Motography (Jan-Jun 1915)

446 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIII, No. 12. has tricked her. Discouraged and disgusted with the recognized laws of justice and honor, Odanah undergoes a revulsion of feelings and takes her father's place at the head of the band of crooks. Some time later, Odanah again meets the district attorney. By a clever ruse she has caused a department store detective to arrest her for shop-lifting. She proves to the superintendent's satisfaction that she bought the muff in question, and then threatens to sue. He falls ino the trap, and settles for a large sum. It is outright blackmail, and the detective suspects it. He brings in the district attorney, but the superintenden, fearing further trouble, will not allow the case to be investigated. Maynard, the district attorney, calls on Odanah, whom he has come to realize he loves desperately. Naturally, she thinks him pretending, but takes the opportunity to test him by charging him to free her father. Maynard takes the case before the governor, and obtains a pardon for Durand. Odanah accepts this as sufficient proof of his sincerity, and consents to marrv him. New Edison Leading Lady From the staid dignity of the acting of the old English plays of college dramatics to the dare-devil "stunts" of motion picture actress is a big leap— but one that Miss Margaret Prussing, the latest selection for leading roles in the Edison stock c ompa n y, has successfully made with characteristic energy. Her career is unique inasmuch as, after making a successful debut on the legitimate stage while still a college girl, she left the stage to go back to complete her course of two years more at Bryn Mawr. Eight or nine old English dramas are staged by the Bryn Mawr students, for which they painstakingly prepare during a Margaret Prussing. whole year. The plays are given at the famous May Day spectacle which is an annual event at that institution. In these her talent was uncovered. Thomas Jefferson Joins Mutual Thomas Jefferson, the well known forceful dramatic actor, who, as everyone knows, is the son of the well known Joseph Jefferson, of "Rip Van Winkle" fame, is to appear in Reliance and Majestic photoplays. Thomas followed his father, Joseph, on the legitimate stage in "Rip Van Winkle," and scored tremendously. The first appearance of this splendid actor will be in the title role of a Reliance drama, "The Tramp," from the pen of Russell E. Smith. Supporting Jefferson in this single-reel drama are Miriam Cooper and Elmer Clifton, who were so excellent in D. W. Griffith's picturization of "The Clansman." The title "The Tramp" suggests the main theme of this strong sympathetic Reliance release. He is the good old gentleman of the road — who is kicked around by the inhabitants of a country town. He overhears one night, in the tavern, a "fly" traveling salesman, who boasts of winning one of the girls of the town with false promises of marriage and flattery, with whom he is planning to elope that night. The tramp's better nature asserts itself and he resolves to save the girl — which he does, after going through a number of thrilling scenes. However, no one knows of his good deed — and he is only a tramp, who disappears down the road. R. A. Walsh, who as a Reliance director is gaining quite a good bit of prominence, produced "The Tramp." Middleton Estate Being Filmed For temporary use of the California Motion Picture Corporation's big company, engaged in filming Bret Harte's story, "The Lily of Poverty Flat," for the screen, the magnificent 35,000 acre estate of H. L. Middleton at Boulder Creek has been turned over, — mountain ridges, redwood forests, wooded canyons, tumbling creeks and all. In this vast theater, situated next to the famous State Redwood Park in the Big Basin, the episodes of the photo-play are being enacted. It is an ideal setting for the California film drama. The scenery is rated as unexcelled in the Coast Range. It is rugged, densely wooded, marked by lofty crags, precipitous gorges, gulches of Arcadian beauty, meadows and glades rarely visited by man, and giant timber which is as yet untouched by the hand of the woodsman. Middleton formerly owned the Big Basin redwood forest, but, in recent years, has transferred title to this noble grove of sequoias to the State of California to be a permanent playground for the people of the Golden State. The Middleton properties, however, adjoin the Redwood Park, and, during the filming of "The Lily of Poverty Flat," with Beatriz Michelena in the title role, both the Big Basin and the 35,000 acres of Middleton's private holdings will be used to furnish the background for the screen-play. It is on the Middleton holdings that "Poverty Flat" has been built in substantial style, — a whole village, lining a straggling street up a hillside. Twentyfive log cabins and frame dwellings have been erected just for this one production, and thousands of dollars' worth of timber have been used in constructing a piece of motion picture scenery which, for solid realism and heavy expense, has never been duplicated in the history of photo-plays. Pioneer residents of California, who knew the crude mining camps of the sierras and who have inspected the modern "Poverty Flat," have marveled at this extraordinary replica of a typical '49 °old-seekers' settlement. Alliance Special Department The latest development at the Alliance Films Corporation is the new special department. For some time Andrew J. Cobe, the head of the Alliance, has been making arrangements for the release of several special features in addition to the offerings on the regular program. H. G. Kosch will be in charge of the new department. The first release is scheduled for March 15, when "The Pageant of San Francisco" will be offered.