Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1917)

MOTION PICTURE NEWS 2181 Many New Stories Ready for Bluebird Stars Rights to a Number of Novels and Stories, Including Richard Harding Davis' "Scarlet Car," Purchased — National Ad Campaign September 29, 1917 Vitagraph's Schedule of Releases for Reissues VITAGRAPH, which is re-issuing subjects from its vast library of short screen stories under the name of " Favorite Film Features," announces the program on this unit of service for the next six weeks ; September 17 — " Winning the Step Children " — 1-reel drama with Florence Turner, Tefift Johnson, Adele De Garde and Kenneth Casey ; " Goodness Gracious " — 2-reel comedy with Clara Kinmball Young, Sidney Drew, Kate Price, Hughie Mack, Little Bobby Connelly, Ned Finley, James Lackaye and Etienne Girardot. September 24 — " The Reincarnation of Karma " — 2-reel drama with Rosemary Theby, Lillian Walker, Courtney Foote and Chas. Eldridge : " A Lesson in Jealousy " — l-reel comedy, with Clara Kimball Young, Sidney Drew and Harry Morey; October 1 — " David Garrick " — 2-reel drama, with Clara Kimball Young, James Young, Arthur Ashley, Edward Elkas, Flora Finch and Kate Price ; " The Politician's Dream " — 1-reel comedy, with John Bunny, William Shea, Ralph Ince, Flora Finch and Kate Price. October 8 — " Auld Lang Syne " — 2-reel drama, with Harry Morey, Florence Turner and Tefft Johnson ; " The Troublesome Secretaries " — 1-reel comedy with Mabel Normand, John Bunny, James Morrison, Ralph Ince and Leo Delaney. October 15 — " Dr. LaFleur's Theory " — 1-reel drama, with Clara Kimball Young, Maurice Costello. Van Dyke Brooke and James Morrison ; " Jerry's Uncle's Namesake " — 2-reel comedy, with Sidney Drew, Louise Beaudet, Rogers Lytton, Kate Price, William Shea and Ethel Lloyd. October 22—" The Still Voice "—2-reel drama, with Edith Storey, Sidney Drew, S. Rankin Drew. Tefft Johnson, Rogers Lytton, Rose Tapley, Dorothy Kilgore and Ralph Ince ; " Chumps "—1-reel comedy, with Leah Baird. John Bunny, Marshall P. Wilder, William Shea and Wallace Reid, Lawrence McGill Cast for " The Angel Factory " In "The Angel Factory," Pathe Gold Rooster release for September 16th. Antonio Moreno has the leading part with a supporting cast selected by Lawrence McGill, the director, as follows : Helena Chadwick as Florence Lamont; Suzanne Willa as Marie Lacy the "tough girl"; Armand Cortez as Tony Podessa; Margaret Greene and Francix X. Conlan. Popularity of West Comedies Established The rights for the entire world have been disposed of for the King-Bee Billy West comedies, and the latest releases, " The Star Boarder," and " The Fly Cop," are reported doing unusual business. " We have been in existence only four months," says an officer of the company, " and with all this territory sold, we feel that it is the answer to any questions regarding the quality of the comedies. Their popularity is evidently firmly established." WHILE Bluebird directors are working on previously announced additions to the program the scenario department has made several purchases of book-rights and scenarios which will, in due course, be turned into program releases in that popular series. Dorothy Phillips, Carmel Myers, Ruth Clifford and Franklyn Farnum are stars who will be concerned in the new presentations. " The Scarlet Car," work of the late Richard Harding Davis, has been given to Director Joseph De Grasse for the use of Franklyn Farnum to follow his October 8 release, previously called " The Maverick," but now definitely titled " Anything Once." Claire Du Brey will be Mr. Farnum's leading lady in both productions. " Heart's Blood," a drama written by Elaine Sterne, has been secured as a vehicle for the splendid dramatic talents of Dorothy Phillips and has been given to Ida May Park for production. This feature will mark Miss Phillips' next Bluebird appearance, following presentations of " Bondage," Oct. 17. " One Clear Call," a story by Larry Evans, published in a popular magazine of recent issue, will serve Director Harry Solter as