Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

42 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS Theatre of War Lacks Appeal for Actress Gene Gauntier Returns to America, After Thrilling Struggle to Secure Passage from Sweden — Narrates Her Experiences r^ENE GAUNTIER, leading lady made VJ of her own producing company, which releases through Warner's Features, was one of those among the many thousands of American citizens who experienced countless difficulties on the other side of the water when the war broke out. She returned recently on the "Olympic." Miss Gauntier visited her sister, Mile. Marguerite Gauntier, the famous Swedish prima donna at her summer home, situated at Lyckoma, on the west coast of Sweden, to rest before the coming season, and when the war broke out, on August 1, she found herself with only a sum" equivalent to fifteen dollars in Swedish money and several unnegotiable letters of credit. Her sister and her husband had all their money tied up in German banks so they were even worse ofif. With great difficulty. Miss Gauntier her way to Stockholm and thence to Liverpool on an overcrowded boat. She wrote several times to (America for money, but could receive no answer, as all the mails were tied up. After innumerable difficulties Miss Gauntier and a number of Americans managed to secure second-class passage on the steamer "Olympic," due to the kind services of an American, and after an exciting voyage arrived in America with only a small amount of Svv^edish money, which she was unable to have exchanged on this side. She finally managed to borrow five cents and was able to telephone to the studio for assistance. Miss Gauntier says that the methods of transportation in Norway and Sweden are completely demoralized by the war, and that her experiences in reaching this side of the water were most trying, yet exciting. Los Angeles Film Men Boycott "Movie" Objectional Word to Be Eliminated from All Publicity Matter — Want Advertising to Appear on "Regular" Theatre Page CANADA "BEATS" AMERICA TO WAR FILM For once Canadian film buyers have placed an order for a European subject before it received an American "O.K." The picture, to upset all precedents, is "Called to the Front," a three-reeler. H. Winik bought it for the Apex Film Company, of New York. The points that made the picture a London furore were the bona fide war views assembled with the "acted" scenes. In one section of the story, for instance, hundreds of wealthy Americans stranded in the British metropolis, were made to give color to a dramatic situation. Land battles, battleships, armies of invasion and armies of defense, the capture of the hero and his thrilling destruction of the "wireless" and escape, were other elements of the film's success. The Apex people, from 145 West Forty-fifth street, New York, are firing prints into every part of the continent except Canada, where the native buyers "beat 'em to it." ROSE COGHLAN TO STAR IN OLD SUCCESS Rose Coghlan has signed a contract with the Lubin Manufacturing Company, to play the leading role in "The Sporting Duchess," which the firm will produce as a motion picture. The direction of the melodrama has been assigned to Barry O'Neil, who will select a great cast from the pick of the studio companies. Some years ago "The Sporting Duchess" was brought direct from the Drury Lane Theatre, London, and had a phenomenal run in New York and other big cities, Miss Coghlan being the star. The production promises to surpass the original stage version. SIGNAL LIGHTS FLASH PERFORMANCES Special to The Motion Picture News Louisville, Sept. 2. The Breeze Amusement Company, of Flemingsburg, Ky., has opened a new motion picture theatre in Augusta, Ky., the Pastime. The Colonial Theatre, at Harrodsburg, Ky., has just opened up and is claimed to be one of the most modernly equipped in Central Kentucky. Signal lights have been placed on the front of the building to flash the beginning of each performance. The idea is proving to be an effective one. GIFT FOR THOMAS RICKETTS Thomas Ricketts, the American director, received a pleasant surprise when he was handed a wrist watch by the , secretary of Richard Bennett. The watch is a gold one and on the back is engraved the inscription, "T. R. A Good Old Soul. R. B." Special to The Motion Picture News Los Angeles, Aug. 31. OWNERS and managers of the principal Los Angeles motion picture theatres have started a boycott on the slang word "movie" and it is not to be used again in connection with publicity of any kind, if they can prevent it. This word, the exhibitors believe, tends to cheapen motion pictures, and if they can do anything to cause the people to forget it, they certainly will make the attempt. The word, they claim, originated in the Bowery district of New York City, when motion pictures were really "movies," but now that the film portrays the best of drama, comedy. Thas lived up to its name of preHE Strand Theatre, of New York, mier picture theatre of the United States with an announcement of actual war scenes from Europe, to show on their screen next Sunday afternoon, September 6. The Strand Film Company, 145 West Forty-fifth street, New York, had cameras in the war zone, but it was thought that they had suffered the fate of most picture machines caught operating there. Right from start to finish, the Belgium campaign unfolds itself — from King Albert bid and is even breaking in on grand opera, it is the opinion of the theatre men that a more dignified name should be used. It is very possible that prizes will be offered for a word of five letters that will take the place of this objectionable one. Another attempt of the exhibitors to raise the plane of motion pictures is the demand being made on local newspapers that their advertising appear only in the amusement pages or sections, where the "regular" theatre advertisements are carried. They dislike the idea of the theatrical and motion picture sections being separate. J. C. Jessen. ding good-bye to . the famous Ninth Regiment of the Line, who were annihilated at Liege, to the entrance of his faithful Queen at the Royal Palace, where she is zealously nursing the wounded. H. Winik, of 35 Little Newport street, London, cables Manager Craft that he can assure the Strand Film Company's New York offices, at 145 West Forty-fifth street, the delivery of one "war reel" a week. American picture men who want this service should wire instantly to Mr. Craft at the address printed above. Strand Will Show Craft "War" Film Scenes Attending Declaration of War in Belgium and Other Phases of Conflict to Be Shown — Reel a Week Promised