Close Up (Oct 1920 - Aug 1923)

7 Trailing Motion Picture Stars A GOOD START Kenneth Gibson, who recently finished enacting the role of “Phlippe,” an impoverished nobleman, the juvenile lead with Norma Talmadge in “Ashes of Vengeance,’’ the First National release made at the United studios by the Joseph M. Schenck productions under the direction of Frank Lloyd, could in a sense be spoken of as “an exception to the rule” and on the other hand as having no connection with it, which, while seemingly paradoxical, is true neverthehless. The fame of Hollywood having spread, apparently, to the four corners of the globe, has resulted in practically every train and even ships bringing large numbers of screen aspirants who are usually imbued with the idea that the “new faces” propaganda is an actual fact more than the fancy at least with which it is as a rule viewed from a practical standpoint by the producers, and has resulted in scores of youthful screen aspirants being pracitcally stranded here, owing to lack of ability or experience, and quite often opportunity, even though the clubs and other organizations are doing their utmost to relieve the situation by assisting in securing other employment for them or in arranging for their return home. Kenneth Gibson, however, did not come to Hollywood to seek fame and fortune in the motion picture profession. He had completed his education in France, at Sorbonne, the University of Paris and the Alliance Francaise, and simply came here for a visit and to recuperate after having been gassed at Chateau Thierry, he having enlisted in the World War six days after war was declared, when but eighteen years old. However, once within the portals of Filmland and simply as a means to help defray immediate expenses succeeded after considerable effort in getting cast in the “atmosphere” of a current production and found the work so much to his liking that he stuck to it and in only three months was cast in a leading role opposite Eileen Percy and in quite rapid succession played important roles in “The Masquerader,” “Broad Daylight,” “Daytime Wives,” “Ashes of Vengeance,” “The Dangerous Maid,” and others. Kenneth Gibson is now looked upon by producers and directors alike as a find. A PERFECT SCREEN CAREER Clarence G. Badger, one of the screen’s most successful directors, who recently returned to Los Angeles from the east where he has directorial charge of “Potash and Perlmutter”, the Sam Goldwyn First National production, is to direct “The Swamp Angel” for First National. His excellent work in the direction of the famous Montague Glass play greatly impressed First National executives and he was immediately engaged to pilot “The Swamp Angel” which, featuring Colleen Moore, went into production August 15th. Mr. Badger has had an extensive career both as director and writer of screen plays. By birth he is a San Franciscan, but spent much of his early life in the East. He was educated in Boston and later took up editorial work on “The Youth’s Companion,” a widely read periodical published in that city. Later he was a newspaper writer on Pacific Coast publications. He went into pictures as a scenario writer and during 'the first few years of his film career wrote continuously for Lubin, Universal and Keystone. He became a director for Keystone in 1915 and since then has handled the megaphone for many big productions made by Mack Sennett, by Paramount and by Goldwyn. Some of his most noteworthy screen accomplishments were his direction of “Quincy Adams Sawyer”, “Your Friends and Mine,” “Kingdom of Youth,” and “Red Lights”. Badger is now assisting in the preparation of the continuity of “The Swamp Angel” which is being adapted to the screen by Edward Montague from the story by Richard Connell. Wig Rental Hepner Method Permanent Wigs Waving our Specialty to Order Toupees Hepner Toilette Preparations Hair Phone 52220 Dressing 1001 West Seventh Street Marcelling (Just west of Figueroa) Shampooing Jiepner INCOI\POI\ATED No Parking Restrictions NEW YORK WASHINGTON, D. C. LOS ANGELES