Close-Up (Oct 1920 - Sep 1923)

10 -vi Under th BY THE MAN HARRY GARSON PRODUCTIONS SCHEDULE That the production season of 192223 will be a big and busy one is further strengthened by the announcement from the studios of Harry Garson Productions, Los Angeles, to the effect that this organization is taxing its capacity to fulfil contracts. As previously announced, Harry Garson will present Miss Clara Kimball Young in a series of five feature length screen classics, through the distributing agency of the Metro Pictures. Two of these super-features, "‘The Hands of Nara” and “Enter Madame,” have already been completed and delivered to Metro. Work on the third Clara Kimball Young special, the title of which will be announced later, will be started about September 15th, when it is expected Miss Young will have returned from a short vacation in the mountains, where she went immediately following the completion of her last vehicle. Aside from the Metro contract, Harry Garson Productions will produce an entirely separate series of three big, independently made superfeatures, adaptations from works of well-known authors. It is planned to sell this new series direct to the exhibitor for an indefinite period, disregarding any other releasing affiliations. The Garson Company will assume the burden of advertising, exploiting and selling these pictures, thereby dealing direct with the theatres, whom they will aid through liberal use of printer’s ink, heralds, cuts and handsome press books, to sell the product to the public. For the first of this series of independently made features, Mr. Garson has chosen the world-famed poem “An Old Sweetheart of Mine,” by James Whitcomb Riley, one of the most famous of America’s poets. The screen adaptation was made by Louis Lighton and Mr. Garson is directing the production, which features Elliott Dexter, supported by an all-star cast including such prominent characters as Helen Jerome Eddy, Lloyd Whitlock, Arthur Hoyt and Barbara Worth. “An Old Sweetheart of Mine” will be ready for release some time in the fall. Immediately following the cutting and editing of this production, number two of the series, the title of which will be announced later, will be put into work. e Magnifyi Here’s more proof that the wails of calamity-howlers are uncalled for and that America is just as much the land of golden opportunity as ever. Only a short four years ago, one Mario Bianchi and one Leon Cunjo ventured into this country from Italy with no funds and no reputation. Today Mario Bianchi is one of the foremost comedy stars on the motion picture screen and is famous throughout the world for his fun-making genius while Cunjo has become famous as a grand opera tenor and each makes a salary approaching Midas-like proportions when compared to the earnings of their old friends back in the old home country. Now don’t let anyone tell you again that this country as a land of opportunity has gone to the bow-wows. It has not gone, nor is it ever going there. Cleo Ridgley, who is Mrs. James Horne in private life, is the mother of twins and now that she has them started safely in school she is to return to the screen via Warner Bros.’ production of “The Beautiful and Damned,” being directed by \Y illiam A. Seiter. * * * When a musical comedy show is rotten, why does every one go to see it? Because it’s rotten — but not the way you think, says Myrtle Steelman. * * * This by A1 Roscoe: Stealing a kiss from a girl is a lot of fun, but then playing honest all of a sudden is just as good. ig Glass BEHIND ‘CLOSE-UP’ AH— MORE INFORMATION! George Kuwa, who plays the part of Tana in the Warner Bros, produc o tion of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s popular novel, “The Beautiful and Damned,” has not only been on the stage but has taken a crack at the dull commercial life. Before he left Japan he was a bank clerk and after he came to California he was a very successful tobacco salesman. * * * Harry Rapf, producing for Warner Bros., is planning a series of entertainments for Vera Gordon, who comes to the Orpheum in a few weeks. Miss Gordon made several motion pictures under Mr. Rapf’s supervision, and her vaudeville act was staged under his direction. * * * For the forthcoming production of Olga Printzlau’s story, “The Little Church Around the Corner,” an entire mining town will be built at the Warner Bros, studio and right next to it will be the far-famed town which Sinclair Lewis describes in his novel, “Main Street,” which will also be screened by Warner Bros. * * * Marie Prevost, who is appearing in the Warner Bros, production of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, “The Beautiful and Damned,” reports a fishing trip last week which resulted in the usual fisherman’s luck. * * * Louise Fazenda, who has been cast in one of her first dramatic parts in “The Beautiful and Damned” at Warner Bros., is one comedy queen that has flitted to the drama via other routes than the bathing suit one. * * * William A. Seiter and Harry Myers are renewing a friendship made while Mr. Seiter was directing Doris May and Harry Myers in “Boy Crazy.” Mr. Seiter is directing Warner Bros.’ production, “The Beautiful and Damned,” and Myers is playing the eccentric author in it. * * * Emmett King, one of the most widely known character men in motion pictures, has been signed by Warner Bros, to play the part of Marie Prevost’s father in their forthcoming production of “The Beautiful and Damned,” which William A. Seiter is directing.