Motography (Jul - Dec 1915)

November 13, 1915. MOTOGRAPHY 1011 the chosen penitent was bound or even nailed to the cross for hours and later died from the ordeal. It is this fact that forms the theme of a story by R. Ellis Wales which has just been made into a Triangle play by D. W. Griffith's Fine Art's studio and will shortly be released. The story centers in the love of two young Penitentes, played by Orrin Johnson and Seena Owen. The element of conflict is provided by the opposition of the Catholic church, in the person of the mission fathers, to the fanatical religious sect and is aided by the revengeful fury of a band of Indians. Following an Indian massacre the hero, Manuel, still a child and heir to a great estate, is found and raised by the Penitentes and the estate converted to their use. Fifteen years later, fearing discovery of the trick, they plan to be rid of Manuel by choosing him for the crucifixion. In a religious ecstasy he dedicates himself to the sacrifice and it requires all the forces of love, the church and the military to save him at the last moment. Apart from its powerful emotional appeal and a breathless suspense that never lags, the play has distinction for the wild beauty of its desert scenes and the tender charm of those laid among the sheep herds on the hills and at the old Spanish mission. A scene from this play forms the frontispiece of this issue. Edison Players Spend Wild Night Edison players, including Viola Dana, engaged in the filming of "Children of Eve," the Edison release through the Kleine-Edison Feature Service November 10, passed three of the wildest hours of their respective careers one night last week. In "Children of Eve" there is a scene portraying a typical gangsters' dance such as New York police are frequently called upon to "squelch" to prevent possible murder. Director John H. Collins experienced considerable difficulty in finding suitable types despite several visits to the usual supply sources. Finally, however, he recruited a number of men and girls from questionable Manhattan haunts and took them to the Edison studios. Rehearsals progressed favorably until the men discovered that the "goils" were getting more pay than they, when a strike was called immediately. Director Collins promptly discharged them all. Late that evening he learned of a bonafide gangsters' dance scheduled for that night. Commandeering the studio motor car brigade he and assistants hurried there, and through financial and other persuasion were permitted to string a line of Allison-Hadaway lights. In order to get his scene it was necessary that Viola Dana, portraying "Fifty-fifty Mamie," mingle with the dancers. This she did heroically and the film will show the talented little star in these boisterous and unfamiliar surroundings. Of fifty or more persons engaged in this scene, there are only five of the regular "Children of Eve" company. The others are real simon-pure gangsters or their prototype. "Adolfi Camp," Ausable Chasm, where Director Jack Adolfi produced the exterior scenes of "Joan 0 the Hills," a Universal feature, at dinner time. Reading from the left the company is: Dave Willis, cameraman; Sidney Bracy, Violet Mersereau, Harry Benham, Director Jack Adolfi, Assistant John W . Kellette and George Olkcin. "Capers," the puppy working in the picture, is in front of Sidney Bracy of 'Million Dollar Mystery" fame, and Violet Mersereau, the popular "Little Blond Imp." Sales Manual of Each Feature What is unquestionably one of the most complete as well as the most helpful — from the standpoint of the exhibitor — pieces of business literature that the film field has seen, is now being issued by John W. Grey, assistant to A. E. Smith of the Vitagraph Company, with every Blue Ribbon feature released through V. L. S. E., Inc. This is a folder 9x12, giving the complete description of the production, together with a reproduction of all the advertising and publicity matter available for the exhibitor's use in exploiting the play. The pocket of this folder, printed in four colors on the outside and inside pages, shows the half, one, three, six and twenty-four sheets in full colors together with a synopsis of the high-lights of the story. Enclosed in this is a press sheet, three columns wide, of regular newspaper measure, and of such size as to make it easy to clip, containing the story of the feature, human interest incidents in connection with its filming, personality sketches of the leading players and extraneous press material. This matter is so indexed that the busy exhibitor or editor can turn to the type of story he wishes instantly, without poring through a great mass of other information. The second insert consists of reproductions of the electrotypes prepared by the advertising department of the Vitagraph Company for the exhibitor's use_ in the newspapers. With this sales manual before him, the exhibitor has every available scrap of information he can possibly need to know about a feature for intelligent consideration, effective advertising, and correct staging. Metro Books Two Biggest Houses After scouring the market for what they considered the biggest and most pretentious current film offering for the auspicious opening of the New Hippodrome in Boston, the week of October 25, the management selected the Rolfe-Metro five-part feature production, "The Final Judgment," in which Ethel Barrymore is starred. The New Hippodrome is said to be the largest theater in New England and has a seating capacity of 4,000. This is claimed to give Metro the two largest theaters in New England, for the Boston theater, seating 3,500, has gained its wide popularity with Metro' features. The choice of the Metro feature by the_ New Hippodrome is considered a triumphant compliment, because the keenest sort of competition existed among