Motion Picture News (May-Jul 1916)

4048 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 13. No. 26 '•FARMER AL FALFA'S WATERMELON PATCH" IS PARAMOUNT-BRAY CARTOON Panacea for the blues is provided in the situations of the comedy release " Farmer Al Falfa's Watermelon Patch" in the Paramount-Bray Animated Cartoons. The drawing is the work of Paul Terry and the story centers around the eviction of an obstinate, ebony southern from old Farmer Al Falfa's melon patch. In the opening scene tlie farmer is shown sprinkling his melons. At the first opportunity the darkj' steals in and starts a sumptuous feast. Noticing the intruder, Al Falfa orders him out, but the visitor is so intent upon eating that he pays no attention. Al Falfa resorts to his shot-gun, but the bullets bounce back, the invader being solid from the shoulders up. Maudie, the mule, called to die farmer's aid, beats her heels against the darky's head, but it is compelled to leave with feet sore and badly bent. After employing every violent method at his command,'Al Falfa gives up in despair. Then a tiny mouse comes tripping along, climbs upon the enemy's foot and causes him to vanish with two backward flips and a big whoop. ARTHUR LEVEY WILL OPEN EXPORT OFFICE FOR AUSTRALASIA, INDIA AND SOUTH AMERICA Announcement is made that Arthur Levey, well known to the trade, who recently resigned from the Australasian Films, Ltd., will shortly open an office for the exportation of American films to Australasia, India and South America, besides handling commercial agencies for these territories. Mr. Levey, one of the pioneers in the industry, at the time state rights were in vogue, maintained an office in the Candler Building, which was a rendezvous for buyers and through which he handled many prominent foreign features, among them "A Message From Alars," "Little Lord Fauntleroy," " World, Flesh and the Devil," and " Harry Lauder Comedies," besides doing a general export business, and import business with England. Mr. Levey carries with him a most comprehensive knowledge of conditions in foreign territories which should insure the success of his venture. P4INS TAKEN BY WORLD TO GET CORRECT ATMOSPHERE FOR " BOHEME " When " La Vie de Boheme " is thrown upon the screen, patrons of photoplays will have an opportunity of witnessing the great length to which motion picture producers go in order to procure the proper atmospheric detail. Mons. Capellani, the French director, who is responsible for its production, constructed entire villages, macadamized nearly a mile of street, decorated the interior and exterior of numerous dwellings and compelled his male characters to grow whiskers to fit the characters in order to eliminate the possibility of poor make-up spoiling the artistic effect. Paul Capellani, who plays the part of Rudolphe, gave up social life for seven weeks in order to encourage the stubble on his otherwise smooth chin. pill iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiH I THE JUNE INDEX OF | I REVIEWS WILL BE | I PUBLISHED IN THE JULY 8 | I ISSUE OF I I MOTION PICTURE NEWS I ?niiiiiiiiiitiiiiiniiiiiiiiiniiiiiiniiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin Alice Brady, who plays the part of Mimi in the famous Murgur story, paid the expense of a Parisian modiste to New York in order to secure the proper fashion effect obtaining in the period of 1840. In addition to this, three dozen buildings, representing land-marks in the Latin Quarter of Paris, were constructed and four huge truckloads of curios rented at goodly prices, in order to assemble the proper interior of a French curiosity shop. The picture had the personal supervision of William A. Brady throughout, and the World Film Corporation is using " La Vie de Boheme " as a standard, up to which the " Brady-Made " pictures are to be measured. WITH the final scenes of Beatriz Michelena in " The Woman Who Dared " completed, announcement is made by the California Motion Picture Corporation that they now have in preparation a Beatriz Michelena as Marguerite in the California's production of " Faust " pretentious adaptation from the opera " Faust," and that Miss Michelena is playing the role of Marguerite. It has frequently been intimated that Beatriz Michelena contemplated this characterization for the screen, for it was known that when she came to pictures from the opera, she brought with her a decided longing to see " Faust " adequately done in film. ANOTHER FIREPROOF BUILDING AT INCE PLANT special to Motion Picture News. Los Angeles, June 17. Another addition building to the Ince Culver City studios now being built will serve as a receiving department for supplies of the plant. This will be 60 by 100 feet, of two floors, and will be of the same construction as other buildings at the plant — steel and concrete, fire-proof. TWO AFTERNOONS A WEEK FOR CHILDREN'S SHOWS IN 'FRISCO The Republic theatre, San Francisco, has set aside two afternoons a week to be given over to a program arranged especially for children, which is to be presented at five cents for children and ten cents for adults. The shows will be given under the immediate direction of the League of the Children's theatre, a branch of the Recreation League. SHEAR ATTENDS MEETING OF CONSOLIDATED MANAGERS Al G. Shear, manager of the Consolidated-Universal office in New Orleans, has been in Atlanta attending an executive, semi-annual session of Consolidated managers' called by William Oldknow. Others in attendance included Ned Depinet of Dallas, Walter Price of Atlanta, and Tom James of Memphis. This adaptation by the California Company should be a notable one and well in keeping with their present attempt toward something out of the ordinary in pictures. No role could be better suited to Miss Michelena's beauty and emotional powers as a screen actress than Marguerite, officials of the Company declare. Linked with Beatriz Michelena's name and beauty, it is impossible to anticipate the full scope of the production's possibilities. The release date will be announced in a forthcoming issue. 'MUTT AND JEFF DAY" AT PHOENIX, ARIZONA, THEATRE The Columbia theatre, Phoenix, Ariz., worked a neat stunt in conjunction with the Arizona Gazette. The Gazette wanted to get every child in Phoenix to see " Mutt and Jeff," so it gave a free ticket to each youngster who brought a drawing of the two eccentric characters to its office. More than 1,500 children received tickets, and then went to the Columbia on " Mutt and Jeff Day" to see their favorites in animated form. SUCCESSFUL AS EXHIBITOR IN TOWN OF 105 PEOPLE Dorchester, Iowa, is a town of about one hundred and five population, eleven miles from the nearest railroad station, but it is not too small to support a successful picture theatre — the Princess, managed by C. Plambeck. Mr. Plambeck gives two shows a week, and runs features twice a month, using the General Film Service. He has his own electric plant. Beatriz Michelena Is Cast for Marguerite in " Faust " With Completion of " The Woman Who Dared," California Motion Picture Corporation Announces Preparation for an Adaptation from the Famous Opera