Motography (Jul-Dec 1917)

284 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XVIII, No. 6. Theaters Publish "News' Mutual Weekly, the one-reel topical produced by Gaumont for release through Mutual, is covering a wide range of interesting subjects in these days of big news and, due to Gaumont's method of rapid assembly of film and Mutual's facilities for quick distribution, exhibitors are able to throw news on their screen as soon as the newspapers in their communities are able to get the illustrations of current events into print. Exhibitors are coming to a general realization of the advantages of a topical reel. The public is, in these days, more keenly interested in news than it ever before has been and with the American troops already in France this interest will grow. The exhibitor who is able to throw onto his screen pictures of current events as soon as the newspapers in his locality publish illustrations of the same news, is building a reputation for being "a live one" and a reputation for being progressive has high box office value to the exhibitor. An evidence of the wide variety of subjects handled by the Mutual Weekly is apparent for the summary of Weekly No. 134, which follows : Washington, D. C. — Senate employees present an ambulance to the Red Cross for service in France. Marseilles, France — -English Colonial troops arrive. Holtsville, Calif. — Combination highway and railroad truck. The U. S. army is adopting advanced transportation methods. Cambridge, Mass. — Gen. Vignal inspects trenches dug by Harvard's embryo officers. Mare Island, Calif. — New destroyer added to U. S. fleet. Thousands see the "Caldwell" launched. Coronado, Calif. — Society takes to aquaplaning. Seattle, Wash. — Three girls start on hike to San Francisco. New York City— MacLane and Gordon Highlanders capture New York. Picturesque Scots give send-off to 100 navy recruits. "Somewhere in France" — How Uncle Sam will care for his wounded. First hospital train goes into service. Fort S locum, N. Y. — Raymond Hitchcock and his beauty chorus from "Hitchy Koo" distributes 50,000 cigarettes to boys encamped there. Paris, France — General Pershing and U. S. Regulars are given a great public reception here. Prostrate France wildly welcomes American fighting men. Atlanta, Ga. — Miss Julia Quinn's unique pets. Fort Ethan Allen, Vt— First mounted inspection of cavalry recruits. Honolulu, Hawaii — Relief for French war orphans. Auto Race in Jaxon Comedy Journeying to the scene of the big automobile race between Ralph DePalma and Barney Oldfield on July 20, the cameramen engaged on the Jaxon Comedies production secured some zipping "cut-ins" for one of the forthcoming Jaxon comedies. This is probably the first time a big race of speed stars like this has been directly utilized to aid a comedy production. The scenes secured will be inserted in a Jaxon comedy appearing in the third series starting about Sept. 15. Metro Studio Enlarged Three acres of ground have been added to the Metro studio at Hollywood, California. The additional space was acquired when Director Fred B. Balshofer discovered that to properly stage the forthcoming Metro wonderplay de luxe, "Paradise Garden," he would have to have more stage and studio room. "Paradise Garden" is to be a seven-reel Metro special production. It is an adaptation of the popular novel from the pen of George Gibbs and will have as its star the capable and versatile Harold Lockwood. Close estimates place the cost of this production at not less than $100,000 and it will require months to complete it. Recently Harold Lockwood has been seen in all sorts of roles from the fantastic light comedy, "The Haunted Pajamas," to the athletic and virile role he portrayed in "Under Handicap." In the new and bigger production Mr. Lockwood will be seen in the role of a society man. Triangle for August 5 Olive Thomas in her second picture, "An Even Break," will be presented on the Triangle program of August 5, together with Wilfred Lucas and Elda Millar in "The Food Gamblers," produced under the superivsion of Allan Dwan. "An Even "Break" is the second play in which Miss Thomas has appeared since signing her contract with Triangle, and it is said to be one of the most pretentious offerings released as a program feature. The story, which is by Lambert Hillyer, parallels the star's own career from nonentity to Broadway fame. What is said to be the largest and most elaborate setting ever constructed on the Triangle Culver City stages was used for a scene depicting the nocturnal gayeties of a Broadway cafe. More than five hundred people, including dancers, a Jazz band, professional entertainers, and a large company of guests assembled about the candleillumined tables, were employed for this episode. Through such scenes of riotous splendor the star trips her way in costumes that only a "Follies" beauty can wear. She also dances in that lithe, spontaneous manner that established her as a musical comedy favorite. In the large company supporting her appear su*ch Triangle favorites as Charles Gunn, Darrel Foss, Charles K. French, J. Frank Burke, Margaret Thompson, and Louis Durham. The production was directed by Lambert Hillyear, the author. A play that will undoubtedly evoke considerable discussion because of its timely subject is "The Food Gambler" in which Wilfred Lucas and Elda Millar are featured. Miss Millar has the role of a young newspaper woman who makes a sensational expose of food speculation as practiced by certain prominent financiers. Lucas has the role of Henry Havens, food commissioner, who assists Miss Millar in her struggle to indict the enemies of national welfare. Among the supporting players are Mac Barnes, Russell Simpson, Jack Snyder and Ednardo Cianelli. The production was directed by Albert Parker under the supervision of Allan Dwan. Minister Entertains Company After the day's work on "The Little Samaritan" had been finished at the Erbograph studio last Thursday, Reverend Clarence J. Harris, who wrote the story for Marian Swayne, took the principals to his Yonker's' home in his car, and entertained them royally with a reception and banquet. Speeches were made by Miss Swayne, Joseph Levering, the director, and Reverend Harris. George Fisher, leading man for Mary Miles Minter in four of her recent productions, has been cast as chief support of Juliette Day in her second American picture, "The Rainbow Girl," work on which commenced immediately upon completion of her debut number, "Betty and the Buccaneers."