Moving Picture World (May - Jun 1918)

M.u 11, L918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 863 Essanay Busy on "Young America" President George K. Spoor Outlines His Present Policy — Interesting Items Concerning the New Production. FOR some time past, now and then, Idle rumors have cropped up that Essanay had retired temporarily from the producing field. Nothing, however, has been farther from President George K. Spoor's purpose, as Essanay is now busily engaged in the preparation of its next big feature production, "Young America," the rights for which were purchased from Cohan and Harris. The scenario has been put in shape and Director Berthelet has completed his plans for interior settings and picked his exterior locations. Sets have been erected at the Essanay studios and everything is in readiness to start work on the floor. The cast is being picked from New York and Chicago and has practically been completed. This is in line with President Spoor's present policy of picking a cast specifically to fit the picture, instead of relying on stock company players. "I believe that in picking the cast in this way we will be able to get players more exactly suitable for the various roles than by picking them from a stock company," says Mr. Spoor. "One has a much wider field to choose from. "With a stock company you pick the play to fit the cast while, by the other method, you pick the cast to suit the picture. We are now practically working on the same basis as in the theatrical profession. "We have several other plays on hand and will produce them as soon as 'Young America' has been completed. 'Hawthorne of the U. S. A.' probably will follow 'Young America,' although this has not yet been definitely decided." "Young America" was taken from the Broadway success written by Fred Ballard. One of the interesting features of the production will be the juvenile court scenes. The court itself is a replica of the famous court of Judge Ben Lindsay, of Denver. Director Berthelet personally visited the court and has already constructed the sets. Judge Lindsay also advised him as to his own conduct of the court, and this system will be strictly followed, in detail, in the production. Arrangements have been made with several of the wealthy families of Highland Park for outdoor sets on their lawns and for interiors in their homes. "The Unbeliever" at the Auditorium. "The Unbeliever," Thomas A. Edison's compelling war photodrama, which has been scoring triumphs all over the country, was given its Chicago premiere at the Auditorium Sunday evening, April 21, under the management of George Kleine, owner of the George Kleine System, through which it is being released. The immense gathering which assembled to view the presentation included many Chicago notables, the boxes being thronged and the vast auditorium and balcony packed. It was estimated that 1,500 people were turned away, an unusual happening for the Auditorium. Great pains had been taken to give the presentation realistic and appropriate settings. As the production was made by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., in co-operation with the United States marine corps, two scenes were shown by way of prelude to the picture — one a camp of marines, somewhere in America, and the other an eastern port, from which United States troops are seen leaving for France. Both these scenes, which were artistic, appropriate and impressive, were staged under the supervision of Lieut. F. Kensel, retired, of the United States marine corps. The music was a big feature of the entertainment, fifty pieces of the Chicago Opera Company's organization, under the able leadership of Arthur Dunham, being engaged for the run of seventeen days. The woman organist's accompaniment to the action of the picture was also very enjoyable. Monday night was society night, and the attendance far exceeded the capacity, many hundreds being disappointed. On this occasion Elsie Ferguson, who was passing through the city witli her company, on the way to Cody, Wyo., was impressed into service by officials of the Third Liberty Loan Committee. The charming and popular Lasky star found that it required only a little coaxing to secure $119,000 for the Loan during the intermission. Arthur Reynolds, of the Continental-Commercial National Bank, started with $25,000, and this was followed closely by $5,000 each from Thomas A. Edison, George Kleine and ex-Governor Edward Dunne, with a like amount, and still larger sums, from many others. A notable feature of the first two presentations was the constant applause given the scenes of the picture. A review of the production appears in the issue of March 2, of this paper. Elsie Ferguson and Company Off to Cody, Wyo. One of the companies of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, headed by Elsie Ferguson, Tom Meighan, her leading man; Matt Moore and Escimaldo Fernandez, stopped over in the city Monday, April 22, on their way from New York to Cody, Wyo., where the outdoor scenes of "Jean of the Triple Chevron" will be made. This photoplay is founded on Sir Gilbert Parker's story of the same title, which has also been dramatized under the title "Pierre of the Plains," by Edgar Selwyn. The company was in charge of Marshall Neilan, director, who was accompanied by his assistants, Lucito Squires and Al Green, and his cameramen, Walter Stradling and R. Wagner. Sixteen others in the cast were also in the party. This is the first picture in which Miss Ferguson has ever appeared outside of New York City. While in the city the officials of the Third Liberty Loan drive utilized her services in selling bonds. She visited the Auditorium on Society night, during the presentation of "The Unbeliever," and sold bonds to the amount of $119,000 during an intermission. The reception given Miss Ferguson on this occasion showed that she has a warm place in the hearts of moving picture lovers. The feature will be in five reels and will be released on the Artcraft program. The company left Chicago Monday evening at 11 o'clock, Max Goldstine, district manager for the Famous PlayersLasky Corporation in this section, being present to see them off. "Little Mary" Captures Chicago and $2,000,000. Mary Pickford, accompanied by her mother, Dennis O'Brien, her lawyer, and Alfred A. Cohn, representative, came into the city Saturday morning, April 20, from Pittsburgh. Notwithstanding the heavy downpour of rain that greeted her, she left the Blackstone Hotel and joined the Union Labor Liberty Loan parade. She was received with loud acclaim along the route by all who recognized her in her muffled-up appearance. Her Saturday labors netted over a million rjollars for the Third Liberty Loan before she left on the night train for St. Louis, where she was engaged all day Sunday in Liberty Loan work. Miss Pickford returned to Chicago Monday morning and after breakfast was escorted to the Board of Trade by a section of the marine corps. There she raised $500,000 in twenty minutes, and before the day's work was over she had increased that sum to nearly a million, making about two million in all during her visits to Chicago. Mary's own personal contribution to the Third Liberty Loan is $360,000. She and her party left for California Monday night, April 22. Theodore W. Wharton Visits Chicago. Theodore W. Wharton, of Wharton, Inc., Ithaca, N. Y., came into the city Monday, April 22, to visit the Rothacker Film Manufacturing Company, which prints all positives for liis company. He brought with him Episodes 11 and 12 of "The Eagle's Eye" in order to insure quick deliverv, and to discuss other business at the Rothacker plant. Owing to