Motion Picture Magazine (Aug 1918-Jan 1919)

^MOTION piCTURF O I MftOAZINE l_ Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 124) I write these few lines to you regarding the movies in this country. The movies are exhibited in the Y. M. C. A. hall here, much to the amusement of the troops, who are both American and British troops. It was only last week that I saw a few episodes of "Greed," and only last week that I saw "The Purple Domino," featuring Grace Cunard and Francis Ford. I also saw a Chaplin film, "Charlie at the Bank." All these films are, as I presume, three to four years old, but all the amusement is caused by the remarks made in the audience made up of soldiers. The film "The Cause for Thanksgiving," featuring Bobby Connelly and Tefft Johnson, was shown here last night, and to see John Bunny in the Vitagraph films (which are as old as Adam) brings back old memories, sometimes about five or six years ago. "Good-by" is a favorite expression among the troops in any pathetic film. The French films shown here dont get much appreciation. They say they are too dull and there is a considerable amount of waste in the productions. Altho there are such films out here, whether they be "junk" or not, they are always welcomed, but for French pictures — nothing doing! The settings of U. S. films are great. We are answering the request of Private Harry C. Oechsler, Cantonment Headquarters, Adjutant's Office, Camp Upton, L. I. Who else will? Have just read the October issue of the Motion Picture Magazine, and all of us have found it so interesting . that we would like very much to receive more of these old issues after your readers have finished with same. There are at least half a dozen K. of C. and Y. M. C. A. houses in this "camp, where Moving Pictures of the better class are shown nightly. If, therefore, you see fit to publish this letter in your Magazine, you will" certainly be doing all of the soldier-boys a greaf favor. We wish you all possible success. Dulcie Wayne, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, seems to think out of sight is out of mind : Altho your Magazine is, to my way of thinking, the very best of its kind, I have a serious offense to lodge . against you. The title of my article might well be called "Gone But Not Forgotten," not gone in a sense to which this sentence is generally applied,' but gone nevertheless. I speak of our movie heroes who have proved that they are heroes in real life — the actors who have gone to do their bit. Practically all their life has been spent for the enjoyment of other people, and now they have gone, prepared, if necessary, to give their lives for the same people, and we — are we willing to let them drop out of our lives as if they never existed? No, we are not! It is you. who have the influence to keep them fresh in our minds, it is you who seem to be willing to forget them. Now take, for instance, young Tom Forman. Here is a young man at the height of his career. He has proved that he is an actor of great ability by ably (Continued on page 128) 126 A Salty Sketch of Edward Earle (Continued from page 73) "No fault of yours, Eddie?" "Shut up, or I'll sketch you the way you look. Well, to continue with the interesting career of screenland's sweet young star," said he modestly, "I decided that art was calling me. This time it was the art of the brush, pencil and palette. After considerable persuasion from the muse, I invaded the studio of Clarence F. Underwood and Lester Ralph, who at that time were not the stars they later became. They proceeded to instruct me, and in return I posed for them." "I dont wonder they didn't get far that summer if you posed the way you sketch," I interjected. "Did they kid you into believing you were a young Greek god reincarnated?" "Greek — nothing!" he retorted with some asperity, at the same time adding a curl to Mice Joyce's hair that was never there. 1 ney said I was as typically American as the Statue of Liberty." "Which was made in France," I reminded airily. "Well, France is American at heart. Doesn't she fly the red, white and blue, too?" "Why, I never thought of that, Eddie. You should be tracing the genealogy of nations." "As I was saying, before you interrupted with your caustic wit, I posed as the typical American for various artists. If you dig up some old magazines, you will note a striking family resemblance between me and the gentleman who stars in advertisements for garters, ketchup, chewing-gum and automobiles." "You didn't by any chance pose for that classic, 'He Hears His Master's Voice,' did you, Eddie?" "No," he replied, bearing rather heavily on the