Exhibitors Herald (Jan-Mar 1920)

EXHIBITORS HERALD With tlie Procession in Los Angeles By Harry Hammond Beale Florence Porter Park?, former dramatic editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal and for some time past feature writer for Camera, has joined the Brunton publicity staff to succeed Calvin C. Day. Rene R. Rivierre has taken over the directorship. Robert Brunton has engaged Lon Chaney, the clever character actor who played 'The Frog" in George Loane Tucker's "The Miracle Man," to instruct Champion Jack Dempsey in the art of making up. The Brunton studios are assuming still greater proportions. A five-room gymnasium is now being erected on the lot for the convenience of players and employes. The building will cover half an acre of ground and will be completely equipped with showers, dressing rooms, electric baths, lockers and athletic paraphernalia. A boxing ring will also be included for the use of Jack Dempsey, who intends to spar a few rounds daily while making his fifteen-episode serial. Officials at Universal City have just been giver, a pre-view of "The Gorgeous Canary," the completed Holubar production, starring Dorothy Phillips, the working title of which was "Ambition." Miss Phillips' work in this feature is said to rival any of her former screen portrayals. In her support are Robert Anderson. Rudolph Valentino, William Hillingford. Margaret Mann, Emily Chichester, Elinor Field, Mary Wise, Dan Crimmins, Rosa Gore, Frank Elliott, Katherine Griffith, Emma Gerdes and many others. Art Acord and Mildred Moore, featured players in "The Moon Riders," a Universal serial, were injured recently when a horse upon which they were both riding fell over an embankment. Life is just one mustard plaster after another for William Pigott, supervising director of western and serial photodramas at Universal City. Pigott is enjoying his annual lumbago and hobbles around the world's film capital with the aid of a stick. The Universal Zoo has had its population increased by two bear cubs, presented by Harry Carey, "the ace of the saddle." Harry has been enjoying a few weeks' rest on his ranch after finishing "Overland Red." and one morning discovered that his rabbit pen had been invaded and bear tracks leading toward the canyon. He followed the trail to a small cave under the rocks inhabited at the time by the youthful bruins. Knowing that they would be well cared for at Universal City and out of danger of a hunter's bullets. Harry' took the cubs and later turned them over to Stecker. the "U" animal man. Mary Pickford received an aeroplane for the Western Department of the Army Air Service, with headquarters in San Francisco. It will be fastened to the radiator cap of her automobile as an ornament. Col. H. H. Arnold, commanding the Western Department of Uncle Sam's aviators, presented it as a token of esteem to Miss Pickford. "queen of the American air service." Bryant Washburn, instead of doing "Where Julia Rules," will make "Mrs. Temple's Telegram" for his next Paramount-Artcra ft picture. He will be directed by James Cruze. Albert Shelby Le Vino of the Screen Classics scenario department has started work on the script of "Burning Daylight," which will be Mitchell Lewis's first MetroJack London production for C. E. Shurtleff, Inc. It will be filmed under the supervision of Maxwell Karger. H. Thompson Rich, former editor of The Forum, is the newest addition to the Screen Classics scenario staff, which is now composed of seven continuity writers. Mr. Rich arrived at the Metro studio last week from New York City. He has been associated with Vitagraph and wrote the scenarios for "The Climbers" and "The Winchester Woman." He recently sold an original story to the American Cinema Corporation. The Screen Classics scenario department, headed by June Mathis, is now made up of Finis Fox, Albert Shelby Le Vino, A. P. Younger. Lois Zellner, Arthur J. Zellner and H. Thompson Rich. W. A. Howell, for nine years identified with the direction of short comedy subjects, has been engaged by Maxwell Karger to direct Viola Dana in her Screen Classics comedy, "Eliza Comes to Stay." Eddie Polo is now a director. The athletic Universal star has been assigned the difficult task of directing his own it if TAYLOR HOLMES In a scene from "Nothing But the Truth." his first comedy for distribution through Metro. 105 serial, "The Vanishing Dagger." Tarkington Baker made the promotion when he loaned Jacques Jaccard to Fox to megaphone the forthcoming Tom Mix production. May Allison completed her MetroScreen Classics version of "The WalkOffs" last week. This society satire by the Hattons was eleven weeks in filming under the direction of Herbert Blache. Eugene Pallette will play "Red" Jocelyn in "Alias Jimmy Valentine," Bert Lytell's newest Metro-Gassics. Mr. Pallette was May Allison's leading man "In Fair and Warmer." A bright new star of the Goldwyn organization will be Raymond Hatton, formerly of FamousPlayers-Lasky Company. He will begin work under his new contract soon. Goldwyn is buying a number of wellknown stories for Mr. Hatton and it is thought the first one in which he will appear will be "Septimus," by William J. Locke. The marriage of Gloria Swanson and Herbert K. Somborn, president of the Equity Pictures Corporation, took place Monday, December 22, at the Alexandria Hotel, with only two or three friends to witness the ceremony. Judge Hugh Crawford officiated. The wedding journey to San Francisco with a visit at Santa Barbara en route, commenced Christmas day. The bride will return to work on her new picture at the Lasky studio about the middle of January. Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president of the Famous Players-Lasky' corporation, announces that "Fatty" Roscoe Arbuckle, famous comedian of Paramount two-reel popularity, is to appear as the heavyweight sheriff in "The Round Up." Oddly enough, the role was created on the stage by Macklyn Arbuckle. who is no relation of the screen celebrity. Sid Grauman is laying plans for building a cabin in the mountains, it is understood, in the vicinity of Fern Lodge, where he will, during week-ends, entertain his many newspaper, theatrical and musical acquaintances. William Sistrom Joins International Film Co William Sistrom, identified with the motion picture industry for a number of years and until recently manager of Universal City, has signed a contract with the International Film Company as production manager and is preparing for work at their new studio at 127th St. and 2nd Ave., New York. Mr. Sistrom was at one time efficiency expert with the General Electric Co. of Chicago, later with the telephone company in the same city. Among his activities since becoming engaged in the motion picture industry may be mentioned the building and equipping of the Universal studios at Fort Lee. X. J.