Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May-Oct 1922)

Page Sixteen MARY PICKFORD AND DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS GIVEN OVATIONS EN ROUTE TO MONTREAL FROM CALIFORNIA, THROUGH HE big noise in Montreal for the week-end was the arrival and short stay here of Douglas Fairbanks and = Mary Pickford, whose stay in the city was made doubly enjoyable by the able superintendence of Irving Sourckes, Montreal) manager of United Artists’ Corporation, which exchange handles these stars. The famous pair arrived here Monday morning and were welcomed at the station by the “Exhibitors’ Quartette,” who sang—at least they intended to sing—‘‘Oh, What a Pal Was Mary!” and from there they received a body of Montreal newspapermen, including the Montreal correspondent of The Digest. Thereafter they went to pay a visit to the Mayor in his office and later signed the Golden Book of the Civic Library. After a motor tour around the city, they vere entertained by the Montreal Theatre Managers’ Association to dinner at the Ritz-Carlton prior to leaving for New York. There was no time in hurried visit to give their personal greetings to moving picture patrons in any one of the big theatres of the city.. Douglas Fairbanks has had at least one of his life’s ambitions gratied by his visit to Montreal. He has geen and spoken with Stephen Leacock, the Canadian humorist, who, he declares, is his favorite author. Professor Leacock himself commented last night as follows on his meeting with the film celebrities :-— “T can assure you my stock at McGill went up about a thousand per cent. in a few seconds, and the class stood there popeyed with envy as I went out to meet the famous artists. { had a pleasant chat with them in their car, and all the time out of the tail of my eye I could see my class, an envious crowd of lads, nearly breaking the windows with their noses.” Yesterday afternoon Professor and Mrs. Leacock visited the Fairbanks at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. ‘The artists visited the local harbor, had a drive around the mountain, and also were shown through the Royal Victoria Hospital, where they were received by Sir Vincent Meredith, the president of the hospital. Mrs. Fairbanks visited the children’s ward and the inmates were delighted evar le efore bey CANADIAN ROCKIES treat of seeing the famous actress at first hand. In the evening Mary and Doug. entertained Montreal radio fans by addressing them from a local broadcasting station. At Moose Jaw, Sask., Mary and Douglas were given a great reception at the C.P.R.. station. Manager Frank McDaniels, of the Strand and Savoy Theatres, extended an invitation to Douglas and Mary to be his guests on a motor trip through the city. during the hour’s stay which their train made there. The “Douglas” party consisted of five, according to the wire which was signed John Fairbanks. who replied to Manager McDaniels’ invitation as follows: ‘Douglas party consists of five, and we will be delighted to accept your kind invitation. Kindest regards from Douglas.” On the arrival of the train the party was met by Mr. McDaniels. Mary was presented with a boquet of American Beauty Roses. the presentation being made hy a little Miss Clark, who was selected because of her golden ringlets. The tour of Mary and Douglas across Canada from the Pacific has been a veritable triumph. In Vancouver the crowds who arrived to “take a look,” and to pay homage, were so great that the incident when Mary visited London, England, was repeated, Douglas found it necessary to hold Mary up in his arms, in order to save her from being crushed by the crowd of eager admirers. It appeared as if the whole of Vancouver turned out to greet them. A day was spent at Lake Louise, the saddleback mountain — was climbed, and Douglas keen on a swim in the Banff Springs Bathing Pool, motored to Banff for this indulgence. A few minutes’ stop was made at Johnston Canyon. ‘The party then proceeded direct to Montreal, stopping only for an hour in Winnipeg, where again a big ovation and _reception awaited them. It is planned that the New York stay will be a month. Later they will sail for Vera Cruz, journey on to Mexico City, and expect to return to their home about November 20th. Mary expressed herself as finding CANADIAN MOVING PICPURE DIGEST the “Rockies” even beyond expectations, and as being perfectly fascinated with Victoria. Douglas. said: “The mountains would make a marvelous background for a picture, but the essential thing is the story. 1 would love to make a Canadian picture if I could get the right kind of a story.” Mrs. Pickford was interviewed and stated that Mary has been the bread-earner of the family ever since she was five years old. “She was on the stage at five, and was a top-notcher at the age of thirteen, being associated with Belasco before she went into the movies.” “Twelve years it is since Mary Went into pictures,” stated Mrs. Pickford, “and I think her last. picture, “Tess of the Storm Country’ is her best, it took eighteen weeks to make this picture, and for eight weeks Mary motored sixty miles daily to Chatworth Lake, where she had built a fishing village.” Mary’s next picture will — be “Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall. Robin Hood opens its season at the Lyric Theatre, New York. Mgr. J. Smith, Kum-C, Toronto, Shows Real Showmanship On Stunt Manager J. Smith of the Kum-C ‘Theatre, ‘Toronto, showed some real showmanship initiative when he let loose one hundred balloons from the roof of his theatre, Saturday afternoon. Tied to each of these gas balloons was a pass to the Kum-C Theatre for “One Clear Call,” The Associated First National big business getter. During the release of the balloons, throw-outs were distributed among the crowd of spectators who quickly gathered and made attempts to capture both the balloons and passes attached. The throw-outs had the following announcement printed thereon—"One Hundred Mystic Riders” answered the thundering summons of “One Clear Call,” see them plunging forward, each man upon his horse, eager, masked, Kum-C Theatre Week of The balloons were scattered all over the city of Toronto, and Mgr. Smith by the intro: duction of this stunt not only advertised his coming attraction, but let them know, East, West, North and South, that there is a Kum-C Theatre. British Picture “Branded” Draws Capacity Business At Garrick, Winnipeg The British picture, “Branded.” drew capacity business to the Garrick, Winnipeg, and also showing the week of September 18th was the King'salVitsit to the Navy. ing Pictures Read The Digest Advertising Pages.