Camera (June 1920 - May 1922)

CAMERA I “ The Digest of the Motion Picture Industry” Page Nine PICKUPS BY THE STAFF AUSTRALIAN EXHIBITORS VISIT BRUNTON PLANT A party of twenty-six exhibitors from Sidney and Melbourne, Australia, were visitors last week at the Robert Brunton Film Plant. Among the guests were H. L. Townsend, who controls thirty-one Australian picture houses, and James Colby, head of the Colby Theatres Syndicate. After a luncheon at the Studio Cafeteria, the exhibitors inspected the three-hundred foot dark stage, the Italian garden, Mr. Brunton’s Studio Home, Mary Pickford’s Bungalow, the Hospital, and the Fire Department. Before leaving the guests were taken to one of the projection rooms where they reviewed rushes of preliminary work on Robert Brunton’s new feature, “The Devil to Pay.” FORD TO FEATURE TOD SLOANE Francis Ford will direct Tod Sloane, former world known jockey, in a five-reel feature according to announcement. George Hackathorne has finished in Allan Dwan’s latest production and has gone to Riverside for a rest. Maurice Tourneur denied the rumor that he will erect a Hollywood studio. He will continue to make pictures at Universal City. Wallace MacDonald has refused an offer from Edward Jose to go East to play the leading role in Thomas Dixson’s “The Way of a Man.” Edward Jobson has left on an automobile tour of Northern California, during the course of which he will visit his brother in San Francisco. Hope Hampton made a flying trip to San Francisco last week. After spending a week in Los Angeles as the guests of Jack Pickford and his wife, Olive Thomas, Myron Selznick, president of the Selznick Pictures Corporation and his brother, David, treasurer of that organization, left for New York last Sunday accompanied by Owen Moore, and his director, Victor Heerman. Ruth Renick left this week witn tne George Melford company for a four or five weeks’ sojourn in the Truckee and Big Bear country. Sam Rork, president of the Katherine MacDonald Pictures Corporation, returned this week from San Francisco, where he held conferences with Eugene Roth relative to new production plans now under consideration. Miss Patricia Owen, daughter of Seena Owen, recently celebrated her third birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Washburn, upon the completion of his present vehicle for Paramount-Artcraft will go vacationing to New York. It is possible the trip will be extended to Europe. House Peters is soon to head his own producing company according to announcement. Priscilla Dean has just returned from a week’s trip to San Francisco. Leonard Clapham is training for the Olympic Try-Outs. PLAYWRIGHT ENTERTAINS Winchell Smith gave a farewell dinner at Beverly Hills Hotel recently for the members of the cast and the officials of the Metro Studio who took part in the preparation of “The Sapliead” from his story, “The New Henrietta.” Among the sixty guests were William H. Crane, Buster Keaton, Joseph A. Engel, and C. Allen Gilbert. Mr. Smith will return to New York soon to supervise the production of his new stage play, “The Wheel.” Nelson McDowell, Who Appeared in “Going Some” at the California Last Week ACCORDING TO SCOTTY “Frank Braidwood after his latest exploits whilst taking motor scenes for Irvin Willat, has to drive on his lonesome.” Jack Wagner, production manager or the Allan Dwan productions, filmed the final scenes for Dwan’s sixth Mayflower picture at Keen Camp last week. David J. Chatkin, Secretary of the Marion H. Kohn productions, who recently visited New York to attend the independent producers’ convention, has returned to the coast. Gouverneur Morris is entertaining his friend, E. C. Potter of New York, at his home in Hollywood. It is said that Eric Von Stroheim, Universal Director, is to wed Valerie Germondez, who played a leading role in “Blind Husbands.” Chester W. Babcock, Superintendent of Construction at the Robert Brunton Studios, was killed instantly last week, when he stumbled into a ravine behind his Sawtelle home and broke his neck. Mr. Babcock was one of the oldest employees on the lot and the building of practically every large structure in the studios was done under his supervision. Samuel Goldwyn. president of the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation of New York, is expected to arrive in Los Angeles the first of next week according to advices received at the Culver City Studio by Vice-President Abraham Lehr. ASSISTANT DIRECTORS’ BALL The Assistant Directors’ Association is making plans for its second annual ball at present scheduled to be held the latter part of next month. Where the affair is to be held is not yet announced, but it will probably be at one of the larger Hollywood studios. Allan Watt and Chester Bennett, representing the committee in charge, are arranging the program. ARTISTS HOLD RE-UNION Six artists who studied together at the Julian Academy in Paris held a re-union in Hollywood last week. They were Ferdinand Earle, Ralph Willis, Ira Rempson, C. Allen Gilbert, David Anthony Tauszky, and Gilbert White. Mrs. Braidwood, mother of Frank Braidwood, has just gone to Truckee to play a part with Lasky Corporation, under direction of Geo. Marshall. Dorothy and Jack Morgan have returned from location at Victorville with Harry Carey. The Lasky Scenario department is shortly to be enlarged by the addition of eleven rooms to be formed by a two-story annex to the present structure housing the literary fraternity of the plant. Josephine Crowell plays an important role in Robert Thornby’s all star production, “Half a Chance.” Charles Stumar has just returned from Yosemite Valley where he went to obtain scenic material for the latest Louise Glaum feature. Harry Lichtig, players’ personal representative, has just returned from a short vacation at Catalina Island. Mr. Lichtig recently placed Robert Henri, formerly of Special Pictures Corporation, in charge of the publicity department of the Lichtig offices in Hollywood. Betty Blythe, having completed work in “Nomads of the North” for First National, is taking a vacation at Catalina Islands before commencing another production. A recently patented cotton culling machine has claimed the attention of Sessue Hayakawa, and he has journeyed to San Diego to acquire an interest in the manufacture. On his return within the week he will at once commence work upon his new production, “The First Born,” and will take his company to the Sacramento River valley for location scenes. While in New York, Hayakawa acquired the film rights to “East is East’’ which he will produce this year. Rosemary Theby has entered into an agreement with a St. Louis newspaper to conduct a weekly column of film events. Hope Loring, who has been in charge of Universal City serial and short reel department, has resigned to take an aeroplane honeymoon with her new husband, Lieut. Louis D. Lighton, former army aviator. After that she will devote her energies exclusively to feature scenarios. Abraham Lehr, Vice-President of the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, was recently made a member of the committee of Manufacture of the Chamber of Commerce. J. Stewart Woodhouse, Director of Publicity for the same organization, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Committee on Publicity.