Close Up (Oct 1920 - Sep 1923)

12 JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES Marshall Lorimer Editor and Prop. “CLOSE-UP” The Magazine of Movie Land Issued the 5th and 20th of Each Month Editorial and Business Office: g 603 Western Mutual Life Bldg., (formerly Exchange Bldg.) 321 West Third Street. Telephone 820-609. = SUBSCRIPTION RATE: ONE YEAR TWO DOLLARS | Advertising Rates on Contract Basis Checks Should Be Made Payable to “Close-Up” g All manuscripts and Contributions Should be Addressed to the Editor jg UNIVERSAL ACTIVITIES Carl Laemmle littered up the Atlantic Ocean this week with a 500word cablegram to Irving G. Thalberg, director-general of Universal City. He cabled from Rome where he is being feted by Italian producers. The cablegram cost a lot of money. He could have saved much of it by saying: “Congratulations and more power to you,” for that was its spirit. Mr. Laemmle used 200 words in reviewing Universal’s output for the season. He spoke of the fifty-two special attractions, the historical serials and stressed the success here and in Europe of such super-features as “Foolish Wives,” “Human Hearts,” “The Storm,” and predicted even greater success for “Under Two Flags.” “The Flame of Life,” “The Flirt,” “Bitter Sweet” and “The Kentucky Derby.” Then he used 300 words to tell Irving G. Thalberg that he is appreciative of his ability, that he is enjoying himself in Europe and that he will be mighty glad to sail into New York in early October. Irving G. Thalberg, who shares approbation with his associates and takes criticism by himself, posted the cablegram on the bulletin board at Universal City and added a characteristic line: “Carry on!” Carrying on is what Universal City ain’t doing anything else but, as Hugh Wiley would say. The lineup is interesting. Erich von Stroheim has started “Merry Go Round,” his own story of Vienna, with a cast to knock the eye out. Emile Chautard has been engaged and will direct an all-star cast in “Forsaking All Others,’’ a story by Mary Lisner, which appeared in Collier’s. Priscilla Dean is two-thirds finished with “Lady Raffles,” a story written for her by Tod Browning and which he directs. Her next story will be “Drifting,” a smashing, colorful story of China, for which Lucien Hubbard is writing the continuity. Browning will again direct. Frank Mayo has finished “The Altar Stairs,” G. B. Lancaster’s romance of moonswept beaches under the Southern Cross. He will begin starring immediately on “The Hot Head,” a speedy action romance by Lillian Chester of a young man with a temper that rivals the fireworks factory which explodes in the last scene to give the story a parting thrill. Edward Sedgwick will direct from the continuity of George Randolph Chester. Herbert Rawlinson is doing the best work of his career in “One Wonderful Night,” Louis Tracy’s famous play that is just Herb’s “stuff.” Lillian Rich, Sidney Bracy, Sidney de Grey, Joseph Girard, Dale Fuller and other popular players are with him. Rawlinson just finished “Another Man’s Shoes,” Victor Bridges’ novel that is more than straight entertainment. Stuart Paton directs. Gladys Walton finished “The Lavender Bath Lady” and chose the cool waters of the Pacific and the quiet of Catalina for her vacation after an extremely difficult role. King Baggot directed this Shannon life story from a Georgt Randolph Chester continuity. “Ridin’ Wild” at Chatsworth, Universal City and other points inland, Hoot Gibson is creating another smiling personality of the West in a story of that name written and scenarized by Roy Myers. Nat Ross directs; winsome, Irish Edna Murphy is the leading woman. Gibson’s last LYNWOOD CRYSTAL RAPP Child Actress was “The Lone Hand,” a Ralph Cummins story. J. P. McGowan is preparing “Around the World in Eighteen Days,” a modern version in serial form of Jules Verne’s classic. SAVING TIME Bernard McConville, who wrote “Miss Emmy Lou” and is busy putting the story in screen form as a starring vehicle for Viola Dana, is a “clock watcher.” He admits this fact and even boasts of it. “Whenever I sit down to write,” he explained the other day, “I have either a watch or a clock before me. Naturally, I’m lazy, so I pretend I’m not writing a scenario but that I’m back in my old place as a newspaper reporter with a big story to write and only fifteen minutes to catch the next edition. "When I do this, somehow or other ideas come to me and I can accomplish an hour’s work in a quarter of the time. Sometimes I forget about the watch and keep right on working at a fast clip. When I do recollect where I am, I mentally assign myself to another important story with fifteen minutes more in which to write it and then I go to it again.” A SURE WAY OF TELLING “Are You a Native Son?” is a rather common question in California. Hunt Stromberg, who is producing the “Bull” Montana comedies, never puts that query. He merely asks, “Have you a telephone?” He says that anyone who has been in Los Angeles long enough to acquire a telephone must be a native son.