Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1915)

August 14, 1915. MOTION PICTURE NEWS 79 LINCOLN PLAY BY CHAPIN POPULAR IN BOSTON Special to Motion Picture News Boston, August 3. Announcement that Benjamin Chapin was to appear in his cycle of Lincoln plays has been received with enthusiasm in Boston. The Lincoln impersonator has always been a favorite in the Hub, and it is a foregone conclusion that the Lincoln films will go strong in that city. In regard to them the dramatic critic of one of the Boston dailies said : "The field of biography has thus far been only browsed in by the film folks. This Chapin announcement appears to herald many fine picture excursions into the lives of great men, excursions which cannot but prove of marked educational benefit." The writer recalls approaching Gen. O. O. Howard, at that time one of the few surviving Civil war generals, at the close of a Lincoln lecture in Burlington, Vt. It was the writer's intention to get the general's personal opinion of Chapin's work, given direct by this man who had known the real Lincoln. But General Howard coulld not answer the question; his eyes were filled with tears. WALLING FEATURED IN "ON THE 5:15" Roy Walling, who made many friends in Detroit during a stock engagement that covered a period of two years at the Avenue theatre, is featured in a screen version of "On the 5.15"— that Jerome H. Remick song story of a commuter's troubles. The film, which runs about 12 minutes, was made by the Artone Film Company. The writer of the scenario has followed the story closely and has told it well. All of the latent comedy situations are brought out forcefully. Will H. Gregory, who is producing manager of the Artone Film Company, was identified with the Frohman and Belasco forces for a number of years. The Artone Film Company is a new enterprise in Detroit. They have erected a commodious out-door studio and have an excellent office and studio organization. The officers of the company are as follows : President, Willard H. Goodfellow, Detroit ; vice-president, Louis R. Jennings, New York ; second vice-president, August Froebel. St. Louis ; treasurer, William C. Canfield ; secretary, Francis Reno, Detroit. RAYMOND HITCHCOCK IN "THE RING TAILED RHINOCEROS" (LUBIN) AND A SCENE FROM "A BUNCH OF KEYS" (ESSANAY) Federal Directors Seek Locations in Adirondacks WILL REX and Al Day, two of the directors of the Federal Film Company, left this week for a tour of the New England States and the Adirondack Mountains. Their purpose is to seek locations for forthcoming films, as the Federal Company will spare no expense in getting correct surroundings for their pictures. Mr. Rex, who is producing all the dramas for this concern, has in mind several scenarios requiring mountain scenery and rural types, and on this trip will make all arrangements. Mr. Ray is contemplating the filming of several rural comedies, and should he find the locations necessary he will bring his company of comedians from New York for an indefinite stay. For the past two months these directors have been working day and night, and have on hand several completed films which will be released on the Associated Program beginning August 16. The first comedy release will be "Love & Installments," featuring Al Ray and Xed Kennedy. The title of the premier dramatic offering has not as yet been decided, but the second will be "When Death Intervened," which Director Rex and company filmed in Colorado. In this picture appear Will Rex, who plays the heavy lead, and Margaret Harmon, a stage favorite, who. it is predicted, will create a sensation in the silent drama. Rex, who is but twenty-two, has the distinction of being the youngest dramatic director in the world. Besides producing he also writes practically all his own scripts, and plays heavy lead in a majority of them. His character make-ups are a revelation. The Federal Company seems to place its faith in young men, for besides Rex, Al Ray, the comedy director, is but twenty. A brilliant future is planned for these two youths. The trip which they are taking is being made by motorcycle, each being the possessor of specially built Indian machines, which are said to compare favorably with the fastest machines in the country. CALIFORNIA MANAGER APPEALS FROM "HYPOCRITES" DECISION Manager C. H. Keipp, of the Berry Grand Theatre, Whittier. Cal., whose license was recently revoked by the city trustees because of showing "Hypocrites" against the recommendation of the village censors, has appealed the case to the Superior Court of Los Angeles, where Judge Shank of Department Six issued a temporary injunction restraining the trustees from enforcing their ruling until a filing of the case was announced. In the hearing before the Superior Court the trustees of Whittier and members of the censor board were severely criticised by Judge Shank because of the ordinance passed with regard to censoring motion pictures. This provided that there should be no fighting or love making in films, together with numerous other restrictions, and the court spoke of it as a "child-like composition." OSCAR EAGLE'S COMPANY (World Film) AT LUNCHEON DURING A "TAKING" DAY Mcdonald film organizes for $50,000 and begins production The Barry McDonald Film Company, recently incorporated in the State of New York with a capital of $50,000, is one of the latest concerns added to the list of producers. The offices of the company are located at 105 West Fortieth street, New York City. The officers of the organization are: R. B. Vanderhoop, president; Anna F. McDonald, of Greenwich, Conn., vicepresident, and Arthur McCurten, of Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Work has already commenced on the production of a feature which is said to represent an investment of $15,000.