pencil, "but I think I hear the bark of the dog that did." The. rest of this interview is Eddie's. I wont say nuthin' more. I feel I have revealed his spiteful disposition. After doing several masterpieces, which were too far in advance of the times to be appreciated, he returned to the stage and played with Tim Murphy. After that he sojourned a season with DeWolf Hopper in musical-comedy, thence into "The Blue Moon," with James T. Powers; "The Boys and Bettv," with Marie Cahill; "The Quaker Girl," with Ina Claire, and finally into pictures with the Edison Company. After his contract expired there he played leads with Metro. Then came the offer from Albert E. Smith to star in Vitagraph pictures. _ Earle has played typically American roles in all his Vitagraph productions. In "For France" he was a daredevil Yankee aviator; in "The Blind Adventure" he was an American love-adventurer abroad; in the Vitagraph comedies he played a sort of American everyhusband; and in "Ann Acushla," he was the American wooer of the rollicking colleen, Gladys Leslie. Everything about him bears the "Made in America" stamp, from his shoes to his hats. And I might say right here that Eddie has a collection of" hats that would outrival Alice Joyce's famous store. His wardrobe looks< like that of a crown prince or a munitionmaker's onlv son. But dont think he squanders his money. He's of Scotch extraction. You see there are a lot of tailors who are ambitious to have a typical American model display their wares, even to the extent of sacrificing these garments at half price. Occasionally, too, he condescends to pose for a clothing advertisement, but only on condition his name is not used. While I was in his dressing-room, a big consignment of collars of a famous brand were" delivered to him with the compliments of the makers. Eddie opened the box, took one squint at the styles, then told the boy to take them back. They didn't suit his American majesty. Could you beat that for noive? The next day the collar company sent another assortment for his selection. He kept a few of the high ones. He detests low collars — says he has no confidence in a person that wears them and that he considers it little short of indecent to expose the Adam'sapple. Earle remarked that his chief ambition was to be an interviewer, just for the chance to burlesque the interviews with film stars which he has read. He says no one has the courage to tell the truth about a picture idol-. After reading one about himself, he says, he" feels as tho he had been dipped in s?ccharine and come out a lollypbp. He-f s where he'll feel like he had been piunged in brine and come out a pickle. As an artist, Eddie is a good baseball player. His favorite author is not Carlyle, as one interviewer said. It is Ring Lardner. This is another proof of his Americanism. He is very fond of history. One of his favorite heroes is the famous Italian, Bacardi. He smokes too many cigarets, particularly the Lambs Club variety, but any kind are welcome. (Tip for his fan friends.) He never wears a red necktie. He has never written a scenario — at least he says so. He also has good taste in actresses. His favorites are Alice Joyce, Elsie Ferguson and Louise Glaum. Oh yes, and Mary Pickford, of course, altho he doesn't think she has had the right sort of leading-man since the stock days in Toronto. He has never played opposite a woman who is not beautiful. He says he couldn't stand it. The most beautiful of his leading-women is the one who appears with him the most. I couldn't tell her name, because some others might be jealous. He detests mild sports, such as baseball, and goes in for such violent athletic games as stud poker. His worst work of art to date is displayed here. The best of these is the one of _ himself, which would look Kke him if it were not for the pipe. I think it is a "prop." His regular crony is a "fag." (See Empey's dictionary of a Tommy in "Over the Top.") His favorite male player is, I believe, John Barrymore. Perhaps that is because John also had aspirations as an artist in oils and charcoal. I might also say that there is a certain likeness in the methods and personalities of the two, but I wont, because that would please Eddie too much. This_ much I'll say for the benefit of his fan friends, whose letters I saw stacked in heaps on his dressing-room table: Edward Earle's best role is himself. He was corking in "For France." He kept you smiling, mystified and liking him in "The Blind Adventure." But he's at his best in the mellow atmosphere of the Lambs Club, far from the CooperHewitts, . "sets" and grease-paint — likewise his pad and pencil.