Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

64 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS j In and Out of Los An|eles Studios | special to The Motion Picture News. Los Angeles, August 31. Friends here have been advised that David Miles, formerly director of big features for the Biograph Company, will soon return to Los Angeles and begin producing multiplereel pictures. It is stated on authority that Charles Fleming and Linda Griffith will be his leading people. ^ The Reliance Company, directed by Fred A. Kelsey, has just returned from Imperial Valley, where it went in search of "atmosphere" for the filming of "How The Kid Went Over the Range," and found it about a hundred in the shade. In this picture Irene Hunt is featured, and when cooking utensils to be used in a campfire cooking scene were left in the sun for several hours, they became so hot the leading woman could not handle them. This week the company is producing a two-reel picture "The Wireless Voice," in which a wireless telephone invented by a Los Angeles man will be explained in detail as well as playing a conspicuous part in a love affair. Frank Bennett, Irene Hunt and Vester Perry have been cast for this picture. Velma Pierce, leading woman with one of the Sterling companies, is now in the California hospital, a convalescent from a very serious illness as the result of stepping on a needle which penetrated her foot. Stages a Thrilling Chase Donald Crisp is tJirecting the filming of "A Mother's Trust," a "one reel Majestic release, a heart interest drama written by Russell E. Smith, in which the last act of a dying crook is to convince his mother that he has reformed. Robert Harron and Cora Drew have important parts. Last week Sheriff Arthur Mackley staged a chase by the Western sheriff's posse with new. features for the one reel Reliance Western drama, "Where the Mountains Meet," written by Gardner Hunting. Among those in the cast are Florence Crawford, W. H. Long, and A. W. Lowery. Mae Marsh, F. A. Truner and Robert Harron will take leading parts in a two reel Majestic picture "The Great God Fear," written by Daniel Carson Goodman. This is the portrayal of small town panic caused by the announcement that one citizen is afflicted with leprosy. Hot heads urge lynching the unfortunate man and are about to carry out the plan when the truth concerning the sick man becomes known. The company is at Bear Lake, CaL, making exteriors. Jack Kerrigan's Illness in Film Jack Kerrigan is hobbling about the big U studio on crutches, following a scratch on the foot and the development of blood poisoning. But Jack is not allowed to take a vacation because of the need of crutches. Director Jacques Jaccard was horrified when he learned of the condition of his lead and furthermore saw a week's lay off for himself and company. Then he began writing a scenario for a picture in which Kerrigan could use his crutch, swollen foot, and general illness to advantage. The company is producing "The Proof of a Man," and many of the players about the studio think Kerrigan is merely acting with his crutch. The picture is laid in Chinatown of San Francisco. Frank Lloyd is this week directing a two reel picture "The Vagabond," by Ruth Anne Baldwin, in which Herbert Rawlinson plays the title role. The other members of the cast for this melodrama are William Worthington, Anne Little, and Helen Wright. Another Scenario for Himself Mrs. Rose Janowitz, who for the past year has served her brother, Alanager Isadore Bernstein, of the West Coast Universal studios as assistant, left last week for Louisville, Ky., where she will remain until the holidays in company with the little daughter of Manager Bernstein, who will attend school in that city. Robert Z. Leonard has written another scenario for himself which is being produced. The title of this single reel is "The Little Sister," and Ella Hall will play the title role. Louis Joseph Vance is having a strenuous time keeping ahead of the "Trey-o'-Hearts" producing company under the direction of Wilfred Lucas. \\ hen he arrived here a few days ago they were waiting on working script, and it was necessary to wait two days. Mr. Vance is now writing the ninth instalment of the serial and the company is producing the eighth, which will be released under the title of "The Counterfeit Rose." Like all the preceding instalments there is a big punch in every scene of the series number eight, the biggest feature being the burning of a specially constructed three-story building, at the new Universal City. Two Fire Departments in Scenes Two Hollywood fire departments were used in the fire scenes. George Larkin, as Alan Law, performed another thriller when he swung to the third story window of the burning building on a rope and rescued the heroine. Aside from a few scratches and small blisters none of the members were injured. Director Lucas put in the most strenuous day of his motion picture career and in the evening told members of the company he felt as if he had just experienced the greatest Fourth of July celebration of his life. Members of the CJ Joker Company imder the direction of Allen Curtis is filming "When Their Wives Joined the Regiment." a travesty on the present European war written _ by Clarence G. Badger. Max Asher and Louise Fazenda are playing the leads. The members Of the Harry Edwards Joker Company are making "The Dear Hunter," from a story by Chief Jimmie Dayton of the U scenario department. It may be added that this is the open season for deer hunting in California. Whole Picture Double Exposure A decided novelty is being produced by the Charles Giblyn Company under the title of "For the Cause," a one reel melodrama. In this Murdock McQuarrie plays the two leading parts and