Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1916)

February 26, 1916, MOTION PICTURE NEWS 1159 JACQUES EARL ABRAMS ON ROAD FOR KNICKERBOCKER Jacques Earl Abrams, who is traveling throughout the Middle West, representing the Knickerbocker Star Features and the Vim Comedies, is an "all-round man" in the film business, having been an exhibitor. JACQUES E. ABHAMS writer and actor before becoming the general representative of the Knickerbocker company. He is reporting good things from the West, and the Knickerbocker Star Features bespeaks for him a good reception among exhibitors and exchange men. Eleven Companies Working on Keystone Comedies Mack Sennett's "Laughmaking Workshop" Is in a State of Overtime Turning Out Pictures from Scenarios by Hampton Del Ruth and His Associates MACK SENNETT has found it necessary to work his Keystone comedy factory overtime in order to keep up with the demand for his hilarious contributions to the Triangle program. The director general now has eleven complete companies working, including the Mabel Normand-Roscoe Arbuckle combination at the Eastern Keystone studio. Hampton Del Ruth, his managing editor, is driving Jean Havez and his associates in the scenario department at top speed. "Fatty" and Mabel have already completed "He Did and He Didn't," in and around New York, and are now busily engaged on a new Keystone that bears the working title of "The Lure of Broadway." Mabel is a country girl, made prisoner in a Bowery dive. Her rescue is finally accomplished after a thrilling gang fight. William Collier's first Keystone, "Better Late Than Never," in which he has the support of Mae Busch, is scheduled for early release. Fred Mace is working on a story that concerns an oil well that is expected to be a hilarity gusher. Ford Sterling has finished "shooting" scenes on the roof of a Los Angeles skyscraper. Harry Gribbon and Mack Swain are extracting laughs from a scenario that makes "Corner in Cotton" Ready from Metro Next Week Five Reel Feature, an Extra Release, Produced by the Quality Pictures Company, and Featuring Marguerite Snow, Shows Business Battle Between Money Kings the son and daughter of the two men announce their engagement. Beside Miss Snow, the cast includes Frank Bacon, Helen Dunbar, John W. Goldsworthy, Lester Cuneo, Zella Call, Wilfred Roger, Howard Truesdell and William Clifford. "A Corner in Cotton" was produced under the direction of Fred J. Balshofer. "The Soul Market," a five-part Metro picture, produced by the Popular Plays and Players, with Mme. Petrova in the stellar role, will be released on the Metro program February 28. The story deals with a musical comedy prima donna, who becomes weary of the methods of wealthy men who barter with young girls of the stage, tempting them with a life of luxury and ease. The prima donna views the theatre and the high life attending as being a "soul market," where young girls are bought and sold the same as they were in the days of ancient Babylon. She is brought to this realization when she is about to give herself over to a man of wealth, rather than marry the young man she loves. There are many striking scenes in this production, including an allegory showing a Babylonian slave market where girls were sold to the highest bidder. The scenes in and around the theatre were made at the Princess theatre, New York City. Chorus girls from the Hippodrome were used in the ballet scenes, and a score of beautiful show girls from "Stop! Look! and Listen !" appear in the restaurant scenes. These were photographed in Murray's restaurant, in West Forty-second street. In addition to Mme. Petrova, the supporting cast includes Arthur Hoops, Wilmuth Merkyl, Gypsy O'Brien, Evelyn Brent, Fritz de Lint, Fraunie Fraunholz, and other well-known stage and screen artists. The production was directed by Francis J. Grandon. u A CORNER IN COTTON," with ** Marguerite Snow in the stellar role, and an all-star cast, will be released on the Metro program during the week of February 21. This five-part production is an extra release for Metro for that week, as "The Price of Malice," a Rolfe-Metro picture, starring Hamilton Revelle, will also go out on the Metro program at the same time. "A Corner in Cotton," which was produced by the Quality Pictures Corporation, deals with the story of the daughter of a Wall Street broker, who becomes interested in settlement work. She learns of conditions among the poor cotton mill employes in the Southland, and goes there to learn conditions at first hand. She obtains a position in the mill, and her singular beauty attracts the attention of the foreman, who attempts to force his attentions upon her. She is rescued by the son of the owner of the mill, and a strong friendship develops between them. The owner of the mill is the sworn enemy of the girl's father, whom he characterizes as "The Wolf of Wall Street." When the broker learns of this, he attempts to ruin the Southern planter, by forcing a corner in cotton on the Exchange. The girl breaks this corner and succeeds in bringing the two men together, with a better understanding of themselves and of the conditions under which they live. This bond is further strengthened when fun out of the instalment plan of acquiring a home and its furnishings. Louise Fazenda and Harry Booker, "Dear Old Dad," are chafing in their combination of the enthusiasm of youth and experience for more opportunities to exhibit their talents for laughmaking. DeWolf Hopper has finished "Sunshine Dad," his second Triangle-Fine Arts story, and is to appear soon in another American comedy, called "The Philanthropist." David W. Griffith is so pleased with the combination that filmed "Don Quixote" that he is retaining the principal members for "The Philanthropist." Edward Dillon will again be the director, Fay Tincher the foil for the huge comedian, and Max Davidson will have an important role. So many reports have been published about Constance Collier in connection with various film and legitimate enterprises that it seems timely to state that at present she is playing Lady Macbeth with Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree at the Fine Arts Studios. Miss Collier is taking orders from the former Frohman director, John Emerson, who has been assigned by David W. Griffith to produce the Triangle's contribution to the tercentenary celebration of the Bard of Avon's death. KLEINE'S "SCARLET ROAD" FEATURES MALCOM DUNCAN George Kleine's "The Scarlet Road," scheduled for release February 16, features Malcom Duncan, Anna Q. Nilsson, and Delia Connor. A New Year's cabaret scene in a Broadway hotel, requiring the services of more than three hundred "extras," is one of the striking moments. The story, said ta be highly dramatic, concerns the life of a young man who is directed in his father's will to go to the latter's hunting lodge, "when you have dissipated your fortune ; there you will find a solution of your trouble." The young man follows instructions, and when he gets to the lodge finds a hangman's noose. ANITA STEWART WITH VITAGRAPH FOR INDEFINITE PERIOD Anita Stewart has signed a new contract with the Vitagraph Company of America for an indefinite period.