Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

July 15, 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 241 In and Out of West Coast Studios special to Motion Pictuee News. Los Angeles, July 1. DIRECTOR GENERAL AL. E. CHRISTIE has found need of additional studio space for large sets, and has acquired possession of the quarter of a square facing on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, immediately west of the present studio. This is being enclosed, and will make possible the enlargement of the present stage, and give room for more dresing roms. The present studio, which served for the original Universal companies in California, later the home of the Sterling Motion Picture Company, and more recently the studio of the Quality Pictures Corporation, Mr. Christie has found too small to accommodate the activities of the two producing companies. He is using much larger sets than heretofore, as he is adapting the feature picture finish to one and two-reel comedies. The studio, when completed, will be ideal for such work. " The Making Over of Mother," claims the attention of the Horace Davey Christie comedy company, and gives Neil Burns and Betty Compson the roles of newlyweds, who fear their happiness is to be blighted by her mother coming to make her home with them. But a friend, Ethel Lynn, aids the wife to overcome the difficulty. Hubby is away when mother arrives, and she is rushed off to a beauty parlor, and the work done there, changes her to a " bewitching young thing." Hubby sees her at a cafe, and there is a flirtation. Stella Adams appears as the mother. One of the David Horsley Zoo elephants, has been rented by Al. E. Christie to be used in the comedy, " Some Legacy," in which a would-be married man inherits an elephant which serves to persuade his prospective father-in-law to hastily give his consent to the marriage of his daughter to the new owner of the elephant. Tootsie, the elephant, performs some good stunts, including that of pulling Harry Rattenberry, the father, through a window. The players are Billie Rhodes, Nolan Leary, * Harry Rattenberry, Eddie Berry, Harry Hamm and Ethel Lynn. A photoplay story has been furnished the Jesse L. Lasky Company by W. J. Hurlburt, entitled " The Big Sister," for Marie Doro, and shortly will be put in production in the hands of William C. deMille. Elliott Dexter will be leading man. Wants Oil Well, Olive or Castor, But Must " Gush " Director George Melford for the photodrama " The House of the Golden Windows," found the need of a gushing oil well, and then his troubles began. The need of such a well is delaying the completion of the subject. Melford advises he is not particular as to the brand of oil, stating it may be olive, coal, or castor, but he does want one that will gush. Several wells have been found, and a quantity of nitro-glycerine used in order to cause them to pour forth in a salubrious manner, but so far the director has been able to secure only a wheezy cough. A very valuable curiosity has been added to the Lasky collection in the purchase of a Normandie spinning wheel. Cecil B. deMille discovered it in an antique shop in New Orleans recently. It is said to be more than three hundred years old, and the Lasky director-general prizes it so highly that he personally packed it for shipment to the studio. It now occupies a conspicuous place in his private office. Director Frank Reicher has been selected to film the first Lou-Tellegen story, and Cleo Ridgely will play the opposite lead. Upon the completion of " The Storm," now being filmed with Blanche Sweet in the stellar role, Lasky Director James Younge, will take up the making of " The Unconquered," with the same actress. Both of these subjects were especially written for this actress by Mrs. H. C. deMille, mother of Cecil B. and William C. Anita King and Tom Meighan are to be co-starred in an early Lasky production, scenario for which is now being prepared. Miss King has been for the past several weeks, as the result of a strenuous tour on the McGaffey-Chautauqua circuit. Fannie Ward, who has been in the East for two months purchasing new gowns, is expected to arrive in Los Angeles in the next day or two, and will immediately begin work in a picture under the direction of George Melford. The story for the photodrama was written by Edmund Mitchell, author of a number of successful novels, and has been adapted for the screen by Charles Sarver of the Lasky organization. Stars of the Lasky Company will give a tea in the star dressing room building green room, which will afford Miss Ward an opportunity to make a thorough display of her new wardrobe. L-Ko Comedy Companies Greet Stern All members of the four Universal L-Ko comedy companies, and those engaged in the production of the " Peg o' the Ring " serial, together with office, laboratory, and technical staff, assembled in front of tht studio recently to greet the new general manager, Julius Stern, upon his arrival. Those who could double in brass were in great demand, and the battered instruments that have helped to make comedy in hundreds of reels, were very much in evidence when the new chief arrived. At the head of the rejceiving* line was Abe Stern, brother of Julius, who presented him with a gigantic key to the film world's producing center. Stanley C. Kingsbury, who was formerly the New York representative of the L-Ko Company, and is now at the studio as business manager, was at Mr. Stern's elbow, and beside him were the directors, players, cameramen and others. The L-Ko and Stern companies now occupy the entire plant formerly used by the Universal Film Company at Sunset and Gower street, Hollywood, and while the new organization, which is composed of the Messrs. Stern, has not made an engagement, it is generally understood that following the " Peg o' the Ring " serial, they will star Francis Ford and Grace Cunard in five reel subjects. At Universal City: (Left to right) Managers of Newspaper Enterprise Association Visit the Plant; Director Elfelt and His Company at Lunch; Harry Carey and His Cowboys