Motion Picture News (Apr-Jul 1915)

46 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 11. No. 18. Blackwell Begins Work on "The Puppet Crown" Star Who Scored Success in "The Key to Yesterday" and "The High Hand," Favorite Players Pictures, Will Appear with Ina Claire with Lasky CARLYLE BLACKWELL has been engaged by the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company for a long term and will immediately begin work at the studios in Hollywood, Cal., on the film version of Harold MacGrath's story "The Puppet Crows," in which he will appear with Ina Claire. The engagement of Mr. Blackwell as a CARLYLE BLACKWELL permanent member of the Lasky stock company corresponds, according to the announcement made by Samael Goldfish, to the engagement of Blanche Sweet as a feminine star. With Miss Sweet and Mr. Blackwell both working continually in Lasky productions this company feels that it has answered the demands of the photoplay "fans" as well as it has acceded to the demands of the general public by engaging such artists as Ina Claire, Charlotte Walker, Fannie Ward, Victor Moore and other celebrities. Carlyle Blackwell made his first appearance on the screen with one of the old established concerns and appeared under that management for three years, obtaining during this period, a large personal following, especially in society dramas ; in fact, one of the series of pictures in which he appeared became so successful that it is now being reissued. After Mr. Blackwell left that organization he played a special engagement with the Famous Players in Edward Peple's "Spitfire." He then went to California and organized his own company in which he has appeared for the past few months with success. Among the five reel subjects in which he appeared for his own company were : "The Key to Yesterday," "The Man Who Could Not Lose," "The Last Chapter" and "The High Hand." COURTENAY SIGNS FOR TERM WITH VITAGRAPH Contracts calling for the appearance in moving pictures of William Courtenay, now appearing in "Under Cover," have been signed by that popular actor and the Vitagraph Company of America. Mr. Courtenay, whose Broadway successes have been many, and who created a large following during his seasons in vaudeville, will be seen on the moving picture screen in a number of roles. He will be a welcome addition to the allstar company of the Vltagraph company, which is now featuring Robert Edeson, Frank Daniels, Virginia Pearson, Joseph Kilgour, Earle Williams, Anita Stewart, Lillian Walker, Edith Storey. Antonio Moreno, Maurice Costello, Charles Richman and many others. H. M. HORKHEIMER ON WAY EAST Special to Motion Picture News Los Angeles, April 26. H. M. Horkheimer, president and general manager of the Balboa company, has departed for the East with approximately fifty thousand feet of Balboa negative film. He expects to be absent from the producing plant about three weeks, and will spend a portion of the time in Chicago. He later will go to New York City for a week. "THE BATTLE" IS NEXT KLEINE PICTURE "The Battle," in which Wilton Lackaye scored one of his greatest successes, is the next production to be staged at the George Kleine studio in New York City. George Fitzmaurice, whose production of "The Commuters" is released this week, is in charge of the filming of "The Battle." He has been provided with a strong cast. Frank Sheridan will be seen in the Wilton Lackeye role, with Anne Meredith in Josephine Victor's original part, and Fania Marinoff seen in the character created by Elsie Ferguson. Paul McAllister, Calvin Thomas, Sam Reid and Bert Gudgeon complete the cast. George Fitzmaurice was just beginning to be considered a comedy specialist when he was entrusted with the production of "The Battle," thus breaking his record of laugh producers. MINISTER WRITES SCENARIO FOR UNITED FILM "The Vivisectionist" is the title of a two reel psychological drama written by Rev. Clarence J. Harris, the Unitarian minister who has just left the pulpit to become scenario editor for the United Film service,, and which will appear soon on the United program. In it Mr. Harris shows the tortuous methods indulged in by a famous psychologist to learn the workings of his wife's mind. This photodrama is played by Joseph Levering, Marian Swayne, Flavia Arcoria and Fritz Orlamond of the Empress stock company. It is bound to be popular, as it holds an appeal of universal interest. Mr. Levering and his wife, Miss Swayne, have left the studio for an automobiL trip west and south. They will be gone several weeks. BARNETT WILL PLAY OPPOSITE VIVIAN MARTIN Chester Barnett is to play the lead in James Young's forthcoming picture, based on the William A. Brady photoplay "Little Miss Brown," in which Vivian Martin is to be starred. This is the third time he has played opposite Miss Martin under the World Film banner, the two previous pictures being "Old Dutch" and "The Wishing Ring."