Motography (Jan-Jun 1915)

618 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIII, No. 16. Brevities of the Business Will E. Ellis, a former member of the Mutual California scenario department, passed away early on the morning of Thursday, March 25, at his Hollywood home, leaving a widow and one child. He was well liked in the studio and all are deeply affected at his sudden death. Announcement is made of the engagement of Miss Nan Jacobus of Montclair, N. J., and William L. Barry of New York City. Miss Jacobus is a young woman of much popularity both in Montclair and New York, and Mr. Barry, well Itnown as the manager of publicity and advertising for the Nicholas Power Company, is a man with many friends. The wedding will probably be a June event. Motography extends congratulations to both. Chester B. Clapp, recently of the Biograph Company and previously on the staff of the New York Dramatic Mirror, has been engaged by Script Editor Frank E. Woods for the Reliance and Majestic scenario department at Los Angeles, ■Cal. President S. S. Hutchinson of the American Film Manufacturing Company has purchased the motion picture right ■of the novel, "The Girl from His Town," by Marie Van Vorst, from the publishers, Bobbs-Merrill Company. It will be produced as a multiple-reel feature in the American studios at Santa Barbara, Cal., under the direction of Harry Pollard, with Margarita Fischer in the leading role. Mildred Adams, the Denver society girl, has been chosen by Hobart Bosworth to play an important part in his first production under the Universal Film Manufacturing Company management. Marshall Stedman has been appointed as business manager to four of the Universal companies. Stanly Twist takes another lot and Don Meaney still another. Colin Campbell, the veteran Selig director, is to add one or two short film stories to the regular Selig releases, while waiting for final sets for the feature, "The Ne'er Do Well." The Vitagraph Company announces it has secured for picturization two of the most popular plays of the past decade— "The Writing on the Wall," which was originally produced by Olga Nethersole, and "Glorious Betsy," in which Mary Mannering starred with success. During the past week the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company was established in its new offices, 120 West Fortyfirst street, where it occupies the entire fifth floor. William McDonald, who formerly played burlesque lover parts with the Keystone players during the last eight months, "has been engaged by President S. S. Hutchinson of the American Film Manufacturing Company and assigned a part in the production of the coming four-reel American Distinctive Creation, "The Secretary of Frivolous Affairs," adapted from the novel published by the Bobbs-Merrill Company. For the present, Gene Gauntier, who was recently added to the roster of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, will appear in pictures released under the Bison brand. The first production on which she and her director-lead, Jack Clark, are now working is a story of the Canadian Northwest. Lloyd Inghram, formerly of Essanay and Universal, has joined the Mutual Film Corporation forces at Hollywood, Cal., to act as director. Bert Bracken has been signed by A. M. Kennedy, producing manager of the Kriterion program, to direct pictures for that concern and is now at work in their studios at Santa Barbara, Cal. The New York City Hippodrome, one of the largest theaters in the world, will celebrate its tenth birthday on April 12 with a specially selected program of motion pictures. One of the leading newspapers in each state will conduct a beauty contest in conjunction with the Universal Film Manufacturing Company to select the most beautiful girl in each state. The winner will be given a trip to Universal City, Cal., and the two Fairs, with all expenses paid. From the winners in each state contest the most beautiful girl in the United States will be selected and will be given an opportunity to become a motion picture actress by "the Universal. M. Alspelani, who directed Pathe's production of "Les Miserables," recently arrived in this country to direct pictures at the Peerless studios, Fort Lee, N. J. The Viking Film Company, of which William Forsyth is president, recently entered the field and announced their intention of making productions based on well-known plays and books. L. W. Atwater, formerly of the Nicholas Power Company, has succeeded J. E. Robin as sales manager of Simplex projection machines, the latter having resigned. James Kirkwood returned to the New York City studios of the Famous Players Film Company last week, after having directed Mary Pickford in two productions at the west coast studios of that company. He is now at work producing a picture in which Hazel Dawn is starring. The Universal Film Manufacturing Company has secured the film rights to Ralph Connor's novels, "The Patrol of Sun Dance Trail" and "Corporal Cameron." This is the first time Mr. Connor has disposed of the motion picture rights to any of his books. Ben Goetz has resigned as general manager of the Crystal Film Company. Roy McCray has been added to the Universal's Joker Company, replacing Archer McMackin, who has joined the American Film Manufacturing Company. The members of the Famous Players company now working in Los Angeles will probably return to New York within the next six weeks, where all productions will be made during the summer. Next fall this concern plans to establish a permanent producing company in California. The Spring season at the Lasky California studios will find many stars working in productions there. Fannie Ward, Charlotte Walker, Donald Brian, Edgar Selwyn and Ina Claire are among the notables. During the nine days "The Heart of Maryland" was at the New York Hippodrome 138,209 paid admissions were attracted, according to a statement from the offices of Messrs. Shubert. Film Market Quotations and Financial Gossip Supplied by R. D. Small of A. E. Butler & Co., Chicago. Bid Asked American Film Mfg. Co 167 Biograph Film Co 60 68 General Film Co. pref 51 55 Majestic Film Co 150 158 Mutual Film Corp. pref 58 61 Mutual Film Corp. com 83 85 North American Film Corp. pref 50 .... North American Film Corp. com 65 New York Motion Picture Corp 72 75 Reliance Motion Picture Corp 35 45 Thanhouser Film Corp 77 84 Universal Film Mfg. Co 160 World Film Corp 4| 4f North American Film Corporation — Present indications of interest in "The Diamond from the Sky," from the standpoint of exhibitors, should promise for that production a greater amount of business in force on release date (May 3) than has been secured by any similar continued production that has yet been shown in this country. Actual bookings will begin this week. New York Motion Picture Corporation — It is now known that Harry Woodruff, Dustin Farnum, H. B. Warner and Lewis J. Cody, all well known in the theatrical world, have signed up with the New York Motion Picture Corporation. It is also of interest to know that, in addition to the Willet studios at Fort Lee that have been taken over, the Keystone and Santa Monica studios are being rehabilitated and the studio at Hollywood is now in operation. Santa Monica plant has just closed a deal by which there will be added to their present holdings a valuable tract of sixteen acres in Los Angeles, and it is reported the company will invest about $150,000 in erecting a new plant on this ground. The new plans call for eight outdoor stages and one indoor stage. Mutual Film Corporation — The new four and five-reel feature service has made a great hit with the exhibitors all over the country and new business has been secured at a very satisfactory rate by the innovation.