Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1919)

EXHIBITORS HERALD j NOVELIST OF MANY ATTAINMENTS I Pearl Doles Bell, Author of "Her Elephant Man," in Which Shirley Mason Is to Star, Is Expert Swimmer, Crack Shot and Canoeist llll. : MI.WimMIIHIHIIillilM WRITING successful novels is certainly an achievement of distinction but when a woman who does that also shines as an expert swimmer, a crack shot with a rifle, an expert canoeist, a hardy hiker, a painter of friezes, sketcher of characters with pen and ink, embroiderer, elocutionist, kitchen gardener, furniture builder, and an efficient housekeeper, she may be said to be in the vernacular, "some woman." Such is Pearl Doles Bell, author of "Her Elephant Man," the story of the PEAHL UOLIiS Hi l l Author of "Her Elephant Man," in which Shirley Mason makes her bun a.s a Pox .star. To obtain the material for this story, Mrs. Bell spent six weeks traveling with It ingling Brothers' eireus. circus to be done into a picture-play by William Fox with Miss Shirley Mason as the star. Besides "Her Elephant Man," Mrs. Bell has written two other novels — "His HarVest" and "Gloria Gray, Love Pirate"— and numberous short stories. To get material for . "Her Elephant Man," Mrs. Bell spent six weeks with Ringling Brothers Circus, living among the people whose lives she later portrayed so ably that Charles Ringling wrote to her that here was the first "real" story of "the Big Top" ever written. Born in St. Joseph, Mo. Pearl Doles Bell was born in St. Joseph, Mo., and went to school in a building next door to the old homestead of the James Brothers, noted bandits. At the age of twelve she went upon the stage as an elocutionist, and was the youngest entertainer to tour the country in an act entirely by herself. At that age she contributed poems to a newspaper in St. Joseph and attracted the attention of the editor, one Campbell, who acted as her literary father, developing her writing ability and furthering her education. Campbell had done the same for Eugene Field, the poet. The young girl's newspaper contributions soon gained the attention of editors in other cities and poems and stories from her pen appeared in journals all over the country. Now Living in Brooklyn Mrs. Bell lives at 144 Henry street, Brooklyn, N. Y., with her husband, George Humphrey Bell, a former Chicago business man. Every year they make a trip to Florida in their yacht, "The Bells" and spend several months "roughing it." The authoress converted her Brooklyn apartment into a work of art by painting friezes, refashioning furniture, embroidering hangings, setting out a beautiful garden and adding many other touches that have made her home the subject of many newspaper and magazine articles. "Oil" Is Title of Next Guy Empey Production Guy Empey Pictures Corporation, which produced "The Undercurrent," recently seen at the Capitol Theatre, New York, announces that its next production, to be started immediately, is an American photo drama entitled "Oil." For the making of this picture space has been secured at the Paragon Studio at EARL W. HAMMOKS Vice-president and general manager of Educational Films, who is rapidly widening the scope of its activities. Fort Lee, where Emile Chautard :s working on his Mayflower Production. Guy Empey and his director, Wilfred North, will share the studio with Mr. Chautard during the filming of "Oil." "Oil," it is said, will be made as a major feature. It will be given careful and costly production, and will be offered as a special attraction for presentation in houses of the highest class. The picture will not run less than six reels. In announcing the title of his forth coming production, Arthur Guy Empey lays stress upon the fact that "Oil" will be a screen offering made for entertainment only. The picture will deal neither in war interest nor in propaganda. United Theatres Predicts Success For New Dustin Farnum Feature Work is now going ahead rapidly on the cutting and assembling of the United Picture Theatres of America feature, "The Corsican Brothers." Several days ago the negative and sample print arrived from the coast and work was at once begun to put the picture in proper shape for public presentation. Among many of the details that are now being given attention, are the titles which will be decorative and in keeping with the nature of the story. Everything, it is declared, is being done to make "The Corsican Brothers" a big feature in every sense of the word. Now that the filming has been completed and the picture viewed by the United Picture Theatre officials, they believe that a really remarkable photodrama has been made from Dumas' great story and it is their one idea to make the picture the biggest box office attraction ever published by the organization. Farnum Is Well Pleased Dustin Farnum, star of "The Corsican Brothers," declares this is his finest 146 screen achievement and that he believes the picture to be the greatest production made on the coast during the past year. Massive sets were built at the Astra studios at Glendale, Cal., for both interior and exterior scenes. Over a thousand people appeared in the Ball Masque scenes in an exceptionally large set built to represent the Paris Grand Opera H ouse whde many of the exteriors were filmed at Santa Catalina Island. Date to Be Set by Berst With the completion of the cutting, titling and assembling, a date will be assigned to "The Corsican Brothers" by President J. A. Berst of the United Picture Theatres of America and at that time, the complete line of advertising and publicity helps already announced will be ready for the exhibitors. Mr. Berst predicts that the theatres served by United are going to break box office records with "The Corsican Brothers" and establish figures that will remain as house records for some time to come.