Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

62 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 10. No. 11. "The Little Mischief." (Thanhouser-Mutual. Sun., Sept. '6.) — Everybody loves a sweet and cunning little girl, and if she is mischievous and gets into all kinds of innocent badness, we just like her all the more. That is just what happens in this picture. The little girl breaks statuary, daubs herself all over with jam, and iioods the bathroom when tlie cook_ puts her in the tub to get clean. But she is sweet just the same, and mother has to kiss her when she comes home. "A Tragedy of the North Woods." (Domino. Two reels. Thurs., Sept. 17.) — The death of the factor leads to an investigation by Sargeant Allen. He discovers that the assistant factor committed the crime, because of ^ the other's cruelty to his own wife and child whom he stole from him and then deserted. The sargeant refuses to arrest him on hearing this story. This picture holds the interest throughout. " 'No-Account' Smith's Baby." (Gay-Bee. Two reels. Fri., Sept. 18.)— In which the little sh oes of a bandit's baby is placed in his pocket by his wife before he is about to hold up _ the stage, causes the man reformation. This is a strong human interest picture, and contains many pathetic scenes and situations. "A Tale of the Northwest Mounted." (Broncho. Two reels. Wed., Sept. 16.) — Rapid and absorbing action marks this release. Excellent scenes. Gates, a member of the mounted police of the north, is sent to locate a liquor smuggler. He discovers that it is Jaques, who after incriminating Gates is finally caught. Fine melodrama. "In the Nick of Time." (Reliance. Two reels. Sat., Sept. 5.) — Along the same old plan of the railroad pictures, in which somebody always opens a switch, prevents a collision, saves hundreds of lives and wins the everlasting gratitude of the officials of the road. T*^'.^ time the hero is an operator who loses his job on account of drink, and, happening into an abandoned station, seizes the opportunity that knocks him over the head, almost. "Mabel's Latest Prank." (Keystone. Thurs., Sept. 10.)— This brisk and lively comedienne sets up to a married man, into whose home she comes as a serving-maid, and takes no pity whatever on the poor, embarrassed fel.ow. The consequences make good fun for all but the jealous wife and the dispirited husband. "Mabel's Blunder." (Keystone. Sept. 10.) — When iVIabel sees her beloved young man driving off in an automobile with another young lady, of course she is naturally upset and perplexed. The affectionate way in which this same young man treats this same young lady is really more than she can bear. But the young lady is only an innocent sister, so the laugh is on Mabel. She endures it gracefully. "The Rounders." (Keystone. Mon., Sept. 7.) — Charles Chapman and Roscoe Arbuckle are the fun provokers in this farce, but it is really the rough handling that they receive from their wives when they return home in a slightly intoxicated state that makes the merriment. "The Motherless Kids." (Beauty. Tues., Sept. 8.) — Everybody likes to see children happy, and so everybody will like this picture. Two little children have the jolliest time of their little lives when they go to spend the day with a neighbor by mistake. But they have such a good time, and brighten up the whole place so, that they come to the house for good, and their father comes with them, to get a new wife and a mother for them. "The Cocoon and the Butterfly." (American. Two reels. Mon., Sept. 14.) — An illegible picture that attempts to reveal the dangers that suround the girl who works in large stores. But no manager would last long in this day and time that makes love to every pretty girl that comes into his establishment. This manager does, and that is why the picture is impossible. I "The Mirror." (American. Wed., Sept. 16.) — -The mystery of this picture is laid bare, but yet the thing is puzzling because the spectator cannot tell which is the real veiled woman when two arrests are made. If the explanation were not cut off so shortly perhaps the picture would be clearer and seem nearer completion. "The Only Way." (Beauty. Tues., Sept. 15.) — A well-acted picture with Marguerite Fisher and Harry Pollard playing the leading roles, but it follows along hackneyed lines. The girl's fiance is a sailor and goes off to sea ; he is ship-wrecked and the girl marries another man. The sailor turns up years afterwards and the husband gives up his wife to her first love and he disappears. "Sis." (Princess. Fri., Sept. 11.) — The inescapable rural comedy again without any new touches. The fun depends upon the awkwardness and uncouthness of the country girl and the country bumpkin, but this is so exaggerated and carried to such an extreme that it must be looked upon as burlesque, and as this will give pleasure to a great many. "Mutual Girl, No. 35." (Reliance. Mon., Sept. 14.) — The second scenario by Carolyn Wells, but there isn't very much Carolyn Wells about it. Margaret takes the little child of the last picture to Rose O'Neill to see the kewpies. She then goes to Gloucester and pays a visit to John Hays Harnmond and his family, and takes in the fishing sights in the port. WARNER'S FEATURES "The Bloodhound." (U. S. Film Corp. Three reels.) — Rather inferior for this brand, but the fault is in the story, not in the acting, which is as good as ever. Lawrence Peyton, Natalie De Lonton and Leon D. Kent head the cast. The scene of action is in the west, and the riding is as usual in these pictures of the best sort. The plot is quite complicated. The sheriff lose^ his wife at the birth of her child. Years later, an old enemy turns up who ruins his daughter. The sheriff pursues him to the mountains and there captures him. He is married to the girl on his death bed. "The Puppet's Dowery." (Milano. Three reels.) — A very pretty story is told in these three reels, but it contains little real action and could easily be condensed. The photography is excellent. Madeline loses her husband through an accident. She leaves her child with a friend and then