Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

2046 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 13 Winners of the Brady-Photoplay "Brains and Beauty" Contest. Left to Right, Top Row: Vivian Suckling, Phyllis E. Curl, Mildred Lee Lucille Satterthwait, Peggy Bloom, Alatia Marton; Bottom Row: Estelle Claire Judy, Florence Gray, Helen Arnold, Claire Lois Butler Lee, Lucille Zintheo VICTOR MOORE ENJOYS VACATION Victor Moore, until recently a Lasky star, is now at his summer home, and has been spending his time fishing and hunting, being an ardent sportsman. He now feels ready to resume work. Among his Lasky successes were " Snobs," " Jimmy Fadden " and " The Clown." He has arranged with Sam Tauber to be his personal representative. Mr. Tauber is prominent as a promoter of publicity, and as an author and scenario writer. His recent work was " Phantom Fortunes," a Vitagraph Blue Ribbon feature, with Barney Bernard as star. Mr. Tauber has in preparation a series of one and two-reel plays for Mr. Moore to star in. Winners of " Beauty and Brains " Contest in New York Eleven Stunning Girls, from All Parts of the Country, Will Remain in the City Until World Film Gives Them Tryouts for Screen Careers THE eleven winners of the " Beauty and Brains " contest, conducted by the World Film Corporation in conjunction with the Photoplay Magazine, arrived in New York City on Thursday, September 12, ready to undergo the tests which may or may not earn them a year's contract with the World studios. The girls, who hied from all parts of the country, are stopping at the Hotel Marie Antoinette, where they will be guests of the World Film Corporation for the period of two weeks. The winners of the Beauty and Brains Another Director Is Added to the Lasky Staff Robert Leonard, with Universal for Last Four Years, Since Leaving the Legitimate Stage, Is the New Member — Myrtle Stedman Also with the Company Special to Motion Picture News. Los Angeles, Sept. 16. THE producing staff at the Lasky studio was again increased this week by the addition of another director, which increases the number to eight, and at the studio, it is stated, that still another director is shortly to be added. Robert Leonard, who has been with the Universal since leaving the legitimate stage about four years ago, is the new member of the Lasky staff. Mr. Leonard left the Universal about three weeks ago upon the completion of " The Eagle's Wings," a patrotic story of a timely nature. Mr. Leonard has produced a number of very successful photodramas, in many of which he himself appeared, playing featured parts with Ella Hall. Mr. Leonard's engagement with the Lasky Company began Monday of this week, but as yet no story has been assigned to him ; and, therefore, no cast has been selected. He will spend a few days in studying the Lasky producing policy before beginning his first subject. Other new faces at the Lasky studio are Myrtle Stedman, Morosco star, who has been loaned to the Lasky organization for one or more pictures. In the first she will be co-starred with Sessue Hayakawa. Nell Shipman has been specially engaged by General Manager Hoffman at the Lasky studios, to play the lead in support of LouTellegen in his third Lasky picture. The play, no title of which has been announced, is of Spanish origin. The co-starring vehicle of Tom Meighn and Anita King, " The Heir to Hurrah," adapted from Paul Armstrong's stage play of the same name, will shortly be completed by Director William C. de Mille. The photodrama was written by Beatrice de Alille and Leighton Osmun. Mabel Van Buren, Lasky leading woman, was granted a week's vacation, which she will spend by appearing in the featured role of local stock production. Cleo Ridgely, who has been playing opposite Lou-Tellegen, is also away f . om the studio for a month. This is partiallj' due to the fact that Mr. Tellegen's next picture requires a fiery senorita, and Miss Ridgely being a decided blonde, it was necessary to engage another leading woman. contest lead a field of candidates that numbered in the tens of thousands. The " brain " part of the contest was introduced by William A. Brady, who declared that he wanted girls who possessed intelligence combined with beauty for his pictures. Consequently each contestant was required to send a letter with her photograph that the judges might determine the winners on the merits of each requisite. The board of judges included Lillian Russell, Julian Johnson, William A. Brady, Kitty Kelly, Sophie Irene Loeb and Arthur H. Spiegel. The following eleven girls were finally decided upon as the winners of the contest : Vivian Suckling, Winnipeg, Man. ; Estelle Claire Judy, McKeesport, Pa. ; Lucille Zintheo, Spokane, Wash. ; Florence Gray, Seattle, Wash. ; Claire Lois Butler Lee, Wichita, Kansas ; Peggy Bloom, Orlando, Fla. ; Alatia Marton, Dallas, Texas ; Phyllis C. Curl, Roxbury, Mass. ; Mildred Lee, Kansas City, Mo. ; Lucille Satterthwait, Waynesville, N. C, and Helen Arnold, Louisville, Ky. Mr. Brady in speaking of the contest said, " The main idea of this contest was to discover such talent and bring it to the screen to fill the breach caused by the scarcity of young actresses who possess real ability and attractive personalitj'. But we did not want mere beauty, which means nothing beyond visual gratification. To be of real usefulness the girls who are to relieve the scarcity of worth-while youthful material must have intelligence. So the terms of the contest called not only for photographs, but written expressions of the reasons impelling the senders to desire a motion picture career." The girls hail from various occupations. Two of them have been telephone operators, one is the daughter of a hotel proprietor who acted as his housekeeper, another comes from a brief career on the stage, several are singers, and one is an amateur champion swimmer.