Motion Picture News (Jul-Aug 1917)

MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol.16. No. 8 Jack Cunningham Is Scenario Editor at Triangle JACK CUNNINGHAM, who now is see J nano editor at the Triangle, after having made an enviable record at the film capital by having written no less than fifteen consecutive comedies for Gale Henry and William Franey, together with other photoplays, is a " corn-fed " native of Iowa, where he was educated in the public schools, and later at Cornell College. Cunningham, until he found his niche in motion pictures, was a newspaper man, having been city editor for the Pittsburgh Leader, special writer on the Pittsburgh Dispatch and in special work in Chicago and Philadelphia, where he was on the North American. He also held several desks on the New York Press and the Morning and Evening Sun. Later Cunningham became a publicity man and writer in motion pictures. This work has occupied his undivided attention for several years. He is thirty-five years of age, and his recreations areautomobiling and music. At one time he was soloist at the Labor Temple in New York City, and is clever with the cello. He has been a member of the Printers' and Musicians' Unions. For nearly a year he has been at Universal City, where his work attracted the attention of the management, resulting in his appointment as head of the scenario department by H. O. Davis, vice-president of Universal Film Manufacturing Company and general manager of Universal City. Ince-Paramount Stars Busy in West on First Productions WORD comes from the Thomas H. Ince-Paramount studios in California concerning the activities of three of his young stars who formed their affiliation with Paramount when Mr. Ince joined that organization. Charles Ray's first picture for the Paramount Program is called " The Son of His Father " and was picturized from Ridgewell Cullum's story of the same name. Ray will have the part of a young college graduate, the son of a New York railroad magnate, who, following the game of bluff with his father, starts out to make his way in the world. How he proves that he is indeed the " son of his father " forms the basis for this story, said to be filled with thrilling adventures and romantic situations. Victor Schertzinger,. who has directed all of Ray's recent successes, will be associated with him in the filming of the picture. Ince has selected Vola Vale from a lengthy list of screen beauties to support Mr. Ray. Miss Vale played opposite Sessue Hayakawa in " Each to His Kind " and George Beban in "The Bond Between." In Ray's new picture she will portray a western girl, the daughter of a rich rancher and mining man. Other supporting players include Charles K. Flinch, Robert McKin and other well-known Ince players. Dorothy Dalton, another young Ince star whose pictures will appear on the Paramount Program, is busily engaged in reading scenarios submitted to her for her first Paramount production. She recently. returned to California from a transcontinental tour during which she made personal appearances in some of the leading moving picture theatres and gave illuminating talks on her work before the camera. Enid Bennett is also weeding out from a number of scenarios submitted the proper vehicle for her first Paramount picture. Louise Glaum Jumps from Dance Hall to Rich Boudoir After a brief excursion to the roughhewn dance halls of the early West, where, as " Golden Rule Kate," she wears the coarse garb of a dance hall girl, Louise Glaum returns to the most luxurious setting ever fitted up at the Triangle studio, and one which the star herself designed. This imposing " set " represents the bedroom of the siren in " Idolaters." It is of Egyptian design with a huge canopied bed heavily carved, over which hang cloth of gold draperies. The presiding feature of the room is a huge image of the sphinx, its face illumined in a weird light cast from a reflector in the floor. On either side of it are tall peacock feather fans and incense burners of hammered copper. Sennett's Beauties in Typical Subjects The three comedies announced last week as the first Paramount-Sennett productions are now well under way in Edendale. Mary Thurman is wearing a bathing suit in her first Paramount-Sennett comedy that is said to beggar description. It is promised that the picture, called " A Bedroom Blunder," will be one of Mack Sennett's greatest. Gloria Swanson, Mack Swain and Chester Conklin are working in a beach and railroad train story called " The Pullman Bride," while Polly Moran is portraying the part of a girl sheriff in " Roping Her Romeo," another of the first ParamountSennett comedies. Ben Turpin and Slim Summerville are supporting Polly in this play Church Built in Erbograph Studio for Pastor's Play A church was erected in the Erbograph studio as a setting for several scenes in " The Little Samaritan," play written by Rev. Clarence J. Harris, of Yonkers, N. Y. The church was complete as to every detail. Hundreds of pews were purchased and put in place, and a huge pulpit was secured. Real stained-glass windows, twenty in number, were borrowed from a prominent New York firm and they add the characteristic note of realism. The church scene, when completed, was so true to life as to be convincing. It is estimated that this set alone cost over three thousand dollars. Release is through Art Dramas. Eugene B. Lewis to \^ ork on Paralta Scenarios Eugene B. Lewis, a well-known writer and editor, has been engaged to devote his time to the scenario staff maintained jointly by the Bessie Barriscale and the J. Warren Kerrigan Feature Corporations. He is now located at the Hollywood studios of the two organizations, and will immediately enter on the task of providing a story for one of the stars. Three Scene! Typifying Universal'* Production, " Come Through." with Herbert Rawlinson Featured. To Be Released Sept. 15th by Jewel Productions, Inc.