marries a rich count. The child is thought to have been lost in a fire, but years later the mother finds her in the care of an old puppet maker. The ending is happy for all concerned, as the old man -receives a large sum of money for the invention of a new variety of puppet. NEWS WEEKLIES "Mutual Weekly, No. 89." — A number of excellent pictures constitute this week's release. Of course, there are several timely war views. Among them are : The mobilization of Canadian troops ; the Royal Scotch Highlanders are shown leaving for the front ; the Sixth Brigade, Canadian field artillery, entrains at Montreal. Other views consist of the "Star Spangled Banner" celebration at Atlantic City ; a California "alligator farm" ; a view of the steel bridge across the Snake River, Washington, and women in a peace parade in New York City. "Animated Weekly, No. 131." — Among the eleven pictorial views of live current events shown in this release are many taken in various parts of the world, the United States, France, the Canal Zone, and England. One, in this country, deserving particular mention shows a vast shipment of grain made at New York City for Great Britain. An Indian Sun Dance at Manitou, Colo., brings back recollections of the days when this country was not so thickly settled and our Western frontier was anything but a place of peace and quiet. Other interesting pictures complete the weekly. "Hearst-Selig News Pictorial, No. 55." (Selig. Mon., Sept. 7.) — Outside of the war news, which is still as entertaining as ever, perhaps the most interesting topic in this weekly are scenes portraying the various branches of the International Labor Unions at work and pictures of some of their leaders. Hearst-Selig News Pictorial, No. 54. (Selig. Thurs., Sept. 3.) — Mexico, although she has been chased from the front page of the newspapers, is still alive in this week's films. The transfer of the government to the Constitutionalists in Mexico City forms the news from that section of the world. The European conflict holds its place, and the Belgian troops are seen departing to the war. and an interior view of an improvised hospital follows. The formal opening of the Panama Canal by the U. S. steamship Ancon is the other subject of the reel, and a very entertaining one as it is supplemented by various scenes in the Canal zone. ECLAIR— SCIENTIA "Milan, the Capital of Lombardy." (Eclair. Split reel. Sun., Sept. 6.) — Of coui'se, when Milan is mentioned everyone thinks at once of the great cathedral, built entirely of white marble and requiring four centuries to complete. The pictures that the Eclair photographer has succeeded in making of this splendid human achievement are among the most beautiful that have been shown. The flying buttresses, the magnificent tracery, and statuary which adorn every niche and corner of this Gothic edifice are seen from every angle of approach. But other beautiful things in the Lombard city are laid bare to Our eyes, the Public Gardens, the Arch of Peace, La Scala Square, and the monuments to Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel I. "An Arabian Fantasia." (Eclair. Split reel. Sun., Sept. 6.) — This completes the reel which began with "Milan." The "Fantasia" is something like the medieval tournament, only far more riders take part. The fair women journey on camels from far and near to applaud the daring of their heroes, but they conceal their beauty behind thick veils. HEARD IN THE LOBBIES The equipment of the Bonita Theatre in Gadsden, Ala., has been sold by the sheriff to the Walker Electric Company for $600. There is a lien on the property for rent amounting to $900 and it must be sold again for the rent. The Gadsden Amusement Company, which was organized a year or two ago, owned the equipment. Mismanagement is said to have been the cause of its failure to succeed. "Cabiria" has closed a two weeks' engagement at the Atlanta Theatre. The picture was brought to Atlanta by William Oldknow, the well-known Atlanta motion picture promoter, and its success had been phenomenal. The capacity of the Atlanta Theatre has been taxed to its fullest extent each afternoon and night and one of the most notable features of its presentation is the tremendous number of patrons who have gone more than once to see the remarkable spectacle. The commission in charge of the Kentucky exhibit at the Panama-Pacific Exposition has closed a contract with the Essanay Company for not less than 15,000 feet of motion picture film showing the industrial, commercial and civic greatness of the Blue Grass State. Funds are now being raised for the erection of the Kentucky building at the exposition where the films will be shown. Sam W. B. Cohn, who took a lease upon the Empress Theatre, Spokane, Wash., opened it Sunday, September 6, as a picture house, intending to show feature films only. The Empress was the original home of Sullivan and Considine vaudeville there and formerly was known as the Washington. It is on Riverside avenue, the main business street, and is well located. It has a seating capacity of about 1,100. The larger motion picture productions are rapidly gaining favor in the smaller cities of Illinois outside of Chicago, and exhibitors are now, probably more than ever before, booking big features. In some places certain days are set aside by exhibitors when the larger productions are shown. The admission price is increased and plenty of advertising brings the business. An illustration of how the smaller city exhibitors are arranging for special features is 'ihown in the annoimcement just made by Manager McMullen of the Colonial 'Theatre in Joliet, 111., who has just closed a contract with the Famous Players Company for some of their biggest film productions. Thomas O'Dowd has opened a new motion picture theatre in the Bremer Building at Hil'sboro, 111. The theatre is excellently arranged and O'Dowd promises a first-class line of pictures. The American Theatre, formerly the Kenyon Theatre, on the North Side, Pittsburgh, has opened for the winter season. Vaudeville and motion pictures are to be used. The Universal service has the call.