Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1920)

December 4 , 1920 427') First view of " Outside the Law," Universal's super-production in which'riscilla Dean is starred with such supporting players as Lon Chaney "So Long Letty" to Open at Kinema " So Long Letty," the RobertsonCole super-special produced by Al Christie, will have its big W estern opening at the Kinema, the Gore Brothers and Sol Lesser first run house in Los Angeles the week of November 27th. This will be the Western arrival of a wave which has swept the entire country sensationally. Sol Lesser, Abe Gore and Richard Spier, house publicity manager, have arranged an elaborate prologue and extensive local exploitation which is to be on a larger scale than any picture locally shown. As a feature of the advance campaign the Kinema will show scenes of Christie's " Golden Wedding " day which was at the studio October 27th, which featured couples in the city of Los Angeles which had been married the longest time. New Realart Manager at Omaha Office Another promotion from the ranks of Realart's sales force is announced by General Manager J. S. Woody. Mr. S. T. O'Brien, who has been connected with the Philadelphia office as salesman, will assume the duties of manager at Omaha. This promotion, according to Mr. Woody, is in keeping with Realart's policy of advancing men who have given efficient and loyal service. j This promotion to a managership is the third which Realart has made recently from within its own ranks. James S. Hommel, assistant manager at Buffalo, was elevated to the position of manager at Pittsburgh and Paul R. Aust was promoted from assistant manager to manager at Seattle. ltK&Ai*r,»vi ;\: . .. f A Gerarfne cV. Special In the ihadow of the Domev Universal Releases Polo Serial A David G. Fischer Production THE new Eddie Polo serial, " King of the Circus," has just been released through all Universal exchanges. Universal officials unite in saying it is one of the best serials ever produced. They declare that is by far the best serial ever made by Polo, who has a long string of successful thrillers to his credit. It is a story of circus life. In many respects it is an autobiography of Eddie Polo's own life. The popular star was born of circus parents and raised in the atmosphere of the tan-bark. He became a regular performer before he was six years old and was an accomplished acrobat at nine. Polo long cherished the idea of weaving his family history, replete with thrills and drama, into a photoplay. Upon the completion of his previous serial, " The Vanishing Dagger," an International serial, he visiied New York and won from Mr. Carl Laemmle, president of Universal, the authority to write and produce this new circus serial. The serial star r.pared no pains, it is said, in getting real circus atmosphere in his serial. Many scenes were taken on real circus lots. Several time« during the filming of the serial, Polo took his entire company to distant cities where well known circuses were playing. In one instance, he and several of his company actually appeared in the regular circus performance, states Universal. Polo is an expert on the flying trapeze. One of the principal supports engaged by Polo for " King of the Circus," was Charles Fortune, at one time one of the most famous clowns in America. He was one of the Fortune trio, known and laughed at wrherever Barnum and Bailey or Ringlings have played. Fortune is an old friend of the Polo family. In the new serial he plays the role of an aged clown. Polo has managed to reproduce in "King of the Circus " much of the back-scenes life of the circus that small boys yearn to see and experience. Raising the big top, feeding the animals, mealtime in the circus world, and many other bits of true circus life are worked in deftly and form a colorful background for the stirring action of the photo-thriller. The story concerns the life and adventures of Eddie King, a young circus acrobat who has been Eddie Polo Presented in Story Based on Circus Life brought up as an orphan by the circus manager. The manager professes to be his best friend, but in reality was the man who killed his father and robbed the youngster of his inheritance. An old clown, his memory a blank from a blow on the head, is the only living person who witnessed the circus chief's villainy. The action of the story deals with the awakening memory of the old clown, and of young King's fight to discover the secret of his parentage and win back his inheritance. Polo, as the young acrobat, has able support in Caroline Porter, as the daughter of a wealthy surgeon, and King's sweetheart. Miss Forter is as daring as she is pretty, and is shown in the serial taking part with Polo in all of his dare-devil stunts. She also is at home on the flying trapeze. The serial was directed by J. P. McGowan, the leading factor in the successful production of many Universal serials. Polo, himself, however, took considerable part in the direction, lending to it his accurate knowledge of a showman's customs. Anthony W. Coldewey prepared the continuity from Polo's own story. Universal turned over the entire Universal City zoo, including animals of all kinds, to the Polo company. McGowan actually organized a one-ring circus, with main tent, side shows, benagerie, and everything down to the peanut and popcorn wagons, for use in the serial. Has Qualities of a Special Acting, Direction and Production of High Order in Holubar Picture THE artistry of Dorothy Phillips, the masterful direction of Allen Holubar, $300,000 in cash and nine months' work are said by Associated First National Pictures to have gone into " Man, Woman and Marriage," the super-feature which Allen Holubar has produced for First National release. In collaboration with Olga Linek Scholl, the story was written by Allen Holubar. Then came the casting of the picture. From New York, Los Angeles, and Paris, too, it is said the players were assembled and rehearsals began with James Kirkwood playing in support of the star. Among other widely known names in the cast are those of Shannon Day, Robert Cain, Margaret Mann, Jean Calhoun, Barney Sherry and Mile. Valerie de Chevallier, a reputed sensation of the Paris speaking stage. The opening scenes of the production were made when it was decided that a capable instructor should be engaged to assist Mr. Holubar in staging the elaborate dances which were to follow. Marion Morgan, who for several seasons has headed her own dancing troupe on the Orpheum Circuit, was signed to collaborate with the noted director in the scenes featuring the dance. The story of "Man, Woman and Marriage," because of the magniture of its theme required scenes depicting dramatic action in the Stone Age, the Roman days of splendor that preceded the fall of the Empire, the medieval period and the present day. For each sequence of scenes immense sets had to be erected and hundreds of players accurately schooled in the customs of the day and costumes with elaborate splendor, it is stated. In the filming of "Man, Woman and Marriage," Holubar was aided by a capable technical staff. Harry Bucquet was his first executive assistant ; Eugene Pouyet was his second lieutenant; Ben Carre, art director; Ernest Smith, master of properties; H. Lyman Broening and William McGann, cinematographers and Mrs. Frank Lawrence, editorin-chief. New Melford Picture Is Given Title "The Fighting Schoolmaster" is the effective title chosen for George Melford's production for Paramount with Monte Blue, adapted from "The Jucklins," Opie Read's novel. The adaptation is by Frank Condon.