Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

May 25, 1918. MOTOGRAPHY 1007 ness with him for two years and find him to work for the interest of the exhibitor in every respect. You can't beat their service during the past winter. Train service in this locality wasn't the best owing to snow blockades, but our Mutual manager at Milwaukee was always a day ahead of the storm with his program. Their pictures are the very best and the films in best condition." Anita Stewart Narrowly Escapes Death Star's Auto Is Struck by Street Car in Brooklyn and Hurled Against Bus Carrying Extra Players Brevoort Theatre Opens An invitation audience filled the 2,500 seats of the new Brevoort Theatre, Bedford avenue off Fulton street, Brooklyn, when this photoplay rendezvous threw open its doors for the first time. The new playhouse is under the management of A. H. Schwartz, who controls the Rialto and Linden theatres in the Flatbush section, Brooklyn. These theatres arc under the immediate management of William Price. They were built under the personal supervision of Harry Schwartz, now in training at Camp Upton. The initial program at the Brevoort had as its special features Charles Chaplin's latest comedy, "A Dog's Life," and the Metro feature, "My Own United States," starring Arnold Daly. Norma Talmadge a Hard Worker Norma Talmadge is not in the selfindulgent class. Having worked at top speed for six weeks to complete "De Luxe Annie" in time for advance showing the middle part of May, according to the Select schedule, Miss Talmadge has plunged at once into a new production. "De Luxe Annie" was finished Friday afternoon. The new picture was started promptly at nine o'clock Monday morning. This picture was to have been directed by the Franklin Brothers, but C. M. Franklin has been called to service and the production is being directed by Sid Franklin alone. West Penn Company Formed The West Penn Photoplay Company has been formed at New Castle, Pennsylvania, to exhibit pictures in that city. It has taken over the Regent and Star theatres of New Castle, and Charles Freeman, former proprietor, is general manager of the new company's local interests. The company, capitalized at $100,000, intends to branch out and annex theatres in other cities. A. Goldman, of the Monarch Theatre, Euclid avenue, Cleveland, is one of the members. A NITA STEWART, with her director, ** Wilfrid North, and members of the Yitagraph Company working with her on "The 'Mind-thc Paint' Girl," narrowly escaped death in an automobile accident last week when returning to the studio from location. The car in which they were riding was struck by a speeding trolley car at Sixteenth street and Third avenue, Brooklyn, and hurled against a motor bus in which were .riding twelve extra members of the company. Miss Stewart suffered an injury to her head and neck and was badly bruised about the body; Mr. North's foot and head were injured and Virginia Nordon, another passenger, suffered bruises. Both girls suffered so from shock that they had to be put under the care of a physician. Eight in the bus were hurt, two girls being hurled to the ground. George Stewart, the fifteen-year-old brother of Yitagraph's star, who is working in the picture, was saved from death by the prompt action of Miss Nordon. Young Stewart was thrown from the tonneau of the star's car and was plunging headlong to the ground when Miss Nordon caught him and drew him back. All of the injured were rushed to the studio, where Albert S. Smith, president of the company, was waiting for them with a physician. He had been notified by telephone and had the emergency hos pital made ready. After receiving first aid treatment all were taken home. Mr. Smith said it was a wonder Miss Stewart' and the others in her car were not killed and credited their escape to the fact that the motor bus prevented the smaller machine from turning over. He said Miss Stewart exhibited excellent nerve and after a day's rest was ready to resume work. There was only a brief interruption in "The 'Mind-the Paint' Girl," which will be the first of the special series of Anita Stewart pictures contemplated by Vitagraph. The Frohman Company, from which the rights were purchased, has been lending Yitagraph assistance in the matter of suggestion and Mr. Smith is authority for the statement that this will be the greatest picture in which Miss Stewart ever has appeared. Symphony Nears Completion With amazing speed and thoroughness, augmented forces of carpenters, electricians and concrete workers are rapidly completing the new Symphony Theatre of New York, which Aubrey M. Kennedy of Kennedy Theatres, Inc., is building at Broadway and Ninety-fifth Street. Threatened delays about the date of opening this addition to Manhattan's fine theatres have been practically dispelled. Mr. Kennedy and his general manager, Charles M. Cole, have "camped" on the premises day and night and no workman on the building has been more untiring in his efforts to establish a new record in theatre building than has either of those officials. As a result the finishing touches are about to be given to the house and soon the actual date of its opening will be announced. Many innovations in theatrical appointments and equipment will prove agreeable surprises to the Symphony patrons. Every detail providing for dignified comfort has been thoroughly studied out and provided and already applications for reservations for the opening night and for succeeding weeks are pouring in to the Symphony offices. Edna Mac Cooper, who is featured in L ecil B. De Mille's special production, "Old Wives for New." Minter Play Honored After a personal preview of "A Bit of Jade," the recent American-Mutual release starring Mary Miles Minter, Sidney Grauman booked it for first run in Los Angeles for Grauman's new million dollar picture palace.