Close Up (Oct 1920 - Aug 1923)

FILM FACTS AND FANCIES By HARRY BURNS Tommy O’Brien just finished one session at the U and says he is scheduled to start with another company on the same lot. Scott Sidney dropped in on me to say that his present story that he is making with Bobby Vernon is to be a jimdandy. “Thataboy.” Monte Collins hasn’t lost any of his wit in his young days about the studios. He’s still able to keep ahead of “some” old fellers. £. B. Johnson is out of the hospital, and will soon be acting up for the studioites, directors and whatnots. Drs. Hull and Murphy, who run the Culver City hospital, say I am the best patient they have had there in some time. I come back at ’em by saying that they are a pair of nice, good, clean boys, who know their business; so what could be fairer than that? William Duncan must be as unhappy as the one arm guy with a paper hanger’s job in a swell home. His right hand all swathed in bandages while making his last Vitagraph picture, he has to use his left hand to sign checks, eat, root at the fights, drive his car, and other things too numerous to mention. It doesn’t sound like Bill, I have to see him before I believe it. Frank Urson and half of the Marshall Neilan Co chu chuewed down to Mexico City to take some scenes for the latest Mickey Special that is being made at the Goldwyn film producing center, which means that the “boss” is putting in his daily licks hereabouts. Getting ’em coming and going in the workings of a picture. Molly Thompson, who has graced the screen many a time as a actress, is now pleasantly looking through a two by two window at the Roach studios, and handing out the jobs; in other words she is the casting directress of the plant, and what’s more she has a world of friends, regardless if she gives them a job or not, which is saying a whole lot these panicky days. H. J. Raymaker talked to me over the phone the other evening, chirping words of encouragement for my speedy recovery, and his right hand bower, Sandy Roth, seconded everything that Ray said, and they topped it off by hireing Mrs. Burns to play Gene Sarazen’s mother in the picture they are making at Warner Bros, studios. Goody, goody. “Blinkey Ben” dropped in to say hello. What, you don’t know who he is? No, you’re wrong, it wasn’t Ben Turpin; it was no one else than H. M. Walker, who has written that character into the hall of fame wherever they read the good Old United States language, and go as far as turning to the sport pages of the daily newspapers that published that series of interesting tales. L. M. Goodstead no more than got back from his vacation than he dropped me a line to say how sorry he was that I was laid up, and said a lot of cheerful things that makes a fellow feel like he isn’t alone in this wide-wide world. Dinkey Dean is to follow in the footsteps of Jackie Coogan, aided and abetted by a picture to his credit with Charles Chaplin, which reads about the same as the tale of two peas that looked alike, and which Chuck Reisner, the “new kid’s” tutor. Daddy assisted by a directorial and senario staff, what can stop him. Dan Crimmons, after finishing a good part with Harry Carey, expects to be cast very shortly in the latter’s next story. In the meantime he is teaching his son how to do acrobatic stunts, and for an old timer he is just as nimble as he was years ago. Rosa Gore played an excellent old maid character in the latest Bobby Vernon comedy at Christie’s studio, gaining this opportunity on the strength of his work in “A Driving Fool," under the direction of Robert Thornby. Leach Cross, they tell me, is to take part in the next battle with George O’Hara at the R. C. studios. The first of the “Fighting Blood” stories will have its initial public showing at the Granada theatre in San Francisco. Mai St. Clair, George O’Hara, Lee Garmes, the cinematographer, and some others in the cast, will journey north to be on hand at the opening. Clara Horton has her full of worry lately, at her home, death visited her closest relatives and she needs a few kind words to cheer her up. She is one of the most loveable of screen actresses, and has a world of good friends and wishes, with hearts aching for her in this hour of misfortune. Frankie Dolan is sure coming great these days in the old squared circle. And what’s more he is to be cast in the next Johnny Walker feature that will be directed by Frank O’Connor, which, ’tis said, will be another story along the lines of “Over the Hills,” in which Frankie will be Johnny’s younger brother, while Eddie Gribbon will be the older brother. There is some talk of the story being filmed at the Goldwyn plant. Earle Kenton, who is directing Reginald Denny in the newest of “Leather Pushers” series, just returned from Truckee with his troupe, and expects to get into the fight stuff in about ten days; then things will hum for the followers of the good old game of fistiana. Don H. Eddy, who writes “Real and Unreal” in the morning Examiner, dropped in to the page like a cyclone, and he is keeping it going like a house afire. Don’t miss turning to that section, and read slowly, so you don’t miss anything. Otheman Stevens wrote the following March 24, 1923, which is worth repeating, for it will hand quite a few of the wise crackers a hearty laugh. — L. A. Examiner, TOWN TALK — By Otheman Stevens: HARRY BURNS BAKES HIS LEG Carl Laemralle is still among those present, and from all reports will have his Big U plant working full blast before he shakes the dust off of his shoes at one of our L. A. depots and heads Eastward. Emmett J. Flynn’s first efforts on the Goldwyn lot wil be “In the Palace of the King.” Let’s hope he turns out another “A Conneticut Yankee” just to make ’em sit up and like it. John Rounan, I am informed, is once more working at his own studio, and producing Snookey comedies. Sounds like old times to me, for I spent a very happy year there with both Mr. Rounan and his clever Humanzee, producing the Chester-Snookey-Campbell comedies. Carl Stecker and his trained animals are keeping so busy that he could use a couple of good trainers to help handle the calls that come in for his stock. He may go to Alaska with his dogs, after a trip through Canada. Abraham Carlos, who is coming to the coast to produce pictures with Roland West, is about the richest man in friends who has come out here from the East to produce pictures. His connections in the past were with the William Fox studios, which he so capably managed. Henry Murdock is back in Hollywood looking spick and span and ready for most anything from a five-year contract to a wealthy uncle leaving him a cold million. Alf Goulding is back at the Century studio, filling out his contract, and making ’em funnier than ever, I am told. Continued on Page 16