Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2058 son, has joined the colors. He has enlisted with the tank corps. He was seen with Harry Carey in a number of pictures, and he played an important part in the Vitagraph serial, " The Woman in the Web." Mae Murray returned this week to Universal City from Lake Tahoe, where under the direction of Robert Z. Leonard scenes were being filmed for her latest Universal special production, " Little Lady Bo-Peep." With her on location were Willard Louis, Ralph Graves, Gertrude Astor, Joseph W. Girard and Chief 'Dark Cloud. Priscilla 'Dean and company of twenty players left this week for Bear Valley, where scenes in her new picture, " Dealing with Daphne," will be filmed under the direction of Jack Dillon. " Hidden," a story written by Evelyn Campbell, has been purchased by Universal to be made into Mary McLaren's next vehicle. Rupert Julian will direct the picture, while Ida May Park, who has recently been directing Miss MacLaren in other releases, is taking a short vacation. Charles Neville Buck's .well known novel, " Destiny," will be made into Dorothy Phillips' next photodrama. The scenario is being prepared by Elliott Lawson. Rolan Sturgeon, director of " God's Country and the Woman," will handle the megaphone. Director-Star William Duncan is missing again from the Vitgraph studios in Hollywood, but no one is alarmed. W. S. Smith, Studio Manager, says that he doesn't know where Duncan is, but wherever he is, he's working like a " bear cat." Duncan has started work on a new fifteen episode serial, " The Man of Might," in which he will be supported 'by an all-star cast, including Edith Johnson and Joe Ryan. The new Vitgraph stage at the Hollywood Studio was formally dedicated with the holding of a dance on the night of September 7. Tickets were one dollar a couple, and the proceeds were given to the Motion Picture War Service Association for the benefit of the Base Hospital which this association aims to build in Los Angeles. Marguerite Whistler, head of the property and wardrobe department of the Vitgraph plant, had the affair in charge and was assisted by other members of the Vitgraph Company. Larry Semon, in his two-reel Big "V" Special Comedy, " Huns and Hyphens," has invented a new form of motive power for horseless vehicles. This ingenious Vitagraph comedian even has them laughing in his own home studio, and that is " going some " for a comedian. In " Huns and Hyphens " Semon rides around in a miniature automobile, the riding around being done by lassoing the little car to any stray regular car that happens to be passing by. Semon says that if the gasolineless Sunday request gets out West he will be safe, but he admits that he might have to go fifty-fifty on the fines that will be imposed on the car ahead. Rumor has it that when Director Paul Hurst returned to Vitagraph's Hollywood Studio with Antonio Moreno and Carol Holloway and the rest of " The Iron Test " serial company from their recent trip to Santa Cruz Islands, the whole troop (individually, of course) admitted that it was glad to be home. The trip to Santa Cruz Island was a pretty rough affair, as sea trips are, and while no one admits an attack of seasickness, Director Hurst has his suspicions about everybody except Director Hurst. Some beautiful work is said to have been done by the serial company on Santa Cruz Island. Thrills a-plenty were staged in its beautiful settings. cJfere and Uteres The Lois Weber production starring Frank Elliot and Mildred Harris, with the working title of " Home, Sweet Home," will be finished this week, according to announcement from the studios. Phillips Smalley, who has been absent from Los Angeles about six weeks with his mother, who has been ill in New York, is expected to return soon to the Pacific Coast. Baby Marie Osborne's new picture, " The Sawdust Doll," will be finished this week at the Diando sudios in Glendale. Plans for entering upon the production of a new subject for the little star have already been outlined, it is announced. Fatty Arbuckle announces this week that his latest release, being produced under the working title of " The Sheriff," will be finished within a few days. Two new comedy companies went to work this week at the L-Ko studios in Motion Picture News Hollywood. • Frank Griffin, formerly with Sennett Keystone company, \i directing K Babe Hardy, and Joe Le Brandt is direct I ing a new company with Harry Mann, I Merta Sterling and Eddie Berry. Other I companies at work on the lot are Charley" 1 Parrot, directing Billy Armstrong and Peg I gy Prevost in "Hearts"; Jim Davis and ■ his company, composed of Chi Hong, Par I tine Burkett and Rube Miller in "Playing IB Movies"; Craig Hutchison, directing Harry