore, Charles Newton, Beatrice Doniinguez, George Field and Tote Du Crow, is now in its second chapter, under the direction of Reeves Eason. Priscilla Dean's ensuing feature, "The Virgin of Stamboul," is well advanced under Tod Browning's direction. Most of the exterior scenes have been filmed and the company is nowengaged in the interiors. In Miss Dean's support are Wallace Beery, Wheeler Oakman, E. A. Warren, Edward Burns and Yvette Mitchell. The story is by H. H. VanLoan. Norman Dawn, who finished "Lasca" recently, will begin work on "The Line Runners" within the next few days. This is a western two-reeler featuring Arnold Gregg, Helen Howard and Art Lee. After spending a week at San Francisco, taking scenes for "The Prince of Avenue A," James J. Corbett and his company are expected back. Jack Ford is directing the star, who is supported by Harry Northrup, Mary Warren, Cora Drew, Frederick Vroom, Johnnie Cooke George Fisher and Lydia Yeamans Titus. Jacques Jaccard is expected back on the job at Universal City after an allness of two weeks' duration, when he will take up the concluding episodes of "The Thirteenth Hour," starring Eddie Polo, supported by Peggy O'Dare, the first eight chapters of which were filmed abroad under the direction of J. P. McGowan. Eddie Kull is at work on a two-reel western called "The Counterfeit Trail." This picture is played by Robert Burns, Magda Lane, Allan Garcia and Eddie Brown. Al Russell has started on the eighth episode of "The Lion Man," the serial featuring Kathleen O'Connor and Jack Perrin, supported by Henry Barrows, Gertrude Astor, Slim Pagett, Leonard Clapham and William Carroll. Phil Rosen is filming "The Sheriff'^ Oath," featuring Hoot Gibson, supported by Josephine Hill, Arthur Mackley, Martha Mattox, James O'Neil, Bert Frank and William Harrison. The delay on Al Santell's comedy feature, "Upper Three and Lower Four," occasioned by the illness ot Universal's nearly-human ape, Joe Martin, has given the director an opportunity to devise a few more mirthprovoking situations for use in the production. Work will be resumed in a few days on this feature, which engages the services of Howard Knoth. Beatrice Burnham, Waldo Waldron, Al Ault and Baby Stecker. Chris Rub, featured comedian, is at work on a new comedy, "In the Soup," under the supervision of Ray Grainger. Rub is supported by Gladys Tennyson and Al McKennon. Eighteen hundred men and women in evening dress were employed at Universal City for a scene in the massive replica of the Metropolitan Opera House being used in Allen Holubar's Universal spectacle, "Ambition," starring Dorothy Phillips. The correctly garbed men and the gorgeous costumes of the women gave the world'-s film capital the aspect of a fashionable lawn fete. No greater number of extra players in evening dress are believed to have been used in any other production. Goes East— Cecil B. deMille will complete "Why Change Your Wife?" in New York. With members of his cast he will leave for the metropolis in about a week. The scenes there will consist principally of typical New Yo-.-k street scenes which it was deemed inadvisable to attempt to duplicate at the studio. Thomas Meighan and Gloria Swanson will be members of the New York party who plan to see the opening of "Male and Female" in that city. With Mayer— Soon after Arthur 11. Rossen completes the staging of Harold McGrath's novel, "The Splendiu Hazard," for the Mayflower company, he will join the directorial forces of Louis B. Mayer's studios, where he will alternate with Joseph Henaberry in the future productions of Mildred Harris Chaplin for release through First National exchanges. UNIVERSAL NOTES By Chas. L. Hertzman