Motion Picture News (Jun-Aug 1920)

Motion Picture News XXe!WewL"" Pathe Has Two on Broadway r.f|ilily ricliirrii (^orji. aiHioiiiircs _ J llijil SiUTi Zicrlcr, prchidcnt of tin.Cotnmoiiwcaldi I-ilm Co,, Was pnrclmned iliL (li<<>triliiiiioii riKttlH for New York aiut New Jith-v of Equity'* fivc-rccI production "Wliis()crini{ Di'vilK," >i;irrinK Conw;iy ri'iirit: aiul Uoscmiiry Tlipby. Turns to Screen After 28 Years on Stage AfifT iwiiily ciHht yrars on llic roail (loiiiK rliaracrcr woilt, Pcic Uaymoiul li:is joined tlic llmimcr SiH)erior ['roducliorn, Inc., of winch Kdw.'ird Ilcmmcr tt president. 0 SMOKING itiii Liiriy didn't hclicvc in sijjns I L A R R ^ SEMON in The Stage Hand He wasn't superstitious— tlidn't believe in signs— so. witlunit the ouijft bonrd to KUide him. how wns he to know thftt right beside him. ns he calmly puffed his l lor de Ropo. was a ton of powder just dying to go oil and go up? But it proved a blessing to Larry. It gave him prominence, sent him ihiouch a few slijjht carriers like a stone all. an iron door and other things, and Inndt^d him i^ht on the stage as the <-ntiaI attraction of a heautv ballet. I'iiUST is lo be a red Ictli monili in the annals of Pa I he's feature business, 'I'hrec biR feature productions are »clic(hilcd for release during liial period, contrary to the usual practice of lioldini; back exceptional pictures for Fall issue, The monili will be nolcworlhy for ihc Golden KooAlcr organization, in that it will mark the dcbui of H. B. Warner amouK its increasing list of box ofTice pulling stars. A new Kdgai Lewis offering, and the latest Ulanclie Sweet aitraciiou arc others on the August schedule. H. H. Warner is starred in " One Hour Heforc Dawn " which will inangurale ilic month, being rcUascd on August 1st. Blanche Swoei will .make her next Palhc appearance in " The Girl in the ' Web," produced by Jesse D. Hampton, probably ihe strongest role in which she has ever appeared. Kdgar Lewis, after giving Pathc two great successes in *' Other Men's Shoes" and " Sherry," conies to the front with his master work, " Lahoma," a story with ihe heart of tho great West as its locale. " Lahonia," an abbreviation of Oklahoma, is Kdgar Lewis at his best, and this statement recalls " Oilier Men's Shoes," " Sherry " and such sterling triumphs as "The (;real Divide." " The Harrier." "The Sinn Invisible" and other plays, which left their bright marks I'll lilt box oiru-es of thousands of exhibitors tlironghoiit the country. (^nc of ihe best all around casts Jesse D. Hampton ever assemhlwl for any [licturc. supports M. B. Warner in "One Hour Before ' Dawn." which was directed hv Henrv King, who has been responsible for several Hampton successes. The story was adapted from the novel " Behind Red Curtains," written by Mansfield Scott. The adapts lion .was made by Fred Myton. Heading the supporting cast Aim.i g. Nilsson. Frank Lc: the "heavy." Others important in the large cast are Thomas Guise. Augustus Phillips, Ralph MeCulloMRh. Howard Davics. Willon Taylor. Lillian Rich. Adele Farrington and Dorothy Hagen, " The Girl in the Web," a story of K»ve, nijstcry and adventure — everything that goes to make up a suspenseful drama— will lu^ Blanche Sweet's next pict^ire. It is scheduled for release on August 15th. The story is amuher adaptation trom a novel. " Miss M.iiiland. Private Secretary," by Ger.ddiiu Bonner. Robert Thornby directed the production, the scenario for which was written by Waldemar Young. Nigel Barrie heads the highly aimpetent cast that supports Miss Sweet. Other favorite plavcrs in the cast arc Thomas JelTerson. the veteran of stage and screen, and son of the famous " Joe " leffcr Three Features Will Be Given to Public in August eiiridgc Ellis, by permission of Bol)b.s Merrill Co. In the cast are Lurline Lyons, Peaches Jackson, Wade Bcteler. H. M. Lindley, John Carlyslc. Russell Simpson, Will JcfTeries, S. B, Phillips. Beatrice Burnham and Jack Perrin. " Lahoma " was written around those sturdy days, when 14.000,000 acres in the Western pan ni Indian territor>' and east of " No Man's Land " was still government property and of the time when this country was thrown open to "boomers " then whom no hardier people ever lived. AM the thrill of the West