the medium for presenting Carmel Myers in her second Bluebird. Miss Myers will become a Bluebird star on Nov. 12, when she will appear in Director Solter's production of " The Dynast," a story especi GLADYS HULETTE will again appear as the feature player of Pathe's program for the week of September 30th, and the other box office stars on the same program are Mollie King, Pearl White and Harold Lloyd. Miss Hulette is seen in a five reel feature produced by the Astra Film Corporation under direction of William Parke, and entitled " A Crooked Romance." In the cast are Paul Clerget, from France, J. H. Gilmour and William Parke, Jr., and a number of other players in lesser roles. It is comedy-drama with a touch of fantasy that would do credit to J, M. Barrie. Mollie King, starred in the third episode of the " Seven Pearls " serial, entitled '■ The Air Peril," is tied to a balloon by a rope which is being slowly eaten away by acid. Creighton Hale attempts to rescue her in an aeroplane and his efforts are combated by the villain in another machine. Another in cast is Leon Barry. " A Dash for Arabia " is the title of the thirteenth episode of "The Fatal Ring" in which Pearl White stars. Pearl is shanghaied, but jumps overboard. Sailors bribed by Carlako pursue her. Tom Carleton and the Spider race to her rescue in a motorboat. The steering gear breaks after they have succeeded in getting Pearl into the boat. They find themselves in the path of a swiftly approaching ferry boat, and Pearl is taken up in the paddle wheel to ally written for her by J. Grubb Alexander and Fred Myton of Bluebird's scenario staff. " The Old Fashioned Gentleman " and " Anthony the Absolute " have become Bluebird property through arrangement with the authors of these stories— F. Hopkinson and Sam Merwin, respectively. They are being prepared for the screen and will become Rupert Julian Bluebirds with Ruth Clifford the star and Monroe Salisbury leading man. " Donna Perfecta," a Spanish romance, is another story scheduled for production as a Rupert Julian Bluebird with Miss Clifford starring. Meanwhile the schedule calls for Aliss Clifford to appear Oct. 22 in " The Desire of the Moth," a Julian picture in which Monroe Salisbury becomes a Bluebirder to start a special series of photographic creations in which Rupert Julian will be featured as the producer. Violet Mersereau, appearing in " The Girl by the Roadside " will provide the Bluebird for Oct. 29 and Mae Murray will become a star in the series Nov. 5 when she will present " The Princess Virtue," a Robert Leonard production. Plans are maturing for an early announcement of Bluebird's purposes that will be of interest to exhibitors. A most vigorous campaign of national advertising is included in the Bluebird purpose to popularize its stars. what looks like certain death as the picture fades out. " By the Sad Sea Waves," is a one reel girl show with Harold Lloyd, Harry Pollard and Bebe Daniels. It is one thousand feet of laughs, girls and prize winning bathing suits. " The American Switzerland " (Glazier National Park) is a scenic release produced by Ralph Earle and showing the most beautiful spot in the "Alps of the U. S. A." Universal News Reel Shows Our Big Guns Universal's news reel. Current Events, No. 16, for release August 31, has the following subj ects : New Coast Artillery officers in big gun handling ; girls of " Ziegf eld Follies " before National Convention of Dancing Masters ; elite of canine society at Atlantic City show ; parade of the Eagles at Buffalo ; Dolly Sisters as " iron workers " — dancing on hotel roof ; Y. M. C. A. teaching swimming at Silver Bay, N. Y., before letting the boys into water; Benny Leonard in exhibition boxing at Monument grounds for Uncle Sam; G. A. R. veterans in parade at Boston; railroad wreck at Seabrooke, La. ; Ocean Park, California, beach Venuses and Belgian War Mission at Washington. Gladys Hulette Again Leads Pathe Program " A Crooked Romance " Is Hulette Features — Molly King Is Tied to a Balloon and Pearl White Picked Up by Paddle