Motion Picture Magazine (Feb-Jul 1920)

/TTJVlOTiON piCTURR HneH I MAC«k2iME hj THE WAR PICTURE They show ire war. on the picture screen. I am but a month since back. "I know what those lines of trenches mean And they open the wound with every ', ne Of the by-gone wreck and rack. For I see in the glare of the flying shell Again the face of a lad who fell, Looking to me. and to God. in vain Till he^ welcomed death, a release from pain. They picture war for the crowds, and me. 1 am but a month since home. I know that their No Man' Land is trueThere' the very trail that I once crawled thru — Yon sniper, a fiendish gnome. I hear again in his bullet's breath The sudden sting and the pang of death. And my comrade falls at my very side, there by the shell-hole, where he died. They picture war on the screen tonight, I came but a month since here. Nay. shrink not back, does my face affright? Rigid and ten~e and strangely white. Listen, the puppets cheer, I know that those in that gallant line Were once in a company like mine, God! It is true. The hell-fires cease And the picture shows us the dawn of peace. WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK IT? What's in a name? Sometimes it depends upon how the name is pronounced. If a name is pronounced wrongly it can lead to consequences of a most harrowing nature. Just for instance : Dustin Farnum. the screen star, and his promoter. Harry A. Sherman, were sitting tly in a private projection room on Olive Street in Los Angeles. They were having an ultra exclusive and final screen showing of their feature "The Light of Western Star-' While they were thus engrossed, an employee of the place, a foreigner, came d told Mr. Sherman that a gentleman by the name of Mr. Zingaree wished to converse with him or Mr. Farnum. Mr. Sherman was rather annoyed at this and sent back word to the unwelcome visitor to hunt him up at his office at s/»me other time. "I suppose he is some fellow who wants to sell me a safety razor, or some the kind," remarked Sherman. "Hi name sounds as tho he might be a barber." "Oh, you cant tell," rejoined Farnum, "he may be one of those long-haired •scenario writers who has picked you to be the purchaser of his first masterpiece, as a mark of special distinction." Just then the employee returned with rd. On the card was the name of Grey, author of the novel. "The Western Stars," from which the film was adapted. It goes without saying that Mr. Grey into the projection room much joy and ostentation by M< Farnum and Sherman, one on each side .m. They had every reason to supthat Zatv s at home in I York until he reminded them that he was in I les for his annual fishing trip, whereupon the fi-hing party was end to include Messrs. Farnum and Sherman, at the kind invitation of "Mr. tree." $1,000 and Film Fame for a Scenario Like "April Folly" by Adrian Johnson LVCY COTTOV "Miraclt of Love" CATHEEISE CALVERT "Romana 0/ UntU 1 world" ll\ii r.nnrt "The ( One of the world-famous producing companies has just made this generous offer for a storysuitable for one of its stars — Miss Marion Davies, and asks you to see the ADRIAN JOHNSON photoplay "APRIL FOLLY" and pattern your story along similar lines. TO ENCOURAGE NEW WRITERS The express purpose of the contest, as advertised in all Xew York papers, is to encourage XEW WRITERS and XEW IDEAS. The Cosmopolitan Productions agree to buy all scenarios submitted which are suitable for production. YOU NEED THE ADRIAN JOHNSON SYSTEM A mastery of the Adrian Johnson simple, practieal. successful system of photoplay writing will admirably equip you to successfully compete in contests of this character, which will be numerous in the future, and will prepare you for entering the fascinating and profitable profession of screen writing as a Free Lance or Staff writer. All Adrian Johnson Students, entering the above contest, may submit their stories and scenarios through our school and avail themselves also of our service bureau in criticising them. THE ADRIAN JOHNSON SYSTEM Comprises a course of 20 lessons, covering every phase of photoplay writing, reduced to absolute simplicity and accuracy so that the person of average intelligence in any walk of life can master and apply it in caoitalizing his or her spare ti into '•RED HOT DOLLARS" and win for themselves FAME and a place in this desirable field. We supply 2 complete Directors' Copies of Successful Photoplays, for study and as pattern-. We give you a Dictionary of Studio Language, technical terms of the profession, Li short, we bring the studio right into your borne. acquaint you with its inner secrets. C.MLYLE IiLACEWELL of 10 0 Successes f ^%d EVELYN CUEELY "Aladdin's Lamp" EMMY XVE11LES l/i 1: \ 1 , WE CRITICIZE YOUR PLAYS Our advisory board, headed by Adrian Johnson himself, is made up of din producers, . stars and writers. Tt gives you counsel and constructive criticism of your Si ripts. WE SELL YOUR SCRIPTS Our Sale Bun au is an 1 janiza ■ nt with ENTR EE to ill producers, stars and directors who buy plays. ft is of inesl 11,1 . 1,1 : I n to you. JUST AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE Y-.u need not be a "genius" or "hern writer." or anything but just what you are. If you have average intelligence, a story-telling ability, and a creative imagination, even in embryo, we can teach you to write photoplays. Obscure unknowns are jumping into Fame and financial independence daily. A TRULY WONDERFUL BOOK FT<FF. SOUVENIR book, "A ' ■ r." illustrati d with n< arlv 100 t phi of Stars. Din idlO In ' starting. The Adrian Johnson Photoplay System, Inc., 259 American Theatre Bide.. 260 W. 42nd Street, New York City. f -------COUPON ■"■ I Adrian Johnson Photoplay System. M. ■ 259 American Theatre Bldn.. I New York City. ■ ■ I N mi I ■ .Vlitr ,1