Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1916)

Augoist 26, 1916 MOTION PICTURE NEWS 1205 Art Acord AllAround Winner at Studio Directory Contest American-Mutual Hero is Stellar Performer at Sheepshead Bay Stampede, Capturing Medals, Drew Trophy, $350 Cash, Free Publicity and Other Prizes — Dorothy Morrell Leads Women, And Wins Medal Offered for Best Motion Picture Cowgirl ART ACORD. hero of the AmericanMutual " Buck Parvin " series, in which he played the title role, was the stellar performer at the Motion Picture Studio Directory Contest, held Thursday, August 10, at the Stampede, Sheepshead Bay, New York City. He was declared the best all round motion picture cowboy, and with the title of champion, won the Sidney Drew trophy — a silver mounted flask — and the gold belt buckle on a beautiful leather belt, offered by the Motion Picture Studio Directory. In addition to those, he won three silver medals, in the form of buckles attached to belts, cash prizes aggregating $350, and free publicity in the Studio Directory. Accord's closest rival was " Hoot " Gibson, his pal, and the husband of Helen Gibson, of Kalem's " Hazard's of Helen," in which he appeared opposite the star. Gibson won nearly every second prize in the events in which he was entered. His winnings totaled nearly $200 in cash prizes. Dorothy Morrell won the championship and the solid gold medal, mounted on a fob, which was offered for the champion all-round motion picture cowgirl. In addition to this, she won the silver medal and the seventy-five dollar prize as the best cowgirl bucking horse rider. Virginia Norden captured the full page of advertising in Motion Picture Studio Directory as the champion motion picture actress horsewoman (not professional). This prize was given for the smartest appearance in a riding habit of Eastern style, and for splendid riding in Eastern saddle. . Miss Norden was also entered in several other events, and made a stunning cowgirl. The first man up in the first event, which was bucking horse riding, was George Rose. He drew a very mean horse, one which has not been successfully ridden during the entire meet. Rose sat his mount while the horse pitched and tossed frantically in an effort to throw him. For the first three or four seconds it looked as if Rose would master the animal, as he was an excellent rider. Suddenly, he flew out of the saddle, turning several somersaults, and struck the ground on his face. Has Fractured Skull He was rushed to the emergency hospital, where it was found that he was suffering from a fractured skull, concussion of the brain, a broken nose, contusions, and possible internal injuries. He was removed later in the day to Coney Island Hospital, where it was said that he probably would recover. This event put quite a damper upon the whole affair, and most of the twenty entries in the bucking horse contest were withdrawn. Art Acord won this event, and the prize of $100, with a silver medal buckle, while " Hoot " Gibson took second prize — seventy-five dollars. Pete Morrison was third, winning fifty dollars, and Gilbert Pagano and Art Ortege split the fourth prize of twenty-five dollars. In the cowgirls' bucking horse riding, Lillian Ward, of Famous Players, was the first contestant. In spite of the fact that the had never been on a bucking horse before in her life. Miss Ward sat the wild animal for about three seconds, which seemed an eternity to the spectators. The whistle was blown at this time, and several cowboys rushed in to assist her in dismounting. Marie Pagano, who made a stunning appearance as a cowgirl, was the ne.xt rider. Her mount, a bucking horse so mean that he could not be saddled in the pen, required the efforts of five men to saddle him. One of the cowboys bit the horse's ear, while another held his head, and still another held a blind over his eyes. Two others finally succeeded in saddling him. Once the saddle was on, and Miss Pagano attempted to mount, the horse lay on his back and kicked and bit at every one who came near him. The men finally succeeded in getting him turned over, and Miss Pagano leaped to his back before he got on his feet. She rode the beast for about three seconds while the crowd held its