Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1916)

2676 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 14. No. 17 and Out of West Coast Studios By J. C. Jessen special to Motion Picture News. Los Angeles, Oct. 14. IT is estimated tliat weather conditions in and about Los Angeles last week caused a loss of approximately $30,000 to motion picture companies, as fully half of the time it was impossible to work. One entire day was lost and on other days the light was such that but two or three hours was all the cameramen could shoot. This is the first severe storm period of the season, and coming fully thirty days earlier this year than last, it found many of the studios unprepared for rain. In several instances large sets were damaged. All studios suffered to a more or less extent from loss because of water destroying sets with the exception of the Ince plant at Culver City, where all stages are inclosed. In one of two instances the time "was not wholly lost, as the rain gave technical departments opportunity to catch up with the producing companies. The total rainfall for Los Angeles since April is less than two inches. Cries for sunshiny weather arise not only from the studios in the immediate vicinity of Los Angeles, but from the Yosemite Valley last week came a wail. The Signal Film Corporation producing company making " The Lass of the Lum'berlands," has been at the Yosemite Valley for almost three weeks, and have had but six days of weather suitable for picture making. When they arrived there, the weather observers of the vicinity told them no rain ever fell there until late in November, and now on every hand the native sons tell them the early fall of rain is " unusual." The players having been unable to work have put in part of the time to advantage in scouring the country for suitable locations, and in fishing and deer hunting. Miss Helen Holmes is accredited with killing her first deer, the actress having shot it while going to Chinquapin Falls. It is spoken of as a two point buck. Two hunters in tlie vicinity have offered to trap for the Signal Company a black bear, and expect to deliver it to the players within a few days. They made this promise to show their appreciation of the services rendered the wife of one of the hunters, when she fell and sprained her ankle. The nearest physician was miles away, and members of the company experienced in bandaging sprains, gave aid. Director J. P. McGowan has been granted the use of the Yosemite Valley Lumber Company's camps, and the use of their incline railway for filming scenes. The railroad is 8700 feet in length, and in that distance rises to an altitude of 3400 feet above the starting point. It is used exclusively for " snaking " logs from the point where they are cut to the mills at Merced Falls. The use of this railway and the several camps of the company will give to the Signal Company very excellent locations, and permit the making of ideal scenes for " The Lass of The Lumberlands" serial. Director George H. Melford has taken up the filming of " The Yellow Pawn " for Lasky. This is a modern story and will have Cleo Ridgely and Wallace Reid as co-stars. Lou-Tellegen has completed work in his last subject, "The Black Wolf," and returned to the east last week, where he had an engagement to play the season in " The King of Nowhere," which opens in Baltimore. "Each to His Kind" Another new subject put into production at the Lasky studio this week was " Each to His Kind," an adaptation from the Paul West story of the same name. This stars Sessue Hayakawa, and is being made under the direction of E. J. LeSaint. Director Frank Reicher has begun the filming of " Betty of the Orange Country." which gives to Fannie Ward a star part, that requires overalls as the principal part of her wardrobe. Theodore Roberts, Elliott Dexter, and others of the Lasky stock have been cast to support Mae Murray in her starring vehicle now being made by Robert Leonard. In this photodrama. Miss Murray dons a pair of Roberts' trousers and dis appears. There is much speculation at the studio as to how she will fill these. Miss Murray being referred to in face parlance as a " half portion," and Roberts in the same vernacular as " club size." Walter Stradling has returned to the Lasky studio after a series of flits back and forth across the continent. A short time ago he was sent east, and after being there a few days was returned to the west coast. Upon his arrival at Hollywood, he was handed a telegram to report immediately in New York. He went there and photographed one Mary Pickford picture, and now he has returned to the coast. Tom Meighan, who was recently starred in his first Lasky subject and since has played with Blanclie Sweet in " The Silent Partner," being filmed under the direction of Marshall Neilan, will as soon as this play is finished, leave for the east where he will play at the eastern studio of the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. Hobart Bosworth and Tully Marshall have both made long term contracts for exclusive appearance in Lasky productions, and Lillian Brown Leighton has also been added to the Lasky stock organization. General ^lanager Milton E. Hoffman of the Laskj' plant, found time to take two days' vacation, the first in two years, and sought recreation awaj' from picture making by a motor trip to San Diego. During the two days he frequently caught himself making notes of this or that spot as de May Allison and Harold Lockwood (Metro) Doing a Pose Not Under the Direction of Their Director, Henry Otto