Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1918)

2 MOTION PICTURE NEWS Vol. 18. No. 14 NE WEST. CtJIIT Geraghty Takes Charge of Metro Publicity THOMAS J. GERAGHTY, well-known screen writer and newspaperman, was this week placed in charge of the Metro scenario department. Geraghty was born in Indiana. He calls attention to the fact that other literary lights of more or less brilliance also claim the Hoosier State as their own. Before migrating to the West Coast he gained considerable renown as a reporter on the New York Herald, New York Tribune and The World. He has been in the West the most part of three years and during that time has devoted his literary energies to film writing. Until recently he was connected with the Paralta studios, and he wrote a number of the plays in which Warren Kerrigan was starred. He was also the author of many vehicles for Louise Glaum. Katterjohn Finishes Lila Lee Story MONTE M. KATTERJOHN, engaged in creating Paramount and Artcraft pictures, has completed the continuity of his first original story since joining the Paramount organization, and production will be undertaken on the opening scenes within a few days. The story will form the fourth starring vehicle for Lila Lee, the new Lasky star, and its title, " Puppy Love," indicates that the subject will be in complete accord with the personality of the little player. Bessie Love Returns to Studio Work BESSIE LOVE has returned to the Vitagraph studios after about ten days on location at Riverside. She has almost completed her new picture, " Sue," under the direction of David Smith. Sue is a country girl, and one of her dearest possessions is a chicken ranch. In Spokane Theatres CLARA KIMBALL YOUNG will be featured next week in "The House of Glass," her first appearance here since her Spokane visit in July. The Liberty Theatre, averse as a rule to showing war films, will show "The Hun Within" at an early date, a spy story made in the Griffith studios. "America's Answer," the second in the series of "Following the Flag in France," the official United States Government war pictures, will be shown at the Auditorium for seven days, beginning November 11, according to announcement by Charles W. York, manager. BILL HART, in "Riddle Gawne," his latest Artcraft production, had a four days' run at the Liberty, and packed the house. Douglas Fairbanks, in 'The Americano," concluded the week's bill. TOM MIX, the cowboy actor, has the central role in "Mr. Logan, U. S. A.," which played at the Class A three days. Charlie Chaplin was presented on the same program in "The Landlady's Pet." "INSIDE THE LINES," the great spy play, by Earl Derr Biggers, opened an eight days' engagement at the Auditorium and played to big business. Marguerite Clayton and Lewis S. Stone have stellar roles in the production. NAZIMOVA, IN "TOYS OF FATE," and Fatty Arbuckle, in "Fatty's Suitless Day," rounded out the Casino program. DOROTHY DALTON, IN "FLARE-UP SAL," was the offering at the Lyric, and a Pickford picture, "How Could You, Jean," showing little Mary, the film queen, at her best, rounded out the week's program at the Clemmer. "Pershing's Crusaders" was the current offering at the Majestic, making its second Spokane visit. News of the Week in Portland FRED M. SIMONTON, one of the oldest and best-known motion picture men of the Northwest, is now at the officers' training camp at Camp Pike, Ark. Mr. Simonton was manager of the Standard Film Exchange for several years in Portland, Ore., and after that was on the road for several distributing concerns. He quit the film game not long ago to go into business conducted under the name of the Oregon Welding and Manufacturing Company. The popular ex-film man is a Spanish-American War vet, seeing Philippine service in the Second Oregon Volunteers in 1898. ED. I. HUDSON, popular Select salesman in the Oregon territory, and a hustler who has been identified with several exchanges in the Northwest, is one of the latest film men to be caught by the draft. Ed. is now in training at Camp Lewis, Wash. LIEUT. TOM FORMAN, former leading man for Lasky, is stationed at Vancouver Barracks, Wash., just across the Columbia River from Portland. AMONG RECENT FILM visitors to Portland were J. P. Cotter, the Baker, Ore., exhibition boss; G. M. Norton, former manager of the Arctic Theatre, Nez Perce, Idaho, ^who is here looking for a theatre after disposing of his Idaho interests to his brother, R. L. Norton, and Manager Bradley, of the Wheeler Theatre, Wheeler, Ore. P. A. GAUL has charge of Max Scofield's theatre at Volmer, Idaho, Max having joined the army. THE JEFFERSON THEATRE, Jefferson, Ore., has reopened. J. J. PARKER, of the Majestic Theatre, Portland, has been to Seattle, hobnobbing with the theatre and exchange men. E. J. MYRICK, manager of the Liberty Theatre, Portland, has been on the sick list for nearly two weeks. MANAGER BARNETT, of the Sunnyside (Wash.) Theatre, is building a new house. A NEW THEATRE is also building at Cle Elum, Wash. A. H. M'DONALD, the Eugene, Ore., exhibition magnate, had a recent run-in with the city dads over Sunday opening. He had a patriotic picture booked for three days, including Sunday, and the council sanctioned the exhibition. However, a drive was made on the officials, and Mac finally announced that he would make no effort to show the picture, refusing to make an issue of the affair rather than embarrassing the city administration. THE STRAND THEATRE, Portland, opened its 1918-19 season with the personal appearance of Princess Mona Darkfeather. This, with the Tom Mix picture, "Mr. Logan, U. S. A.," and a good vaudeville bill, resulted in record business at an admission increase of from 15 to 20 cents. Many Producers Visit Rowan and Company It is said that R. A. Rowan & Co., real estate brokers of Los Angeles, have recently been visited by many prominent moving picture producers upon their arrival in Los Angeles. Each one has expressed their approval of this firm's knowledge of the motion picture business and the courteous and personal attention given therm Co-operation of moving picture producers is assured, as much time and money is saved by securing studio locations through this firm.