of those days is contained in the Lewis production, which in many respects surpasses either " Sherry " and " Other Men's SIiocs," which have been rated as triumphs for the noted prsducer. Harry Levey Opens Office Educational and Industrial Concern Gets Under Way in New York PtRMANKNT ollices for the and all the details of production Harry Levey Scr\'ice Corpora tion were established on Saturday at IWii Broadway, New York. This is tile new company that had been organized by Harry Levey for the manufacture and distribution of educational and industrial pictures. This is said to break records of several sorts, and sets a high water mark for progress and speed in the motion picture induslry. The Harry Levey Service Corporation is the first motion picture production company to be organized on a co-operative, profit-sharing basis. Each employee is a partner in the business, owning stock, and having a share in tile profits that accrue from production. Mr. Levey has established bis company on this basis, believing that co-operative production will make for the greatest success in the motioii picture industry, and that scenarios, acting, camera-work, will be marketLby a great step forward on this plan. It is his belief that all modern picture producing companies of the future will be organized on the same plan. Mr. Levey established his company by working continuously through two days and two nights, and although permanent offices have only just been established, actual work of production has been in progress for more than a week. Mr. Levey decided a week ago Wednesday night to organize his own production company. TemporarTi' oflices were established that night at the Hotel Aslor, and the work of organization begun. By twenty minutes to two Thursday morning a company had been organized, with fifteen departments complete and ready for action, and next morning actual " shooting" was begun. Feature to Be Ready Soon Miss Farrar Nears End of *' The Riddle Woman " for Associated ANNOUNCEMENT is made by the Associated Exhibitors that " The Riddle : Woman " with Geraldine Farrar in the leading role, which Pathe will distribute, is rapidly nearing completion. The final shots will be taken at tlic studio at New Rochelle this week and the entire company will then go to Boston for certain essential locations. As the picture approaches the finishing point, the general verdict of all who have scon the picture in its disconnected form is that it w-ill be unquestionaldy the finest picture in Geraldine Farrar's career. Time and money has tseen freely given to this production and it is said to be the last word in modern picture making. Edward Jose, the director, son; Adclc Farrington. Haj-ward eut]iusiastV'in"his 'predict'io^^^ Mnik. Christine Mayo, and little the success of the picture He leaches Jackson. (eels that a notable cast has been iKigar Lewis s greatest successes assembled in support of the famous are those in which he staged his star and that its technical equip plaj-s m _the countrj God made." ment has been all that could be and. in Uhoma. he has another desired for an ultra fine produc of this type of play. " Uhoma" tion. Some of the interior sets are u^^l-^f 4 l^'-xTu'-"^'-^! considered by him the most mag ba^-d L '^bf^'J. }^ "'"^""^ P^^P--*^^** ^ motion based on the siorj by John Breck picture. A review of the figures of production shows that the construction parts of the sets alone exceeds by thousands of dollars the cost of many a motion picture. All of this elaborate background was arranged after consultation with the leading exhibitors of the country upon their assurance that the public of today were demanding productions of just this character. In fact, exhibitors have been in consultation from the very beginning of the picture. The picture will be released early in the fall, according to present arrangements. Hallmark Press Sheets Are Now Ready Joseph L. Kelley, publicity director Hallmark Pictures Corporation has completed press sheets and general exploitation matter on fifteen of the scries of fifty-two Hallmark re-created Ince-Tnang e productions, including specials starring: Douglas Fairbanks, Norma Talmadge. Frank Kecnan. Charles Rav. Bessie Barriscale, Louise Glaum and William S. Hart.