Exhibitor's Trade Review (1919)

1668 Picture Re-Unites Veterans A highly dramatic incident look place at the Lasky studio the other day, when two old Civil War veterans, who had not seen each other since 1863, encountered each other on a set used in "Secret Service," The two men are Colonel W. B. Dickey and Major H. C, Whitney. Colonel Dickey is playing the role of a Confederate Major-General in the Famous Playcrs-Lasky version of William Gillette's play, and Major Whitney, who is in charge of a company at the Soldiers' Home near Los Angeles, is acting in an advisory capacity to the director. At first the men did not recognize each other. Major Whiincy, in conversation, happened to remark that he was from Maine. "Did you ever know a man named R. L. Dickey?" asked the Colonel. "I knew his son, William," was the reply. "He and I spent two years together in the Civil War, and I haven't seen him since." "I'm William Dickey," shouted the Colonel, wilh tears in his eyes. Recognition on both sides followed, and the two old veterans were too much moved to speak. EXHIBITOR'S TRADE REVIEW sociates under»the nar ture Co-operative A« a deal for 200 acres Visia, between Los A Government Film Man Visits Coast Dennis J. Sullivan, associated with the Division of Films of the Committee on Public Information, was an interested visitor last week to the American plant at Santa Barbara. He was escorted -about the studios by General Manager R. R. Nehls, and evinced keen interest in the filming of current "Flying A" subjects, by Margarita Fisher, William Russell, Mary Miles Minter and their companies. "Buster" Is Back Buster Keaton is back. That is, he has reached the shores of America after serving in France with the United States army, and it is believed he will be in Los Angeles in the course of a week or so, to resume work in Fatty Arbucklc comedies, of which he was formerly a bright and shining light. Most people remember Buster. He was the chap who fell all over himself every little while, rivaling Al. St. John in funny falls and other slums. A Significant Fact Three of the all-star cast of "Desert Gold," Zane Grey's famous novel now being filmed by the author's own company, have dangerous stunts to do which are being left until their other scenes are completed—a significant fact. They are Edward Coxen, W. Lawson Butt, and Walter Long, taking the roles of the hook characters, Thorn, Yaqui and Rojas, respectively. Looking for New Victims Kenneth Webb has at last vanquished his greatest rival at pool. Eddie Earle. The bout was staged at the Lamb's Club. An admiring and at times quite sarcastic, gallery watched the series of matches. "Ken" was the victor, taking three out of five games, and he is now looking for other victims. Tom Is a Hero Tom Mix saved several members of his company from injury during a trip last week from Los Angeles to San Francisco, where scenes will be made for lite William Fox photoplay, "The Romance of Cow Hollow." The party in five machines were ncaring Tulare, when the steering knuckle of the car containing the camera man and paraphernalia, broke and began zig-zagging along the road. Mix ran his own car between the disabled car and an embankment, turning the machine over on its side, but preventing a more serious outcome. Another New Studio A statement issued in Los Angeles by J, A. Quinn, declares that he and his asf the Motion Picition, has closed land near Sierra es and Pasadena, as a site for the studio, which will be erected in the near future. The plant, to be known as the better picture studios, is to be built on the unit system, with the idea of releasing individual units to companies desiring production facilities. Major H. C. Whitney of Los Angeles Soldiers Home, drilling Confederate soldiers for the Famous Players-Lasky production "Secret Service," Major Whitney is a Civil War veteran. San Juan Capistrano Filmed For the past three years motion picture producers have been refused permission to film the Spanish Missions of California, and the Mission San Juan Capistrano in particular is said never to have been filmed. It is with pride, therefore, that President J. A. Berst of United Picture Theatres, Inc., announces that many scenes oi the exterior and interior of this famous old Spanish Mission are to be shown in Dustin Farnutn's forthcoming drama of the East and West, "The Harvest of Shame/' Tourists from all parts of the worn! journey to San Juan Capistrano to view the picturesque architecture, the wonderful religious relics, and the spacious and beautiful interiors, corridor, pergolas, etc., just .is they were so laboriously builded in 1776 by the Spanish Padres and the natives. After considerable difficulty, and ultimately as a compliment to Mr. Berst, who was then on the Coast, and to Robert Brunton and Dtstin Fa-mum, permission was granted to film scenes in the drama with the Mission as a background. Some Busy Girl Although she has not yet finished in "Secret Service," in which she plays the leading feminine role, supporting Captain Robert Warwick, Wanda HawJey has begun work as lead in Wallace Reid's new picture, "You're Fired," which is an adaptation of one of O. Henry's stories, "The Halberdier." At Tirst it was planned to hold eft work on this picture until "Secret Service" was completed, but it was later decided that the two rotes could