breath. This was also Miss Pagano's first attempt at riding a bucking horse. The whistle brought several men to her assistance, and she was lifted from the saddle, successful in her first attempt. The next rider was Dorothy Morrell, from the Coast. She won the silver medal and seventy-five dollars offered for this event. She is a wonderful rider, and participated in the daily events at the Stampede. She has been thrown several times during the meet by horses which no man has been able to ride. It was her splendid riding in this event, combined with her clever trick riding and roping, which won her the championship. Came Here for Event Acord and Gibson left their studios on the Coast, and paid their own expenses to come to New York, solely to compete at the Stampede. Besides being entered in the Motion Picture Studio Directory Contest, they participated in the daily contests for world championship titles in the main tournament. Consequently, both Acord and Gibson found themselves entered in over twenty events on Motion Picture Day, and rushed from one event to another, for more than five hours, the length of the tournament, last Thursday. Acord, in the last event of the day — the wild horse race— sustained a fracture of the nose. He came up to this event, which was started at about 6 :45 o'clock, limping from a strained ankle, and with his nose bleeding as a result of his reckless daring in the steer bulldogging contest. The wild horse race consists of putting a saddle upon a wild horse, at a given signal, and attempting to ride him down the field. Acord's horse bucked and pitched and the saddle came loose, throwing Acord to the ground. The horse kicked at him as Acord spun through the air, and, but for the fact that the horse was unshod, Acord would have been killed. Bert Gudgeon of Pathe won the silver medal and fifty dollar cash prize for the best fancy roping, with Acord as second. J. C. O'Laughlin, of Vitagraph, was awarded the prize as actor-horseman depicting the best cowboy type (not professional). This prize consisted of a half page ad in the Studio Directory. Stanley Dunn and Jack Beatty, also of Vitagraph, won third and fourth, respectively, in the cowboys' pony express race, Acord and Gibson winning first and second. The list of events and prizes follows : Champion All Round Motion Picture Cowboy (Solid Gold Medal Buckle, and Silver Flask, Given by Sidney Drew) — Winner, Art Acord. Champion All Round Motion Picture Cowgirl (Solid Gold Medal, Mounted on Fob) — Winner, Dorothy Morrell. Actor Horseman Depicting Best Cowboy Type (Half Page Advertising in Studio Directory) — Winner, J. C. O'Laughlin. Actress Horsewoman Depicting Best Cowgirl Type (Half Page Advertising in Studio Directory) — Winner, Lillian Ward. Cowboy Catching Largest Number of Horses in One Loop (Quarter Page Advertising in Studio Directory) — Winner, Art Acord. ' . Cowboy Bucking Horse Contest (First Prize, $100 and Silver Medal Second, $75; Third, $50; Fourth, $25)— Winners. First, Art Acord ; Second, " Hoot " Gibson ; Third, Pete Morrison; Fourth, Gilbert Pagano and Art Ortege, tied. Cowboy Fancy Roping Contest (First prize, $50 and Silver Medal; Second, $25) — Winners, First, Bert Gudgeon ; Second, Art Acord. Cowboy Half Mile Race (First Prize, $50; Second, <^';5 ; Third, $15)— Winners, First, Art Acord; Second, "Hoot" Gibson ; Third, Matt Murphy. Cowboy Steer Bull Dogging Contest (First Prize, $75 and Silver Medal; Second, $50) — Winners, First, Art Acord; Second, "Hoot" Gibson. Cowboy Ponj' Express Race (First Prize, $50 and Silver Medal ; Second, $25 ; Third, $10; Fourth, $5)— Winners, First, Art Acord ; Second, " Hoot " Gibson ; Third, Stanley Dunn ; Fourth, Jack Beatty. Best Cowgirl Bucking Horse Rider (Prize, $75 and Silver Medal)— Winner, Dorothy Morrell. Best Cowgirl Fancy Rider (Prize, $50 and Silver Medal)— Winner, Dolly Mullins. Champion All Round Motion Picture Actress Horsewoman — Not Professional (Prize, One Page Advertising in Studio Directory) — Winner, Virginia Norden. Cowgirl Having Most Novel Photograph Taken — To be decided later. Cowboy Trick Riding Contest (First Prize, $50 and Silver Medal; Second, $25) —Winners, First, Art Acord ; Second, " Hoot " Gibson.