Motography (Jan-Jun 1915)

534 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIII, No. 14. Brevities of the Business In order to accommodate the rapidly increasing business at the Chicago studios ofthe SeligPolyscope Company an addition is being built to the large structure. Samuel Goldfish has announced, on behalf of the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company, the engagement of the distinguished romantic star, Donald Brian, to make his photodramatic debut under the Lasky management. Mr. Brian, who acquired world-wide fame as the prince in "The Merry Widow," is now starring in "The Girl from Utah," but will positively pose for his first photodrama immediately after the end of his present season. Jesse L. Lasky, president of the Lasky Feature Play Company, who has spent much of the winter supervising the enlargements and productions at the studio in Hollywood, California, returned to his New York office last week and will remain for a considerable period planning the work to be done at the studio during the spring and summer months. "The Once Over," a rollicking one-part "Beauty" corned}', has been substituted for the drama "Dreams Realized," which was announced by the American Film Manufacturing Company for release April 6. Lois Meredith, Theodore Roberts, James Neill and Mabel Van Buren are the players who will make up the all-star cast in the Lasky production, "The Woman," adapted from the stage success. Viola Allen, the well-known star of the speaking stage, has been added to the Chicago stock company of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company and will soon be seen in productions released by it. Her greatest successes on the stage were scored in "The Christian" and "The White Sister." Anthony Kelly, formerly scenario editor for one of the bigregular program companies, is now with World Film Corporation and will prepare special scripts for Director Ernile Chautard. Mary Pickford has been declared winner of the Ladies' World motion picture popularity contest, which has been conducted for the past few months. Nathan Anderson has been appointed scenario editor of the western branch of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company and will look after the scripts for the Niles (Calif.) companies of that concern in the future. Arthur . Shirley, the noted Australian actor, has joined the Kalem company and is now at work in its Glendale (Calif.) studios unde.r the direction of James W. Home. He will work in features. FILM FOLK FLASHES. ■ Before leaving the Universal west coast companies' for the American company at Santa Barbar, Calif., Archer McMackin gave a dinner to a number of his friends. Those who were present were Ernie Shield, Eddie Boland, Queenie Rawson, Jane Bernaudy, "Buck" Cooner, Charles Rosher, Assistant Director Roy McCray and Mr. Isidore Bernstein, general manager of Universal City. .The Lasky Feature Play Company has issued oil paintings of Blanche Sweet, 36 by 60 inches, for the use of exhibitors who wish to make their lobby displays attractive. This concern has also provided a series ' of 14 by 11 inch photographs of all their stars for the same use. Catherine Countiss, whose work in "The Avalanche" and other recent film successes made such a favorable impres' sion, is the latest addition to the galaxy of the Alliance stars. She will appear in the title role of "The Grey Nun of Belgium," which is now nearing completion at the studios of the newly organized Dramatic Producing Company at Los Angeles. J. W. Starbuck, the man behind the Saturday Evening Post advertising copy on "Runaway June," is now laying out all of the advertising matter on the big Reliance campaign, and has his headquarters at 29 Union Square, New York City. John P. McGowan, the well-known Kalem director, has purchased a train of three railroad coaches at a cost of $5,000, for no other purpose than that of deliberately wrecking them. One big event is to take place at Universal City, Calif., within the next few weeks that film fans will not have the privilege of seeing on the screens. The "speed demons" at the big motion picture ranch are to have a Vanderbilt cup race all of their own. Half a dozen curves in the road that winds around the San Fernando hills will furnish the scene for the thrills and spills that will probably exceed in excitement anything ever shown in the pictures. On Saturday, March 27, sixty pupils of Parker high school, Chicago, 111., accompanied by their instructors will visit the' Selig Polyscope Company motion picture studios for the purpose of studying the technique of the photoplay. Thej' expect to become acquainted not only with the technical arrangement of motion picture scenarios, but also with the technique of production, developing rooms, etc. On Friday, April 2, a class of seniors from Lane Technical School will pursue similar studies at the Selig studio. Adolph Hilderbruiier, trainer of wild animals in the exhibit of Selig Jungle-Zoo wild animals, at the San Francisco exposition, and his assistant, . Gus Werner, grappled in a life and death struggle with an. enraged tigress last week. They were trying to teach the tigress some new "stunts." David Thompson left the Thanhouser studio recently, after four years' continuous work, for a much needed rest. One restful day last week Dave became — one event taking place within forty minutes of the other — exalted ruler of the New Rochelle Lodge of Elks and the father of David Thompson, Jr. By special request of the entertainment committee of the Mutual Welfare League of Sing Sing Prison, which but a short time previous was known as the Golden Rule Brotherhood, the Universal Film Manufacturing Company presented last Sunday its second performance of moving pictures to the inmates within the past month. This time, however, the inmates had the pleasure of listening to King Baggot, leading star of the Imp brand of the Universal program. W. R. Scates, central division manager of the World Film Corporation, has just returned from a ten days' trip throughout the East. Film Market Quotations and Financial Gossip Supplied by R. D. Small of A. B. Butler & Co., Chicago. Bid Asked American Film Mfg. Co 165 Biograph Film Co 65 75 General Film Co. pref 51 54* Majestic Film Co 150 170 Mutual Film Corp. pref 60 64 Mutual Film Corp. com 84 87 New York Motion Picture Corp 74 76 Reliance Motion Picture Corp 37 45 Syndicate Film Corp< 105 125 Thanhouser Film Corp 78 85 Thanhouser Syndicate Co. pref 50 60 Thanhouser Syndicate Co. com 60 70 World Film Corp 4| U General Film Company — There was an active demand for this stock during the past week, but with little change in the market quotations that have ruled for the past 3 or 4 months. Biograph Company — This stock has had rather a dramatic career during the last two or three months, with a drop from 80 to 49, and back again to bids of 65 this morning. North American Film Corporation — The first announcement was made in the film trade papers during the past week, in which an offer of $10,000 was made for a sequel to an unfinished story called "The Diamond from the Sky," which is featured as a picturized romantic novel in chapters. It is claimed that more comprehensive plans have been worked out for the distribution of this photoplay than any like production during the past several years. American Film Manufacturing Company — The demand for this stock has naturally broadened owing to the heavy requirements in connection with the "Diamond from the Sky" and also the production of "The Quest," the first of the "Master Films" released by Mutual and also an extension of their regular business. This company now ranks among the leading manufacturers in point of film output.