Griffin, May Emory, Eva Novak and Jim Donnelly in " Work or Fight." Noel Smith is producing a comedy, " Behind the Front," with Hughie Mack and Alice Howell. Harry Sherman, of Sherman Productions Company, has purchased the motion picture rights to a story by Jackson Gregory, which is now on the press of Dodd, Mead & Company. The title of the book is " Six Foot Four." Negotiations are under way, Mr. Sherman announces, for other works by Mr. Gregory. The propaganda picture called " Sic 'Em, Sam," in which Douglas Fairbanks plays the role of Democracy, was finished this week. It will be released about the time the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign begins. The story was written by Ed Reed. Liberty Loan leader of Detroit, and was directed by Albert Parker. James P. Hogan was technical director. Fairbanks plays Democracy, in which he engages in battle with Bull Montana as Prussianism. Tully Marshall appears in Propaganda and Sara Mason plays the role of National Liberty. Glen MacWilliams and Hugh McClung were the photographers. Cutting and preparing the picture for shipment to New York was begun immediately. Ibollywoofc Ibookum SEPT. 28, 1918 NEWS MORE NEWS Theda Bara's gone East. Kitty Gordon's in our midst. Mickey Neilan's back amongst us. Mary Pickford's still out of work. Bill Hart's goin' East Liberty Loaning. Half a dozen clouds came our way this week. Charley Ray is going to remain Tom Ince's wonder boy." Ken McGaffey got a hair cut and went to Frisco last week. Income tax is causing many to investigate and think twice. Hank Mann's " over there " using his bashful eyes on the Huns. And now we learn that Billie Rhodes has joined the order of " no doubling for me." 'Xtra ! E. H. Allen prophesies the bank roll of the W. S. Hart Film Corporation will be sufficient to meet the pay roll this week. Alma Ruben fought it off as long as she could, but this week fell prey to the gasoline germ. Yes, Alma has a new automobile. Seena Owen has taken up domestic science. She went to Childs' Restaurant and learned how to flip pancackes, and then did it for " Branding Broadway." Mae Murray had a very quiet trip to Lake Tahoe, the only thriller she encountered was an opportunity to go out and fight a great big forest fire. Since appearing in " Bread," Mary MacDonald MacLaren has become much interested in domestic science, and is said to have offered five dollars for the best recipe for Victory bread. Taylor Holmes wants to find a nice tame bear that will eat out of his hand and not be inspired to do any manicuring, all of which is required for scenes in his coming picture " Success." Juanita Hansen has a new clause for a player's contract. She insists her next contract will provide that she is not to die or be killed in any film, indicating thereby she has no love for flowers. Bill Beaudine, now that he has been forced to lay aside his Panama, almost the size of a Barnum big top, has added tortoise shells to his disguise. Everybody knows Bill with or without the make-up. Lynn Reynolds is authority for the statement that Tom Mix did not break his record by permitting a horse to throw him. Tom's limping was caused by a sprained ankle. He jumped off the horse. Harry Fuhr has arrived in Los Angeles for a stay of several weeks with his illustrious brother, Charley, and a very brilliant social season in the professional and ultra-professional set is anticipated. Alan Holubar claims his cameraman, Fred Granville, is the king bee tea drinker of the colony. Yes sir, Fred can drink one cup right after another, and in his hum town is decidedly popular between three and five. Universal players have stood for the titles given productions by the Xew York office, and all are sincerely hoping that in addition to " Come Through," " Smashing Through." and " Crashing Through to Berlin," is no indication that they will use " You're through." Bill Parsons made a lot of enemies by not having enough dolls to give to all the kiddies, . he having underestimated the number who would be present at a recent function where he presided, and so we publish this just to let Bill know there are a few in this world who do not admire his comedy. A new dog story has been told, if not created, by a press agent. It is all about Bill, who every morning jumps the Chaplin studio gate to rush up the road and greet Charlie. Bill was with the troop in the projection room, and when Charlie came whizzing up in his automobile on the screen, Bill dashed for him. but the image disappeared. On came the foreign copy image, a duplicate of the first, and this time Bill went right through the tonneau, screen and all. It cost the studio $150 for a new silver sheet, and Bill's hospital bill required several of Charlie's Bond coupons.