Motion Picture News (Aug-Oct 1920)

October 9 , / 9 z 0 2821 Louise Fazenda Heads Company RUMORS concerning the future plans of Louise Fazenda, the Mack Sennett comedienne, were set at rest this week by the announcement from the West Coast that contracts have just been signed between Miss Fazenda, and the Special Pictures Corporation, whereby the former will head her own company in a series of two-reel comedies to be released by the Special Pictures Corporation. Miss Fazenda, who is perhaps best known for her stellar role in Down On the Farm," will leave soon for the East for a fortnight's stay in New York, and during her absence the Special Pictures scenario department will prepare several comedy starring vehicles for her use when she returns. Miss Fazenda is the fourth Sennett star to join the ranks of the Special Pictures Corporation. Others are Ford Sterling, Chester Conkiin and Harry Gribbon. It is the plan of the executives of the Special Pictures to have ten releases in the short reel field by October 1. The Special Pictures Corporation which is a Los Angeles organization Former Sennett Star Signed by Special Pictures Corp. is specializing exclusively in one and two reel subjects. This week the company formally took over the Jesse D. Hampton studios on Santa Monica boulevard. The studio, which cost $100,000, has been leased for one year. Chester Conkiin, the company an-, nounces, has finished his first tworeel comedy to be released through Special Pictures Corporation. "Home Rule" is its title, Harry Edwards directed, Jack Martin su" pervised, and Frances Conrad played the leading feminine role. Charlotte Merriam this week also completed her first " Comiclassics " release for Special Pictures Corporation. Reggie Morris directed the story " Up in Betty's Bedroom." Jay Belasco played the masculine support. " A Seminary Scandal " is the title of the second Comi classics release starring Charlotte Merriam to be directed by Reggie Morris. The Hollywood" studio club, where homeless girls of the movies live, furnished the seminary location. Jay Belasco heads the supporting cast. "A Pajama Marriage" is the title of the first two-reel comedy Neely Edwards will start in for Special Pictures Corporation. Reggie Morris is directing, and fifty chickenettes feature in the ensemble scenes. Joseph J. Lane, well known in Angeleno film circles, has been named studio manager of the Special Pictures Corporation, following the taking over of the big Jesse D. Hampton studios by Special. He succeeds Earl D. Shanks, resigned. C. C. Craig, prominent in the West Coast film industry, has been appointed business manager of the Special Pictures Corporation. Craig, who is also well known in commercial circles, handled the business end of producing " Julius Ceasar " the big open air spectacle with movie stars in the leading roles, two years ago. Hazel Dawn Returns to Screen Mabel Ballin, playing a leading role in Hugo Ballin's "The Honorable Gentleman," a forthcoming W. W. Hodkinson release AMONG the independent exchange men who were recent visitors in New tfork City are Bob Lynch, of Metro Film Co., of Philadelphia; Ben Amsterdam, of Masterpiece Films, of Philadelphia; Mr. Segal, of the Royal Pictures Corp., of Philadelphia; Mr. Bobys of the Seaboard Film Corp., of Washington; J. S. Skirball, of the First National Exhibitors Circuit, of Pittsburgh; C. P. Moorehead, of the Morart Films, Inc., of Baltimore, Md.; Sam Grand, of the Federated Film Exchange, of Boston; Aaron Gallos, of Gallos Enterprises, of Chicago; and T. E. Larson, of Peacock Productions, of Tulsa, Okla. Levey Service to Make Electricity Film The Harry Levey Service Corporation has undertaken to produce upon the screen an educational feature showing the entire story of Electricity— its uses and adaptations, and the" manner in which it has been turned into the channels of progress in every corner of the globe. The feature is to be released in the form of a series of ten onereel pictures, each one complete in itself and dealing with a separate and distinct phase of the story of Electricity. They are to be released at the rate of one picture a month. Electrical Effects to Exploit Joan Serial The Joan Film Sales Co., who are now offering their 15-episode serial,* " The Invisible Ray " to the statesrights market have completed an original variety of exploitation devices, conceived especially for this serial. They are almost all of an electrical nature. States-rights buyers who were shown the apparatus mentioned declared that it is as effective as it is inexpensive. HAZEL DAWN, known as one of the original Famous Player screen stars, and known to the followers of the legitimate theatre as the star of Broadway successes from " The Pink Lady " to " Up in Mabel's Room," has announced her intention of returning to her former medium this season. Last week she entered into a starring contract with A. J. Bimberg, by which she is to head the organization that is to present a series of modern feature dramas to be known as Bimberg Productions. It is five years since Miss Dawn has played in pictures, her only screen production since leaving the Famous Players having been " The Lone Wolf,' directed by Herbert Brenon. But the memory of her early screen successes is still fresh, and the amount of national publicity Popular Star to Make Series for Bimberg Productions that she has gained through her stage successes, as well as the fact that she is universally recognized as one of the finest types of American beauty will no doubt insure interest in her reappearance as a screen star. Miss Dawn came from a celebrated family from the State of Utah. She was still in her teens when she set New York by the cars through her performance of the title role of the " Pink Lady." Her hit in this role was responsible for her engagement as one of the select group of Famous Players who made the pictures that started that concern on its sensational career. Miss Dawn will continue her stage work, but it is probable that throughout the duration of her contract with Mr. Bimberg her appearances will be confined to Broadway. The first of the Bimberg productions m which Miss Dawn will appear has been entitled "What Is Love?" and is described as a human drama of todaj-, dealing with a vital problem that has en^ tered the life of every man and of every woman. It is said to offer Miss Dawn a role of the type that her admirers have long wished to see her assume. It is from a scenario by Theodore A. Liebler, Jr., the author of " Success " and other stage plays and of numerous photoplay scripts. Preliminarv work on the production has alreadv begun. Mr Bimberg will have completed his organization this week, and the actual production of " What Is Love?" will commence at once. Among the notables who will participate in the production is Edward A. Morange, of Gates and M orange, America's leading scenic artists. This firm was responsible for the stage settings of " The Garden of Allah," "The Daughter of Heaven," "Joseph and His Brethren" and other big spectacles produced at the Century Theatre, as well as of a great percentage of the noteworthy productions now current in the theatre. Mr. Morange will have supervision of the art department of Bimberg Productions. Mrs. Sabin Returns to Comedy Production An announcement is made by the Arrow Film Corporation that Mrs. Garnette Sabin, producer of the Arrow Muriel Ostriche Comedies, has completely recovered from her illness, and will resume production of the Muriel Ostriche Comedies.