be combined. So in the morning Miss Hawley wears modern dress and works with Reid, and in the afternoon she dons the Civil War costume and works with Warwick. Clara Beranger Wrote the Continuity for Clark Film The announcement made recently by Famous Players-Lasky that "Come Out of the Kitchen," starring Marguerite Clark, has been completed carried added interest to exhibitors through the fact that Clara Beranger did the continuity for the picture. Miss Beranger is supplying Famous Players-Lasky with a continuity at the rate of at least one a month, under an agreement recently arranged. Youngest Talmadge Sister in Cast Natalie Talmadge, who recently arrived from the coast with her sister Constance, is now a member of the cast for the next Norma Talmadge production. Natalie will play "Janie," quite an important part in "By Right of Conquest," by Arthur Hornblow, editor ■ of the Theatre Magazine. Natalie Talmadge has appeared with both her sisters, Norma and Constance, in previous productions, but never before in quite so important a role. ws his company grouped : Mitchell Lewis at the extreme left of a shot which she a semi-circle in front of the monument at Donner Lake, which was erected to the memory of the 49'rs, who lost their lives in the early rush for gold in that territory. The Select star is now working on his forthcoming picture "The Gulf Between." Volume 5. Number 22, "Connie" Celebrates Birthday Constance Talmadge, her mother and her sister Natalie, are now in New York having arrived from the coast Friday, April 18, to visit Norma Talmadge. As SatUr day was Constance's birthday, a big sur prise party was tendered her by Mr and Mrs. Jos. Schenck at the St. Regis Hotel where a birthday dinner for twenty was' served, followed by a theatre party, an<\ winding up with another party at the' Midnight Frolic on the New Amsterdam R00f The table and floral decorations were in pink and white, and a birthday cake of gigantic proportions decorated with pink lighted candles formed an attractive center piece. On the back of each place card was a clever lyric or anecdote relating to motion pictures. Home-Grown Vegetables Filmed Margarita Fisher's own war garden yielded the vegetables that figured in an eating scene in "Trixie from Broadway" Agnes C. Johnston's comedy-drama of chorus-girl life, in which Miss Fisher now is working under Roy Weill's direction at the American studios. Despite the cessation of hostilities, Miss Fisher has not dropped her gardening hobby, and offered to supply her own "props" when Neill prepared to make the scene at a table. Turnips, beets, carrots and radishes constitued the Fisher repast. No Pleasure Trip ■Leaving Los Angeles at 8 o'clock in the morning, Al. E. Christie, together with Bobby Vernon, Ethel Lynne, Eddie Barry, George French, Harry Edwards and others, took the day boat to San Diego one day recently with a schedule of thirty scenes for a forthcoming Christie Comedy to make en route. On leaving the studio it was Mr. Christie's intention to begin making pictures before the steamer left San Pedro and conclude only after docking in Los Angeles Harbor, two days later. John Bowers Extremist Pliant, according to Director Clarence G. Badger, is the word that best describes John Bowers, popular leading man at the Goldwyn Studios. He surprised everyone there, as well as his friends outside, when he played the hick hero in Mabel Normand's "Sis Hopkins." Now, as a conservative and conventional English lordling in Madge Kennedy's new production, he is quietly demonstrating that he can shift from one extreme to the other. Make Liberty Loan Film Motion pictures were taken this week of the girl employes of the Greater Features Company, when they pasted up the first six sheet poster of the Victory Liberty Loan Campaign to be put up in Seattle. The pictures will be shown at the Liberty or the Coliseum. They were taken by Alec Si ng alow, local cameraman for Gaumont. A Hoary Cast Six old men whose aggregate ages total 513 years are among the unique personalities appearing before the camera in "Six Feet Four," William Russell's current picture now in course of production under the direction of Henry King at the American studios. A special auto service has been established whereby the six octogenarians are being returned to their homes at the end of each day's work. To Write for Kathleen Clifford Edmund Golding, a well-known English dramatist and poet, who is at present at work upon a play for John Barrymore, paid a visit to Kathleen Clifford, international ( stage and screen star, at her home at the Hotel Virginia, Long Beach, California, last week. Mr. Golding will write a screen vehicle for the tiny star before returning to New York. Cullen Tate Back to Work Cullcn B. Tate, who just returned from France, after over a year's service in the Camouflage Corps, will be assistant director to James Cruze in the production of Wallace Reid's new picture, "You're Fired, on which work was begun last week at Hie Lasky Hollywood studio. Mr. Tate was employed at the studio for several yea" before he enlisted. Reny Succeeds Lavoie J. Renv is now the manager of the National Theatre. Ottawa. Ontario, whicn i operated under the auspices of the son du Monument National, a local hrenc Canadian organization. He has succteaeo J. Lavoie, who is securing a theatre Montreal.