Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1918)

2968 Motion Picture News Jlbout Jfetrafflayer? Bert Lytell, Metro star, and one of the leaders of the film industry in the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign in Los Angeles, this week received his appointment to the officers’ training school at Fort McArthur, Waco, Texas, where he will go soon to try for a commission. Lytell recently finished his latest film-play for Metro, titled The Spender.” During the filming of this play he worked at nights for the success of the big Liberty Loan, appearing in theatres and anywhere he was needed. His address to the thousands of people gathered at tank Victory on Metro night was a notable appeal. He is one of the best-liked stars in the Los Angeles film colony, and his friends expect him to return with a captaincy or even a major or colonel’s commission. Mrs. Lytell, wno is known to the theatrical world as Evelyn Vaughan, will remain on the family ranch at Napa. She expects to do her bit by becoming a farmerette. Edwin Carewe, director, and his brother, Finis Fox, also a writer, returned to the Metro studios this week from the East. Mr. Carewe was the director of the late Harold Lockwood. When Lockwood died recently in New York, Mr. Carewe was selected to direct the pictures of Viola Dana, who is expected to arrive soon on the Pacific Coast. It is an odd coincidence that as soon as he was given this work Miss Dana’s husband, John Collins, died of influenza. According to reports reaching the Pacific Coast Miss Dana has the malady in New York. StudicrSDorngs^^ Jane and Katherine Lee, the William Fox child stars, have arrived in Los Angeles, and they are at the Hollywood Hotel with their mother, Mrs. Irene Lee. They will not begin making their first picture on the coast until the influenza ban is lifted, and that is expected to occur sometime in November. Arvid E. Gillstrom, who has directed the children in their three last pictures in the East, is also in Los Angeles. He will handle the megaphone in the new picture. The title of the new Madlaine Traverse picture now being produced at the Fox studios is “ The Danger Zone.” Scenes in the picture have been taken in the Majestic Theater, the courthouse, and the Midwick Country Club will also be shown in the scenes. It is announced that the production will be finished within the next two weeks. Because he was behind in his schedule the Henry Lehrman comedy production continues in full force at the Fox-Lehrman comedy lot. Mr. Lehrman has four companies at work this week. Henry Lehrman, of the Lehrman Sunshine comedies, this week announced that he had engaged an orang-outang by the name of Joe, who will appear before the camera in the role of a laugh-getter. He is cast for a part in “ The Fatal Marriage,” a new comedy. Joe is called upon to express his opinion of a German in this production. According to those producing the film Joe expresses this opinion to the satisfaction of all patriotic Americans. Fred Fishback has completed a new Henry Lehrman Sunshine comedy in which Mack Swain is the star. It is a satire on western drama. Ethel Teare is the leading woman. d’aramaunt-^'tcraft Director-General Cecil B. deMille has started the only new production now in the making at the Famous Players-Lasky studio. No name has been selected for this. Elliott Dexter will play the male lead, and Gloria Swanson has been engaged to play opposite. Others in the cast are Sylvia Ashton, Julia Faye and Theodore Roberts. Work will be resumed shortly on the Bryant Washburn Paramount subject which was stopped when the star, his director, Donald Crisp, and leading woman, Margery Wilson, were all three taken ill with influenza. The Norma Talmadge Select Company is now at work at the Lasky studio making “ The Heart of Wetona.” Sid Franklin is the director, and Tom Meighan leading man. Ethel Clayton this week finished her latest screen effort, and it has been titled “ Mickey Van.” It is a detective story, and was directed by Robert Vignola. The theme was provided by Carolyn Wells. Emery Johnson is the leading man, and other members of the cast are Noah Berry and T. N. Geldert. Miss Clayton will now begin her four weeks’ vacation. Zlmzrerj°a7 5tfems'ef{esi Ruth Clifford this week completed her newest Bluebird production titled “ Home James.” It is a light comedy-drama and was directed by Elsie Jane Wilson. The story was written by Gladys E. Johnson and Katherine Carr prepared the scenario. Members of the cast included A1 Ray, cousin of Charles Ray, playing opposite the star ; Lee Harry Holden, Margaret Cullington, Clifford Gray and John Cossar. “ Riders of Vengeance” is the temporary title of the latest western melodrama to be completed by Harry Carey for Universal. The picture was directed by Jack Ford, while the story was written by the star and director and put into scenario form by Eugene P. Lewis. The leading feminine role is played by Seena Owen, former Griffith star. The supporting cast is composed of Joseph Harris, J. Farrell McDonald. Alfred Allen, Jennie Lee and Clita Gale. Allen Holubar, Universal director, was this week made an honorary member of “ Fragments of France,” a club organized in Los Angeles by returning Allied soldiers. He was given this honor because of the popularity of “ Carry On,” a film-play produced under his direction. The real name of Dorothy Phillips was Dorothy Gwendolyn Strible before she married Allen Holubar, her director, according to her own announcement this week. She says she assumed the name of Dorothy Phillips to fool her friends when she made her debut with a Baltimore stockcompany, and that she has used the stage name ever since. She will soon complete her new picture “ Destiny ” at the Universal studios. Mission Productions, Inc., whose organization was recently announced, will by the end of the week have completed the first picture which features Little Gloria Joy, child actress of six years, who has had a number of releases. Sherwood Macdonald is in charge of directing this little star, and the company’s first offering will be “ Send Him Away with a Smile.” Doris Lee, who has played opposite Charles Ray in a number of luce productions, was loaned by the luce studios for the lead in this picture playing opposite Charles Spere. Important character parts are taken by Frank Whitson and Eugenie Forde. One of the strongest casts selected by any west coast film company is that picked by General Manager Harry Garson for the Clara Kimball Young Select picture, “ Cheating Cheaters,” adapted from the stage play of the same name by Max Marcin. Jack Holt will play opposite Miss Young, Nocholos Dunaew will take the part of Tony, and other principals engaged are Edwin Stevens, Tully Marshall. Frank Campeau, Anna Q. Nilsson, Fredrick Burton, Mayme Kelso, Eleanor Hancock. Joseph Singleton, W. A. Carroll and others. Alan Dwan, who for the past severtal months has been directing Douglas Fairbanks, will be in charge of the direction of this and future releases of Miss Young. Madge Kennedy, Goldwyn star, has left New York and will arrive in Los Angeles the latter part of this week, it was announced by local Goldwyn connections last Tuesday. NNere and. dkere'