Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

July 22. 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 401 City, has been in the process of construction almost two years, with the result that it is now equipped sufficiently for the successful operation of forty companies, that number of directors being on the payroll now. At the official opening of the film municipality in March of last year, the cafe, office, laboratory, wardrobe and dressing room buildings, the zoo, together with one big stage, 100 feet by 500 feet, and an enclosed stage, 60 feet by 150 feet, had been completed. Xow the stage space has been increased to cover more than four The New Inclosed Studio at Universal City acres, including a mammoth 60 by 300 foot, artifically lighted studio, two large enclosed feature studios, and a comedv stage, 60 by 100. During the year many important changes have been made at U City, which have resulted in far greater efficiency from this producing organization. In addition to the extension of stages, larger quarters have been provided for all the different departments. A double deck added to all of the dressing rooms, and additional ones are now in the process of construction. The production department is the only new one added which has remained throughout the year. The men in charge here have to do with the building and furnishing of every set for ever} production made. Under the new regime, before a storj' has been accepted, members of the production department are consulted as to the cost of producing it. If the storj' is found available it is passed on to the reviewing critics of the scenario department, and if given an O. K., writers prepare the working script or scenario for the director. Leads and players are selected for the subject by the engagement department, and the scenario goes to the production department where scenes and properties are prepared. When these are ready, the scenario goes to the director and production is begun. By this plan loss of time occasioned hy waiting for sets or props is avoided. The list of officers at Universal City is a big one when compared with those of any other plant, and all are under the personal super\-ision of H. 0. Davis, vice-president and general manager. The lieutenants of Mr. Davis are E. G. Patterson, personal assistant; Charles Rankin, manager of production; Eugene Lewis, scenario editor. Writers : F. McGrew Willis, Earl Hewitt, Harvey Gates, E. J. Clawson, Calder Johnstone, F. M. Wiltermood, Ben Cohn, Bess Meredith, Grace Helen Bailey, Ida May Park and Mrs. E. M. Ingleton. Marshall Stedman is engaging manager, and Pierre Hungate his assistant; H. R. Howe, auditor; George W. Elkins, cashier; John M. Nicholous, superintendent of photography; E. G. Ullman, manager of cameramen; H. H. Barter, technical director; M. G. Jonas, publicity manager, and A. T. Statter, assistant ; Fred Datig, employment bureau manager ; A. B. Sorter, manager wardrobe department ; Wallace Kerrigan, superintendent of ranch ; Rex D. Roselli, superintendent of zoo ; Frank D. Ormston, art director, and Ruth Ann Baldwin, director cutting room. The producing directors are : William Worthington, Rupert Julian, Otis Turner, Jack Conway, Robert Leonard, Allen Curtis, Eddie Lj-ons, Lee Moran, Jacques Jaccard, Lois Weber, Phillips Smalley, Lynn Reynolds, Joseph LeBrant, Ben Wilson, Rex Ingram, Stewart Paj-ton, Raymond Wells, Henry AIcRae, Joseph deGrasse, Frank Ormston, Roy Clements, Harry Carey, George Marshall, Clifford Elfelt, George Cochrane, Wallace Berry, Francis Looking Across the Big Stage at Universal City Powers, William V. Mong. Lule Warrenton, George Rice, William Garwood, and Beverly Griffith. Others are to be added shortly. Lasky Plant Trebles in Fifteen Months Wonders have been worked in the vicinity of Selma and Vine streets, Hollywood, the location of the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company's studio, and in the past fifteen months, this producing plant has more than trebled in size. The improvements made consist of the erection of a glass studio with a stage 80 by 120; a double deck painting frame; new and enlarged carpenter shops, garages ; scene docks ; technical staff office building occu lew York Motion Picture Corporation, and Used As Headquarters for the Production of Kay-Bee Dramas for Release Through Triangle