Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1916)

696 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 13. No. S. GLIMPSES OF TVo SELIG PLAYS COM | ING THROUGH V-L-S-E Feature Play Company built a three story concrete and steel laboratory building, they caused everyone to look up. Kenneth McGaffey, Lasky publicity humorist, before making the claim that the Lasky company was entitled to the distinction of owning the most conspicuous building, made a tour of the entire city to be sure there would be no mistake — a most unusual act for a publicity writer, yes? DeMille Company at Lasky Ranch Director William C. DeMille and a company of Lasky players headed by Blanche Sweet have been spending the past few days at the Lasky ranch making exterior scenes for "The Blacklist," an original scenario by Mr. DeMille and Marion Fairfax. The Lasky organization filming "To Have and to Hold," under the direction of George Melford, has been at the beaches during the past week, where Mae Murray, the star, was initiated into the thrills of sea scenes. Miss Murray wandered away to pick wild flowers or shells, and became lost among the sand dunes, the first day on location, and it required a half-hour's search on the part of the company to locate the recent Broadway addition to the Lasky forces. When found it is said she was on the verge of hysterics. Anita King, the Lasky-Paramount girl, was honored recently when she, by an invitation to preside at the opening of the new Coliseum theatre at Seattle, which invitation she accepted. One day she edited the motion picture page of a leading newspaper there, and at the request of telegrams to the Lasky company from other theatre owners in Spokane, Portland and Tacoma, she paid these cities a visit. Jesse L. Lasky departed for New York Tuesday of this week on a business trip pertaining to the Lasky company, but principally as representative of the Los Angeles Civic organizations. Recently the pastor of a local church denounced the motion picture producing companies studio forces here as "camps of immorality," and his sermon was widely quoted in local and foreign papers, all of which reflected on the whole industry of Los Angeles, while in reality he was referring to one or two organizations. Always Ready to Think the Worst For a few days it seems to the motion picture people that the entire city was pleased to accept the charges as definite, which caused much indignation to the pro ducers, and plans were partially made for the removal of studios from this city. At this point, the most prominent civic organizations took the matter in hand, investigated and later refuted the preacher's charges. Fearing that the Eastern officers of the motion picture companies would gain the wrong impression regarding the Los Angeles attitude toward the industry, the civic organizations induced Mr. Lasky to go East and explain that this city held the members of picture companies in the highest regard. While in the East Mr. Lasky will also represent the recently organized Motion Picture Producers Protective Association, formed here by the heads of studios. The purpose of this will be to regulate both local and foreign conditions detrimental to the motion picture interests, and will also make it possible to take an active part in politics should conditions warrant same. Ford I. Beebe, who has been publicity writer for Universal Film studios for the past eighteen months, has been discovered to be a scenario genius by Director Otis Turner, who is now filming Beebe's first story for the screen entitled, "Get the Boy." This will consist of five reels and features Carter DeHaven, supported by Flora DeHaven, Maude George, J. Hope,. Harry Carter, Bert Grassby, and Harry Holland. The script calls for a number of excellent comedy situations caused by a grandfather willing all his property to his grandson, and designating that the party with whom the boy is living at the age of eighteen shall be custodian of the estate until the lad reaches his majority. The parents have separated, and at the time are engaged in a divorce suit while the boy is at a boarding school. Both father and mother attempt to secure the lad by means fair or foul, but he eludes them until his eighteenth birthday, when he marries the daughter of a widow, who furnishes the school with butter and eggs. Nestor Makes Comedies on Footage Basis The Al. E. Christie Nestor companies now making comedies on a footage basis for the Universal, are very fortunately located at the old Quality Pictures Corporation studio, Sunset and Gower streets, and they are continuing with their merry little . fun maker?. Al. Christie is filming "Her Friend the Doctor," where the grocery clerk's sweet heart returning from receiving a polish at college, arouses his jealousy by writing to Doctor Bonner. She carries the joke even farther by inviting the doctor to come to see her, and there after arousing more jealousy, introduces her sweetheart to the Ph.D., who wears skirts. The Rex Universal Company is filming a five reel subject entitled "The Altar of Friendship," which will portray incidents in the life of society people of a city. One husband through misunderstanding believes his wife in love with another, while in reality the husband is merely aiding the wife, who is in difficulties, owing to having been deceived prior to her marriage. These complications cause the wife of the benefactor to think her husband untrue. A child part of much importance has been written into this subject, and will be played by Georgie French. The principals of the cast are Agnes Vernon, Hayward Mack, Margie Ellison and Lon Chaney. The direction is in charge of Joseph DeGrasse. Story of Circus Life by Dowlan A refreshing story, partially of circus life, is being made by Director William C. Dowlan, which is adapted from a story by Isabella Ostrander, entitled "Livina Comes Home." An aged couple who have spent their life on a farm attend the circus that comes to the county seat, and there see a girl performing a bare back act whom they believe to be their daughter who was washed away years before in a flood. They are mistaken in this, but the girl is persuaded to deceive the old people for the sake of the circus getting a number of good stories in newspapers, it being arranged that she is to return to the sawdust ring at an early date. The deception of the girl is soon discovered by the woman, but she keeps it a secret in order to add happiness to her husband. The girl finds the quiet life the happiest she has ever known, and the climax is reached when the farmer sells the circus man a trained pig, when he comes for the girl and the "daughter" promises to be the bride of a neighboring young farmer. Marcia Moore plays the name part, Thomas Jefferson and Helen Wright the supposed parents, and R. Sterling the role of the country lover. It having been definitely decided not to send a producing company to the Orient for the present, Henry McRae has again