Motion Picture Classic (1923, 1924, 1926)

The Haunted Home of Movie Ghosts popular acclaim, ghosts that bow in defeat before the remorselessness of Age — ghosts here and there that bow before the folly of extravagance and riotous living. As the shadows of the pepper trees flicker across the fence, it almost seems that the notes from Wally Reid's saxophone can be heard from one of the stages . . . gay, happy, tragic Wally, grinding out eight and nine pictures a year, continuing work when he had to be carried on the set, forcing a smile, making the executives think it was only another irrepressible gag. In the distance seems to move the enigmatic, courtly figure of William Desmond Taylor, whose murder created one of the unsolved mysteries in recent years . . . and just beyond is a girl in golden curls that he is directing; Mary Miles Minter, another ghost, at the age of twenty-two. her film career ended — because of the tragedy. Just Memories James Neill, the character actor, passes in the flesh. As he looks on the ruins, he murmurs the verse quoted at the beginning of this story — "I feel like one who walks alone, some banquet hall deserted " Neill played in the very first picture made on this lot. "What memories ! What memories I" he said to me. "I remember the early days, when that old barn at the corner was the whole studio. I owned the only automobile — an old Buick. It was the sole car parked under the pepper-trees of Vine Street, where now there are hundreds. Jesse Lasky walked to work, and so did Cecil De Mille, and Samuel Goldwyn. Dust in Farnum, the star, owned a car in New York, but he hadn't brought it out with him. The studio, for its location trips, had three old PopeHart fords. Later Mr. Lasky purchased a small foreign car." Dustin Farnum 1 Why, isn't that his name on the Orpheum 24-sheet across the street, advertising him in "The Littlest Rebel" ? One rubs one's eyes. Dustin Farnum, the man who missed an opportunity to make a million on this very spot ! He and Lasky and De Mille and Goldwyn were the original four partners in the concern. The other three put in $5,000 apiece. Farnum was to get his quarter interest in stock in return for acting in the first picture, "The Squaw Man." At the last minute he decided he wanted the $5,000 in cash, and gave back the stock, and the other three took it reluctantly because they had a hard time finding the $5,000. Today, if Farnum had retained the stock, it would be worth more than $1,000,000, not to speak of the many dividends. But he took the (Continued from page 33) $5,000 . . . and is still playing on the Orpheum, so the billboard says. Onward Stalk the Shadows In the tide of traffic that swirls by, one sees another ghost, a chastened, somewhat shrunken ghost with a serious face, who passes in an unobtrusive, inexpensive car. He casts a pondering glance at the partially demolished studio. Whatever may be his thoughts, they are well hidden behind the. immobile mask of his countenance. It is Fatty Arbuckle, and the door which he is now hurrying past is the same to which he used to drive with a grand flourish in a red-and-gold custom-built automobile. Today he is on his -way to the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer lot, where he is directing under the name of William Goodrich. Ghosts of dead heroes and heroines, of men and women who laughed and loved in Here is a bird's-eye view of the Lasky Studio in Hollywood which is being dismantled. Famous Players are erecting a new studio, the plans calling for enough floor space to take care of eleven enormous stages the celluloid world of make-believe, haunt the spot. Most of them worked there, all of them knew it as a landmark : Edward S. Abeles, Hjfrry Woodruff, Bobby Harron, Alan Holubar, the director, all dead. Glorious Barbara La Marr, who died at the pinnacle of fame ; Harold Lockwood, victim of the "flu" epidemic, and brave Larry Paton, who paid the price in France. Arthur Johnson and John Bunny passed away before this studio was well known, but Bunny's leading lady, Flora Finch, recently . appeared in a small role in Gloria Swanson's latest Paramount picture. Charles Ogle, the charactci actor, is retired and living at Long Beach, California. He has no telephone — because the casting directors insist on trying to lure him back to the screen. Fill the Cup and Toast Them Oow the ghost names haunt this famous world of filmdom ! Like Napoleon's conquering army, the ranks are always full, for as soon as one hero falls, another steps in to fill the gap! Florence Turner stopped a moment on the avenue to look at the scene of destruction. Once a shining light of movie stardom, she recently returned to the screen in mother roles. Moths in the flame. . . . Ruth Roland, the heroine of thrillers, dressed in a chic business suit, slows down in her car to pay passing tribute. She is on her way to close a big business deal, for Ruth is now a real-estate operator of note in Los Angeles. Her name is posted on countless lots in the city. Bryant Washburn enters the gates — on his way to hold a short conference with Raymond Griffith. Five years ago he was a big star on the lot. Raymond Griffith was then an unknown. Today Griffith is a big star — and Washburn recently returned to the screen, playing a second lead in support of Griffith. "Life's all right — as long as you have a sense of humor," he smiled in passing. Time Was When HThe faint ghostly trilling of soprano notes recalls Geraldine Farrar, as famous in pictures as she was on the operatic stage. She is now in retirement so far as both arts go, and is living at Ridgefield, New Jersey. A shadow from the land of the Rising Sun is Sessue Hayakawa, who recently returned to this country from France, where he has been making pictures. Once he was famous in Hollywood. Today there is a younger generation that scarcely knows him. He is now trying his luck on the stage. Dapper Charlie Chaplin rides by on his -way to his own lot. He casts a passing glance at Pola Negri's bungalow. . . . A doorway of the star dressing-room building that is being torn down reveals the name of Kathlyn Williams . . . she has retired from the screen, and is living abroad with her husband, Charles Eyton. Another doorway reveals the name of Betty Compson, now Mrs. James Cruze. She is now featured in all-star casts . . . but her friends are predicting she will come back — to stardom. In the Days of the Nickelodeon |wj emories . . . memories . . . Carlyle Blackwell is in vaudeville in England. Fanny Ward is retired and living in Paris, and so is Pearl White. Maurice Costello is on the stage in this country, but his two beautiful daughters, Dolores and Helcne, are "carrying on" the Costello name in the films with tremendous success. James (Continued on page 78) 68