Close Up (Oct 1920 - Aug 1923)

UNIVERSAL PICK-UPS Work has started on Reginald Denny's latest starring vehicle at Universal City, and incidentally it marks a type of play new to the celebrated fistic star, who forsakes the prize ring for the first time to appear as a racing automobile driver instead. There is a fight — but it is an avocation for the noted fistic celebrity of the celluloid rather than a vocation in this story. The new play, “The Spice of Life” is adapted from “There He Goes” by Byron Morgan, author of many famous racing stories, several of which were done in films by the late Wallace Reid. It depicts Denny as a follower of the gasoline track ,and is replete with thrills and the speed of high power cars. Harry Pollard, who directed the “Leather Pushers” series with Denny, and will direct the new story, terms it “And eight cylinder play.” Harvey Thew wrote the adaptation for the screen. A thrilling automobile race marks the climax of the story. * * * Jack Hoxie and a large cast are working near Lone Pine, in the high Sierras, where the spectacular outdoor scenes of “Riders of the Moon” Hoxie’s new Universal feature, are being filmed under the direction of Robert North Bradbury. This production marks the most pretentious play he has yet been assigned to. It is an original story by Isadore Bernstein, dealing with thrilling adventures of “night riders” in an astounding plot. Many thrills will mark the rapid action of the play. In the cast supporting Hoxie in the new feature are Elinor Field, Fred Kohler, William Welsh, Frank Rice, Ralph Fee McCullough, Jim Welsh, Ben Corbett and others. * * * Laguna Beach, perhaps the most scenic rocky strip along the Southern California coast and noted as the meeting place of famous artists who visit California, is the location for a few days of the Universal unit filming “The Storm Daughter,” starring Priscilla Dean. George Arhcainbaud is directing Leete Renick Brown’s sea story, with Tom Santschi, William Davidson, Bert Roach, Cyril Chadwick, J. Far rell MacDonald and other players supporting her. The picture is half filmed the sequences with the Bangor, a historic old lumber ship brought down from San Francisco for the production are practically completed. ♦ * * THE WEEK’S PRESS WHEEZE In the making of some scenes last week for “The Taming of the Shrewd” the current “Fighting Blood” picture now under production at the Powers studios in Hollywood, the action required that “Petey”, the educated canine of the troupe, should carry in his mouth a baby’s bottle filled with milk. But the ponderous Petey, suddenly consumed with a thirst for milk, kept his mind less on his work than he did on the gurgling contents of the bottle. He didn’t want water, he wanted milk. So at length Louise Lorraine, leading lady of the company, saved the situation by filling a glass with water, and then disguising it by putting a piece of white paper around the inside of the glass. The trusting Petey lapped it up with much gusto and considerable noise, and seemed more satisfied to go on with his work. But he seemed somewhat dazed for a time, and often stopped to bend a puzzled gaze on the faked glass. (Well, I wonder if that’s true! I suppose it must be.) Seven High Class Bouts EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT In the Airiest Boxing Arena in the West Hollywood Legion Stadium El Centro, Off Hollywood Blvd. ’Phone Reservations — Holly 102 A FOOL THERE WAS HE HAD WORKED WITHOUT A MISS FOR TWO YEARS AT $350 A WEEK. ONLY HIMSELF AND WIFE TO CARE FOR. THREE WEEKS AFTER HE LOST HIS JOB THE COMPANY PULLED OUT HIS TELEPHONE, AND THE GROCERY MAN WAS REAL NASTY ABOUT A LITTLE BILL OF A HUNDRED AND FORTY-SOME ODD DOLLARS. IF HE HAD JUST PUT A MISERABLE LITTLE TEN PER CENT OF THAT SALARY INTO A SIX PER CENT ACCOUNT WITH THE GUARANTY BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION AT 6364 HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD HAVE MADE. WITH NEARLY $4000 WHERE HE COULD LAY HIS HANDS ON IT, HE COULD HAVE TOLD THEM ALL TO GO TO — TO THEIR BOOKS AND CREDIT HIM WITH PAYMENT. — Advf King Baggot is soon to start shooting “The Custody of the Child”, starring Baby Peggy. This production will be the second of a series of “Peggy” Specials Baggot is making for Universal. * * * Neva Gerber is making the “Santa Fe Trail.” Maybe they will have a “train” of thoughts in this. Witzel Los Angeles Leading Professional Photographer 828 South Hill St. Phone 62448 6324 Hollywood Blvd. Holly 343