Motion Picture News (May-Jul 1916)

July 1, 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 4053 llilljijlllJllij]j,illllllllillliliyQllili,lUMIiuilJUiiJlJmjillillliliyjdU,lJuil^.iilllliiyUllllll^ iiillillilllillllliiui:.ic.Miih<iiill!llliliiIll,.idlll!illiiiilllliil..>ii THE EASTERN STUDIOS ''1i[|»ii!lll?'"!nil|[!||||||j]]pfi|!|[|j||ppil|lB|nn|[[il[[[ij[|l[[|B^ ljlli{lllllii!;;d;illiilil>ili UlllillUl RECORD time was made by the Frohman Amusement Company in the production of its new picture, "Jaffrey," from the novel of William Locke. Under the direction of George Irving, who had a cast of unusual size to handle, the picture has been finished in a little less than three weeks. The Equitable studio, at Flushing, L. I., was used for the interiors, and the outside work was done in the neighborhood. No announcement regarding the release of the picture has been made. With the elaborate production of " Romeo and Juliet," in which Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne are to appear, and with Max Figman and Lolita Robertson and Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew making comedies at full steam, the floor of the Rolfe-Metro studio has been a busy place during the last two weeks. The situation has been somewhat complicated by the fact that in the comedy just finished, Mr. Figman required a pack of dogs of all breeds and sizes. The dogs were obtained, but not secured, and it required a special staff to catch them and keep them under control once they were in the studio ; even now there is a lingering fear that eight or ten dogs may have crowded into the balcony scene between Romeo and Juliet. For some of the scenes in the new William Fox photoplay starring Msdame Bertha Kalich, the entire company wjs transferred to Red Bank, N. J. In an effort to find a good setting for the scenes, Direoor James Vincent discovered a beautiful estate on a hill. Inquiry revealed that the estai,^ belonged to E. Drexel Godfrey. Owner of Estate Made Pictures for His Amusement Mr. Godfrey was extremely cordial to the Fox players, invited them to his home, and willingly gave his consent to their taking as many pictures as they liked on his grounds. He then announced to them that he had a projecting machine of his own set up in his house and a small camera for taking moving pictures. He was, in fact, a film fan of the first order. At nights, during the stay of the company, Mr. Godfrey invited them to his house, entertained them, and showed them moving-pictures in which they themselves had acted. In the day, he would follow them about the grounds, watching the camera work. Many of his friends came around, and a temporary camping outfit was arranged, consisting chiefly of a great supply of cushions. When scenes were shifted to other parts of the estate, the cushions followed on a large wagon, and the temporary seats for spectators were set up. Herbert Heyes, who is in a forthcoming William Fox feature, had not acted in pictures for seven months, before his engagement for this picture. As a result, he suffered from red eyes for a week after his first day's acting. He said the lights of the studios were too much for him. Conrad Cantzen, who plays in a new William Fox film, has played with dozens of well-known actors throughout the country. He has had one experience, he says, which will always remain in his mind. Marguerite Mather, a famous actress of the eighties and nineties, died in his arms. Cantzen was playing in " Cymbeline " with Miss Mather, in Charleston, W. Va., some sixteen or eighteen years ago. He was one of the brothers of Imogen, and he was just about to recite the requiem over the body of his supposedly dead sister. He suddenly felt the limp body in his arms convulsed, and he knew by the expression on Miss Mather's face that something was the matter. He signalled into the wings and had the curtain rung down. Ten minutes later, the actress was dead. Mr. Cantzen has not played " Cymbeline " since. Mary Charleson, who has been featured in innumerable productions by the Vitagraph, Lubin and Equitable companies, has joined the Selig Company. For her first production Miss Charleson will appear in " The Prince Chap," which is to Ije directed by Marshall Neilan. Miss Charleson was given an enthusiastic sendoff by her many friends in New York. Lincoln Signs for Another World Picture E. K. Lincoln, has signed for another picture with the World Film, and will be directed by Frank Crane. Lincoln was engaged by William A. Brady to appear in a special World Film production and was persuaded to sign a contract for a second picture. Marguerite Clayton of Essanay is learning to play the ukelele. So far the weird wail of the Hawaiian music has not been heard around the studio, but Miss Clayton promises — or threatens — that it will be shortly. The latest opportunity to see Miss Clayton is in " According to the Code," new five-act feature drama, in which she plays opposite Lewis S. Stone. The quaint Quakers of early Pennsylvania have served as subjects for the films in few instances, as compared with the other peoples of the world, but a delightful story has been built around them in a forthcoming Essanay three-act piece, " The Way of Patience." It is a story of a girl who rebelled at the stringent creed of her people and went out into a strange world. The theme is built on how her unusual innocence permitted her to explore the depths of society and escape unscathed to later find the right man. Nell Craig offers an excellent interpretation of the part. Darwin Karr appears in the masculine lead. Ernest Maupain is the heavy lead. There is one interior scene at the MetroRolfe studio which will never see the light of the screen. That is the private office of Director Edwin Carewe. Interior decorators had just completed their deadly work of repainting his room, when Mr. Carewe dropped in with his stenographer to answer his mail. Instead of a dark blue, or subtle green, Mr. Carewe found his room Interesting Glimpses of William Fox's " A Daughter of the Gods." in which Annette Kellermann Is Starred