Close Up (Oct 1920 - Sep 1923)

M U n d e r t It BY THE MAN THE “EXTRA’S” UPRISING The motion picture extra, who is usually called the “ham actor,” has started to fight against the so-called service bureau. The word “service” is greatly misused — in this case. The fault, which is the cause of the pay war, seems to lie in the bureau’s charging 7 per cent commission for securing the movie position. But lately many complaints have been lodged at this office, and many others, that there is a graft at the studios. It seems that the actor must pay the service bureau whether he secured his position through them or not. Of course, this is not fair to the actor. It can’t be the producing companies; they are too big for this petty stealing of the minor actor’s salary. Then, there must be something wrong on the part of the casting director and the bureaus. THIS MUST BE STOPPED! The producers will never be able to get satisfactory work from discontented help. The extras are paid far too little now, and then to have 7 per cent UNLAWFULLY taken from them is too much. What are you going to do about it? WE WANT ACTION! This so-called “blacklist” subject is bunk! Charles B. Bennett is just trying to start something that is unnecessary. I know him and have watched him at the bureaus and studios. He can’t take no for an answer, and bothers all of the casting directors. This naturally influences them against him. If there is any “blacklist” on him, he got it for himself. Close-Up is appealing to the managers of producing companies to stop this petty graft that is only a disgrace to the industry and the studios. There is no lawful reason for this, and it has been going on for some time, but just recently the petty grafters have become more bold, and it does look like they have cut their own throats. Let us hope so, and let us have justice for those who have the hard end of the game to bear. William Sullivan’s little joke. “Is she a gifted actress?” “Well, she got an awful lot of presents on her birthday.” Reggie Barker is so good he tells hair-raising stories to bald-headed men. e Magnify! HARRY BURNS BADLY INJURED About a week ago Harry Burns, a well known director, and ex-newspaper man, met with a serious accident, which he might have avoided had he stood idly by and allowed a woman to be injured. But, showing the man that is in him, he reached practically under the feet of tramping horses and rescued a lady from very serious harm. In consequence, Harry is now sojourning for the next month in the Culver City hospital, recovering from painful injuries. All of this occurred at the Goldwyn studios. We hope that this corporation will make his stay pleasant through monetary consideration, so that Harry Burns will not actually suffer a financial loss through his heroic act, which saved the Goldwyn Corporation from paying probably a large amount of compensation, which would have resulted had the woman been really injured in the pursuit of her duties as an employe of this corporation. Can you get Loehr Harmon’s meaning, or is he throwing the “bull”? This is his line — Hey! Do you get that — 50 cigs for a dime? Harry Carter claims that many restaurants serve filthy instead of filtered water. Bernie Durning’s latest (paraphrasing a well known sentence). As between friends — until debt do us part. n g Glass BEHIND ‘CLOSE-UP’ IN SMALL QUANTITIES By Marshall Lorimer Why give me such undying Love, Sweetheart? for soon, or late, A moment comes — I’m thinking of, When Love can turn to Hate. Let your affection so behave, That every moment, Dear, You’ll find in me a mien brave To hold you without fear. Perfervid Passions uncontrolled Oftimes have passed for real; The beauty of this fragile mold Soon loses its appeal. The truer passion that I crave, Possess respect and trust; These two will lift a very Slave From revelling in Lust. How can I hold you, Dear, and know How soon your heart will tire, Of that first holy given glow That soon expires in fire? i So give me Love in smaller doles, And in return I’ll give A double portion for two souls In which high hopes will live. The girls seem to be doing an awful lot of talking about clothes, but they never seem to wear any. Reggie Denny wants to know about this. Public Sales We have purchased 122,000 pair U. S. Army Munson Last shoes, sizes 5% to 12, which was the entire surplus stock of one of the largest U. S. Government shoe contractors. This shoe is guaranteed one hundred per cent solid leather, color dark tan, bellows tongue, dirt and water proof. The actual value of this shoe is $6.00. Owing to this tremendous buy we can offer same to the public at $2.95. Send correct size. Pay postman on delivery or send money order. If shoes are not as represented we will cheerfully refund your money promptly upon request. National Bay State Shoe Company 296 Broadway, New Y ork City, N. Y.