Close Up (Oct 1920 - Aug 1923)

Shadows From the Silver Sheet { GOSSIP BY ] THE ROUNDER j t _ _ — i A BIRD OF A STORY All dumbbells are not of the human variety, according to Harry Bucquet, assistant director to Allen Holubar, who is considering the advisability of calling in Col. W. N. Selig as consulting zoological specialist in the production of “The White Frontier,” a Dorothy Phillips production. Here’s why: The story calls for a canary to perch on a bedpost and for a cat to upset a bottle of ink over a certain open book. Harry Bucquet, Holubar’s chief aide, was assigned to stage the scenes required. The cat and bird were secured, but according to Bucquet they were dumbbells de luxe. The bird would light everywhere else except on the post and the feline actor spilled more than a dozen bottles of ink all over every other spot on the table before he scored the bulls-eye on the book. Frank Good, who will grind the camera on the Chester M. Franklin production of “Wolf Fangs,” which will be under the personal supervision of Harry Rapf for the Warner Brothers, has just returned from the north where he reports about thirty feet of snow. He was looking for locations. Harry Beaumont, father of twins, says that one father got so excited when his baby started crying that he took the soothing syrup instead of giving it to the baby. A CHANGE IN FOOD Stimulates the “Inner Man” Hungarian Kosher Meals Mean Contentment! Klein & Weiss (Caters for you, and to you) 331 So. Spring St. Refreshing Atmosphere. Speedy Service, Snowy Linen and large semi-private booths. Movie Stars Come in Frequently! And last — but not least — The Price Is Just Reasonable. BE ENCOURAGED, GIRLS From artist's model to feminine film star has been the route traversed by Miss Irene Dalton, chosen this week by A1 St. John to be his feminine foil in his comedies made for William Fox at his Western avenue studios. Since Norma Conterne, Al’s former leading lady was drafted like many others who started in fun films, to the higher plane of serious drama, A1 has been casting about for a new lead and he discovered her in the person of Miss Dalton. After winning a beauty contest in Chicago she became a model in commercial films for the Rothacker Film company in the Windy City. Later she came to California to play with Roy Hamilton in comedies, and after that played comedy leads for Christie for a year and a half. She is a striking brunette and an ideal foil to St. John’s blondeness. The wardrobe mistress will make little profit on Miss Dalton, however, as she is an accomplished seamstress and milliner, making all her own gowns and hats. Harry Garson’s latest ditty: “Oh, Jimmy, this is so sudden!” she cried, as her sweetheart bumped into her. BACK WITH A. & K. Many of you still remember Nate Holt, former manager of the State Theatre, with fond recollection. Well, Nate is at present in Oakland, somewhere in California, managing the Ackerman & Harris Theatre, also known as the State Theatre. I state here that Nate can’t keep out of the state. Anyway, this urbane gentleman is Oakland-izing — much to the regret of his numerous friends, who would like to see him disporting nearer our own Venice. Be of good cheer, Nate, we’ll send a petition to Governor Friend Richardson and no doubt you’ll be transferred back to L. A. Erich Von Stroheim's first theatrical experience was with a vaudeville sketch which he wrote, produced and acted. He says he was “whistled out” of the theatre. Von Stroheim now has a Goldwyn contract and is preparing to direct Frank Norris’ great novel, “McTeague.” After that he will do the great light opera success, “The Merry Widow.” ALWAYS IN DEMAND For over a year Bert Roach has been doing comedy roles at Universal City with Neely Edwards and other comedy stars. He is considered excellent in that line. But every two months or so the team work of Edwards and Roach in “Nervy Ned” comedies is broken up by the request of some director for the services of Roach in feature production, in which he plays comedy characters with an excellent sense of the difference between such roles in comedies and features. The last time he was withdrawn from comedy ranks was when Horbert Henley was making “The Flirt,” a multiple reel adaptation of Booth Tarkington’s novel. Bert played a very human “boob” in the story, the fellow who is “boob” enough to marry “The Flirt” in the end. Just the other day Wallace Worley, director, and Perley Poorr Sheehan, adapter, stopped shooting scenes tor “The Hunchback of Notre. Dame” long enough to wonder just who could do a comedy bit in the Gondelaurier ball room sequense just right. They decided on Bert Roach. So he doffed his hobo rags and donned the wig and garb of a fifteenth century gallant, and played the bit. Now he will play in another comedy before he begins work on a role in Virginia Valli’s Universal Jewel vehicle, “Up the Ladder,” which Hobart Henley will direct. WHEN YOU’RE RUSHED FOR TIME AND MUST EAT Make a Bee Line for the CALIFORNIA CAFE Where Prompt Service and Fresh, Good Food Awaits GUS HARITOS, Proprietor 353 South Spring, Near 4th