practically all of the picture will be double exposure work. The marvelous work of the Buzzards Bay, Mass., wireless operator in governing a fiftyfoot launch by wireless, gave Dr. H. G. Stafford, of the Universal scenario department, food for thought, and he has produced a scenario, "The Silent Peril," which will show this latest use of wireless. The picture is being made by the Henry McRea 101 Bison Company. Marie Walcamp, William Clifford and Sherman Bainbridge will be featured. Director Colin Campbell and Selig players are home after spending a week on the California sand dunes near Oxnard taking scenes for "The Carpet of Bagdad," in which fourteen camels and other caravan accessories were used. The settings for Oriental streets are nearing completion and it is probable the big scenes in which many extra peoole will be used will be filmed soon at the Selig Jungle Zoo studio. Complete Local Kalem Plant Arrangements are now being made to install a laboratory at the Hollywood Kalem studio under the management of Marshall Neilan. Heretofore all film has been sent to the New York office for developing, cutting, and printing, which arrangement has been very unsatisfactory in many respects. The Smalley Bosworth Producing Company has been filming "The Hypocrite," a 'five-reel subject. The Bosworth studio, at Occidental and Council streets is nearing completion and this week the first laboratory work was done there. The stage, dressing rooms, and light diffusers are not finished, and the comnanies are working at the Loftus studio in Hollywood for the present. Max Figman and Lolita Robertson (Mrs. Figman), who have been playing at the Jesse Lasky studio, after completing "What's Flis Name," thought they were going to have a three week's vacation, but at the end of a week a telegram called them to San Francisco to play leads in "The Old Curiosity Shop" at the Belasco Alcazar Theatre, for a two week's engagement. Col. Rhys Price, who served under the British flag throughout the Boer war, and proved himself a regular soldier of fortune when three or four years ago he organized an army composed of eleven cow punchers and about one hundred greasers, in Lower Laafornia, and took the town of Tiajuna, by storm, is now a motion p.cture actor and is assisting Director D. W. Griffith with the military and cavalry movements for war scenes in "The Clansman." For this work he is proving a genius. Price was held .n Los Angeles jail for many months following his filibustering, when Pres. Diaz offered $10,000 for his head, and quite a diplomatic tangle was brought on by his arrest. England claimed him as a military subject. F.nally the Federal Government washed its hands of the entire affair and turned him free. Will Select Piayers Independently The Masterpiece Film Manufacturing Company, a close corporation, capitalized at $300,000, and composed of Los Angeles business men, began work last week at the Court street studio, Los Angeles, on the production of their first release, "The Hoosier Schoolmaster," from the book by Ed%yard Eggleston. The production is being filmed under the direction of Marion De La Parelle and E. J. Clawson, with Max Figman playing the part of Ralph Hartsook, and Lolita Robertson taking the character of Hannah Thompson. The release will consist of five reels. It is the intention of this company to make nine releases during the year, all of which will be from famous plays or copyrighted novels, and within the next few weeks the entire program for the year will be announced. At the present time the company has options on twenty or more stories or plays. The leading parts of each production will be taken by stage celebrities of the same magnitude as Max * igman and Lolita Robertson. Only clean high-class comedy dramas will be produced. The company will not maintain a stock company of players but will select the actors and actresses for each production independent of previous work or future subjects, choosing a type best suited fwr the part, in the same manner as players are selected for stage productions in England and other foreign countries. George Lessey Staging New' Play Director Henry McRae, under whose guiding hand the greater number of the spectacular 101 Bison Western-Indian dramas have been produced, is bringing out a new work entitled "Daughter of the Plain." "Love and Surgery" is the title of the first H. Pathe Lehrman comedy being made for release under the new Universal brand, the "L. K. O." It is a characteristic "Lehrman" product and in it are two notable actors of the vaudeville world, Billie Ritchie and Gertrude Selby. After putting the finishing touches to "The Law of the Lumberjack" and "A Daughter of the Redskins," two sensational dramas, the 101 Bison (Universal) Company, under the direction of Henry McRae, has returned from a fortnight's stay in the forests of giant sequoias in the Sierras of the country in and around Hume, Cal. And with them they have brought many a tale of adventure and narrow escapes from danger. George Lessey, of the Universal staff of directors is now putting on a picture starring King Baggot called "The Treasure Train" and had to compete with quite a new and trying situation to secure local color. The picture deals with a hold-up of a train load of children and quite a problem loomed up as to where they would get the children. But arrangements were made with various orphan asylums and when this scene is filmed at least 250 children will he the guests of the Universal Company. Julius Stern of the Universal Company, although he has been in the motion picture business for six years, had never appeared on the screen until the present series featuring Christy i\Iathewson was inaugurated. Mr. Stern is shown supervising the signing of Matty's contract.