Close Up (Oct 1920 - Aug 1923)

16 Bright Hints For Human Beings By “US” or “WE” CHEESE AND HAM Monte Blue is somewhat in the dark as to just what intent was behind a remark that J. L. Warner made the other day. Monte Blue, A. Warner, S. L. Warner and J. L. Warner all went to lunch together. When it came time to order J. L. Warner took the orders and then the waitress came forward and Mr. Warner addressed her. “Three cheeses and a ham.” He meant sandwiches but Monte thought it might be personal as he was the only actor there and he had ordered a ham sandwich. However, the atmosphere is cleared now as Warner has explained that it was no allusion to Monte’s work and. proved it by bringing out Monte’s contract with the Warner Brothers. ELOCUTION TEACHER LOST WHEN ESTELLE TAYLOR BECOMES ACTRESS Studying to become an elocution teacher, then going on the stage and finally associating herself with motion pictures is the career in brief of Estelle Taylor, who is playing one of the leading feminine roles in Louis Burston’s production of “Desire” for Metro which Rowland V. Lee is directing. Wilmington, Delaware, is Miss Taylor's birthplace. Most of her life has been spent with her grandparents, whom she admits quite frankly had never been inside of a theatre, until one day her grandfather decided to go and see her in a picture. Miss Taylor has no particular picture which she classes as her best, feeling always that the part she is playing is the most important and that the previous picture is her best. However, she does believe that “While New York Sleeps” was her biggest picture. Other photoplays in which she has appeared include, “A Fool There Was,” “Thorns and Orange Blossoms,” “Only a Shop Girl,” “Monte Cristo,” “Over Here” and “The Thundering Dawn.” Among the other players in the allstar cast of “Desire” are John Bowers, David Butler, Marguerite De La Motte, Edward Connelly, Noah Beery, Ralph Lewis, Lucille Hutton, Vera Lewis, Walter Long, Chester Conklin, Hank Mann and Frank Currier. JUST LET THINGS HAPPEN By Marshall Lorimer What does fame amount to When everything is done? You’ll take the same old journey L ke every mother’s son. You strive and think you conquer. In quest for fame, and wealth. Then satisfying hunger, You lose both youth, and health. To solve your difficulties, You stay awake at night — And crease your face with furrows To set your brain aright. Then in the stress of business, You stop — and wonder when You’re going to be the king-pin Among those other men. If you consult your reason Five minutes — now, and then You’ll realize life’s season Is like a Chinese yen. You have it for a moment — That happiness is brief; And then soemhow you lose it — It’s alternate is grief. So what’s the use in striving? You know the end will be Today — if not tomorrow The great eternity. So what does fame amount to, When everything is done? You’ll have to take the journey, No matter how you won. J. A. Mowat, the only man who ever attempted to make motion pictures in Detroit, Mich., is head of the concern producing pictures at the Hollywood Studios and featuring Walter Hagen, world’s champion pro golfer. Clarence Bricker is the director. Included in the cast are Miss Dupont, George K.uwa and Monte Collins. George O’Hara is the occasion of the current expression among fight fans: “Well, if we can’t make the legion or Vernon this week, we’ll see a good fight on George O’Hara’s set!” O’Hara, who is making the Witwer “Fighting Blood” series at Powers Studios, will probably have to enlarge the grandstand on his set to accommodate those who don’t care about appearing at the office for talent checks if they can only witness a wallop fest. MELL BROWN TO DIRGCT? Not so long ago, Mcll Brown was credited with being quite a successful comedy director, having handled the megaphone on the Fox lot and for Warner Brothers. He also sat on the Chaplin set for about a year offering suggestions, then disappeared. Brown was located a few months ago in the scenario department of Mack Sennett, where he has been very busy, under the supervision . of the comedy king, working on the stories of "The Extra Girl,” the new starring vehicle for Phyllis Haver, and “Mary Ann,” Mabel Normand’s next screen play. Dame Rumor has it that Mell Brown, learning the Sennett angle of comedy production, will soon take a company of Sennett players out under his own direction. We hope so. Such ambition should be rewarded. Now that Sol Lesser is going to be a real big producer, we might say: “Day by day, in every way, we’re getting lesser and lesser.” * * * Bernie Durning says that you can’t recognize some of these dancers with their clothes on. * * * There is supposed to be a fool in every family. “Now what,” asks Dustin Famum, “if you are the only child?” ACE’S ARE HIGHER Eric Mayne, who has just finished a second picture with Gloria Swanson, “Prodigal Daughter” by title, and, who distinguished himself in her latest starring vehicle to be realesed, “My American Wife,” has had the thrilling experience of being mistaken for King George of Great Britain. He was riding with a friend in an open coach, at the time he was playing at the Drury Lane theatre in London in "The Whip,” when someone started an applause, which quickly developed into a veritable ovation. After the din Mr. Mayne was astonished to discover what had inspired it. This well known actor does bear a close facial and physical resemblance to the British monarch and he wears a beard precisely like his Royal Excellency affects. It is interesting to note that although Mr. Mayne has the kingly appearance he has never played the role of a king on the screen.