Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

e p t e m b e r 28 , 1918 2057 J. C. Jesscn Thcda Bara, who has finished " The SiIren's Song," an original story by Charles Kenyon. directed by J. Gordon Edwards, [bade good-bye this week to the sunshine I of Los Angeles and left for an indefinite I stay in New York. Since coming west (about eight months ago she has completed I five releases, including the Fox super-production. "Salome." No plans were an[nounced contemplating her early return to I California. J. Gordon Edwards, who has directed twenty-nine productions for William Fox, plans to leave next week for New York. It is understood that while in the East he will formulate plans for other super-productions in which Theda Bara will be starred. The Fox studios in Hollywood were further depleted of stars this week when William Farnum packed his grip and left for New York. He has abandoned production at the western studios, it is announced, because of ill-health of Mrs. Farnum, who is in the East. Al. Selig, personal manager and publicity representative of Theda Bara, will leave Hollywood next week for a tour of southern cities in the interest of " Salome," Miss Bara's super-picture just released. Before entering souther nterritory he will visit in Salt Lake and Denver, thence he will travel to Fort Worth, New Orleans, Atlanta, Richmond, Washington and New York. Olive Thomas, who recently returned to the Triangle studios from a visit with her sailor husband, Jack Pickford, who is stationed near New York, is enjoying a short vacation in San Francisco before work on her new picture is begun. It seems that Daniel Carson Goodman, editorial director, is attempting to straighten out some tangle in the new story selected for Miss Thomas, hence there is a delay in beginning. Miss Thomas will probably do some well known novel or stage success before " Carmen Ariza " is put into production, it is announced at the studios. Taylor Holmes' latest vehicle is called " Success." At least this is the working title. Cliff Smith's twenty or more Triangle cowboys are working with Holmes on the new screen play. In the meantime his western director and his star, Roy Stewart, are on a vacation. The title of Alma Rubens' latest picture is " Marriage, or Those Restless Ones." William Dowlan is the director. Supporting Miss Rubens are Jack Conwaq, Eugene Burr, Harvey Clark and J. Barney Sherry. Jack Conway is a former director of Miss Rubens. That the women of the Allies are making almost equally as great sacrifices as the soldiers in the trenches is the main theme of a new story about to be filmed by Director W. Christy Cabanne, of the Triangle forces. The title of the script is " I'm Going to Be True." It will show the part the woman at home is called upon to play when she gives up the man she loves. (MoutJfetraJyatyer? Richard A. Rowland, president of the Metro Film Corporation, accompanied by Joseph W. Engel, treasurer, and James D. Rhodes, one of the principal stockholders of the company, arrived in Los Angeles last week. They are here for the purpose of looking into the question of providing facilities of eight or nine Metro companies to be brought to Los Angeles from the east this fall and winter, according to information given out at the local Metro studios. It is understood that Mr. Rowland is investigating the possibility of leasing additional studio facilities, and if he is unable to negotiate a deal of this character it is possible he will decide to enlarge the facilities of the Metro studios in Hollywood. Some of the stars expected to come west are Mme. Nazimova, Ethel Barrymore, Emily Stevens, Viola Dana, Hale Hamilton, Olive Tell, Emmy Whelen and Edith Storey. It is also possible that Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne may be included in the list. Bert Lyttell has finished his new picture, " Making Good," of which he was the author. Two magazine stories have been picked as possible vehicles for his new picture. Both have been put into scenario form, and Lyttell is giving them both the once over before making up his mind which one will be used. Ralph Robinson, in charge of publicity at Metro, has heard from his brother, Carlysle Robinson, formerly charge of Charlie Chaplin's publicity. Brother Carlysle is in the Officers' Training School at Little Rock, Ark., and he writes that he expects to land a commission by November 15. May Allison and her entire company are filming some scenes of her picture, " Kate of Kentucky," at Pine Crest in the Big Bear Mountains, where she expects to get proper atmosphere for and background for " Moonshine " scenes which appear in the story. ^Pdrdmozm t -Jfrtcmft Douglas Fairbanks is making elaborate plans this week to begin work on a new picture. The title of his new Artcraft vehicle has not been announced. Neither has the nature of the subject been made public. Fairbanks is busily engaged on the preliminary arrangements before starting actual production work. Bryant Washburn began work on a new film subject this week, which is as yet unnamed. " The Squaw Man," being produced by Cecil B. DeMille with a modern version, will be completed this week. Ethel Clayton, Paramount star, has just finished " The Mystery Girl," and she is now resting between pictures. Wallace Reid, under the direction of James Cruze, has started work on a new picture. The working title has not been announced. Vivian Martin is also beginning a new production under the direction of George Mel ford. Lila Lee, accompanied by Kenneth McGaffey, publicity director of the Famous Players-Lasky company, has been making personal appearances in Paramount-Artcraft houses in San Francisco. Reports from the northern city indicate that Miss Lee was generously received. She will soon begin rehearsals on a new subject. Helen Gibson is now making the fourth of her series of two-reel westerns at Universal City under the direction of Harry Harvey. " Wolves of the Range " is the tentative title of her latest effort. Lee Hall, formerly with Majestic-Reliance and Selig, is her new leading man. Leo Maloney takes the role of the villain. Louis Fitzroy, a retired army officer of many years' stage and screen experience, has an important part. The story was written by Alvin J. Neitz. Eddie Polo announces that he will stage a special act before an audience of several thousand people when the Barnum & Bailey circus comes to Los Angeles. The scene will be made under the direction of J. P. McGowan, and is to be a part of Polo's serial, " The Lure of the Circus." Andrew Robson, character actor, will head the supporting cast for Monroe Salisbury and Betty Compton in the new play, " Breathes There a Man," now being made by Director William Wolbert. Others in the cast include Norval McGregor, Robert Edmonds, Fred Wilson and F. Kelsey. and Beatrice Dominguez. " Hoot " Gibson, husband of Helen Gib