Motography (Jul - Dec 1915)

1016 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIV, No. 20. down the street from the county treasurer's office was a theater playing stock. They needed a juvenile and young Estabrook applied for the job and got it. For a while he held down both positions at the same time. Then came his chance. The stock company put on "Shenandoah," and he was offered a good part. He took it and made good with a bang. The result was that he wrote to Mr. Seymour of Charles Frohman's interests applying for a job, and got it — with William Collier in "The dictator." He played with that company from coast to coast and afterwards before both King Edward and the later King George of England. "On the Quiet" was his next engagement and with it he came back to New York. "Brown of Harvard" saw his first important part and in it he made a big hit. It resulted in his election to the Lambs Club, and in his being tendered a number of very flattering offers. Clyde Fitch made one of them and got the prize for which they were all angling. The medium in which he was placed was "The Straight Road." This was followed by the lead in "The Boys of Company B," under Daniel Frohman's management. After that engagement he married Gretchen Dale, the daughter of a San Francisco banker, and with his bride toured Europe for two years. On his return he wrote and produced "Mrs. Avery," putting it on at Weber's theater. As a result he was elected to membership in the Society of American Composers and Dramatists. Then followed engagements with Holbrook Blinn in "The Boss," and one with Wilton Lackey, in both of which he assisted in the stage direction. He was in the original cast of "Within the Law," and when that play was sold by Mr. Brady was withdrawn and placed in the part of "Laurie" in "Little Women." Leading man with Grace George in several of her plays and revivals came next, and then the leading part in "Things That Count," which had an all-season run at the Playhouse. David Belasco then secured him for "The Vanishing Bride." When "Search Me" was put on this past summer at the Gaiety he was at the same time playing the lead in Edward Jose's Gold Rooster Play, "The Closing Net," which picture has only been released a short time, but has made a big hit. He is now appearing with Elsie Janis at the George M. Cohan theater in "Miss Information." His daily routine at the present time is enough to intimidate anyone. He rises at seven and as soon as he has finished breakfast goes to Yonkers, works in "Who Is Guilty?" then returns to New York, takes a hasty dinner, and at seven goes to the theater from which he doesn't get back home until 12 :30 a. m. Howell Hansel, who will direct "Who Is Guilty?" is one of the best known producers in the business. He promises that the production will be of the most elaborate quality, and his record insures a thoroughly artistic series of pictures. He was connected with the dramatic stage ever since he was nineteen years old up to three years ago. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, and made his debut with Mme. Modjeska in "As You Like It," at the Union Square theater in New York. He was for three seasons with Charles Frohman, two with the Lieblers, and has appeared with James O'Neill, Margaret Mather, Kyrle Bellew and Henrietta Crosman. He went into the motion picture business immediately on the conclusion of his last engagement, and has been with Thanhouser, the World film and Lubin. He directed "The Million Dollar Mystery" from' start to finish. As for the stories of "Who Is Guilty?" they have been written for newspaper syndication by Mrs. Wilson Woodrow, the famous novelist. They are put into scenario form by George Brackett Seitz, who has written many Pathe successes. The series will be in fourteen chapters of two parts each, each chapter complete in itself. The theme deals with various social problems of the day, and will be treated in a thoroughly unconventional manner. The question of "Who Is Guilty?" for the various infractions of manmade laws will be left to the observer and the subject will always be handled in the most truthful manner possible consistent with good taste. H. H. Van Loan, Universal Manager Another appointment announced from the manager's office of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company this week, is that of H. H. Van Loan's promotion to manager of the publicity department. This is the position formerly held by Joe Brandt, prior to becoming manager of the home office. For a while he had charge of both offices, but Mr. Van Loan's ability in placing the publicity department in a most flourishing condition prompted the officials of the Universal in making him head of the publicity department, where he has supervision over a staff of twenty men and women. Some of the big campaigns Mr. Van Loan has promoted include the Universal Beauty Contest, without a peer in publicity achievements, in which forty-eight newspapers in all parts of the country were lined up with the Universal. The Pavlowa, Bernhardt, "Graft" and Universal City campaigns are other tributes to his fertile brain. Another campaign which is now in preparation and which bids fair to surpass even the Beauty contest, is that of "Who is the handsomest man in America." H. H. Van Lo Ince Leases Theater for Own Use In order that, in future, he will not be compelled to cast about for a suitable place in which to make a final inspection of his productions, Thomas H. Ince this week signed a lease which gives him the exclusive right to the Brooks theater, sometimes known as the Mozart, in Los Angeles. The theater will be used each week for the showing of the Ince-Triangle features before they are shipped to New York for distribution. These exhibitions will not be public but will be viewed only by Ince himself and his staff of assistants. The actual work of cutting and assembling of the Ince films is done in the Inceville factory, but at the studio there are no adequate facilities for