Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

1000 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 21. Chaplin's Famous Little Dog Is Dead Lonesomeness for Absent Master Proves Too Much and "Mutt" Succumbs to Broken Heart A PALL of sorrow was thrown over the Chaplin studios last week, after every effort of medical science failed to save or even prolong the life of the dearly loved "Mutt," that now nationally famous little white mongrel, co-star with Charlie Chaplin in "A Dog's Life." After a siege of illness of four weeks' duration, with each day gradually drawing Mutt closer to the end, the petted Charlie Chaplin and ''Mutt" idol of the comedian is in his final resting pla.ee. The veterinary surgeon who watched over the dog with the same care that would have been given a child found his skill no match for a. broken heart. Mutt died of a broken heart and the end was hastened through self-starvation. Although there was everything for Mutt to live for and there was nothing too good for him, the absence of the star, who was devoting his time in the interest of the third Liberty Loan in the southern states, denied the poor little mongrel of the one thing he wanted — the loving attention of his master. As far as it is known Mutt came into the world friendless. He appeared at the Chaplin plant a cowering and shivering mongrel half scared to death. Charlie befriended the animal and it was not long before they were fast friends. There was no one excepting the comedian who seemed to interest Mutt. The dog was with the star from early morning until long after work was done for the day. Charlie was the only one who could feed him. Mutt never could get used to Charlie's absence from the studio and no one could make him understand that Charlie would be back some day. Every hour found the little animal anxiously waiting outside of the star's dressing room and each day Mutt's refusal to accept the food that was offered him was the cause of the loss of more strength. Finally he collapsed. Charlie does not know of Mutt's death. He is recovering from a nervous breakdown brought on by the strenuousness of his Liberty Loan tour and it was feared that the shock would hold ba.ck his recovery. It will be sad news for the star. Charlie loved Mutt. A little mound of earth, close to the spot where Mutt in the character of "Scraps," dug up the purse of money for his master in "A Dog's Life," is the burial ground. The grave is surrounded by old cans, rags, bottles and other refuse. There are no floral tributes, just cans. That was the way Mutt lived. The tombstone is not of granite, but it is an old shoe and on the sole is crudely scratched, "Mutt died April 29 A Broken Heart." There is one thing that is certain, if there is a dog heaven, Mutt is there. Sees War Comrades on Screen Ovid Dally of West Mansfield, Ohio, an American ambulance driver who recently returned from France, dropped into a motion picture theatre at Springfield, Ohio, the other day to see "Heroic France," the five-reel Mutual war special. Suddenly he shouted and rose in his seat. On the screen was flashed the picture of a group of American ambulance drivers and among them he recognized two of his comrades. They were Captain Bigelow and Peter Kent. "I worked with Kent and Bigelow," said Dally, "in Bordeaux and Paris, and it surely did my heart good to get a glimpse of their faces again. I recognized them instantly. In the course of the film I thought I recognized several of the other men with whom I worked, but I was not sure." Earle Works Hard on New Job Director William P. S. Early, who is a recent addition to the World forces, has made considerable progress in the filming of "The Blood of the Trevors," a Maravene Thompson story starring Barbara Castleton. Madge Evans, Jack O'Mare, Alice MacWade and Charles Ellison are the major members of the cast. Exchanges in Theatre Building Barred Indianapolis City Council Enacts Ordinance That Will Compel One Company at Least to Move THE Indianapolis City Council has refused to assume responsibility for permitting a film exchange to be operated in the same building where a theatre is located. The vote has just been taken by the council on a new fire prevention ordinance, introduced at the request of Mayor Charles W. Jewett. Under the terms of the ordinance, which will become effective in a few weeks, the Mutual Film Corporation will be compelled to move out of its quarters above the Keystone Theatre in North Illinois street. The Keystone is operated by Edward G. Sourbier, county treasurer. At a public hearing on the ordinance Mr. Sourbier asked that the ordinance be changed so as to permit the operation of the film exchange above his house, as he leases the second floor to the film corporation. He declared he would lose $10,000 if he had to break his lease. The ordinance really grows out of the disastrous Colfax fire which resulted in the death of six persons. A firm, which cleaned motion picture films, had its workshop in the basement of the Colfax building, and the fire started in the workshop. There was a theatre nearby. From the action of the council and statements of its members, there was no disposition on the part of the individual councilmen to work a hardship on Mr. Sourbier and consideration was given to plans for making the film exchange quarters safe for the employes and the public attending the theater below. The council decided, however, that the safest thing to do was to pass the ordinance as it was drawn and eliminate the possibility of a catastrophe. The fire prevention bureau, under the ordinance, will be operated as a division of the city building commissioner's department. The head of the bureau will be known as the director of fire prevention. * The ordinance gives the director power to stop the use of any building which does not comply with the provisions of the amended code. Seyffertitz to Stay with Lasky Despite announcements to the contrary, Gustav Seyffertitz, one of the most valued members of the Lasky stock company, will remain with the organization, appearing in Artcraft and Paramount pictures.