Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

June 29, 1918 MOTOGRAPHY 1219 Samples of the action in the new Metro production, "A Success f id Adventure," starring May Allison. Five Blue Bibbon Features in July Pictures Present Harry Morey, Edward Earle, Corrine Griffith, Alice Joyce and Shipman and Whitman FIVE BLUE RIBBON FEATURES, all of them from stories written by world-famous authors, are scheduled for July by Albert E. Smith, president of the Vitagraph company. The program for the month follows: July 1 — "Tangled Lives," featuring Harry Morey with Betty Blythe. Written by James Oliver Curwood. Directed by Paul Scardon. July 8 — "One Thousand Dollars," featuring Edward Earle, Agnes Ayres and Florence Deshon. Written by O. Henry. Directed by Kenneth Webb. July 15 — "Love Watches," featuring Corinne Griffith. Written by R. De Flers and G. Caillavet. Directed by Frederic A. Thomson. July 22— "To the Highest Bidder," featuring Alice Joyce. Written by Florence Morse Kingsley. Directed by Tom Terriss. July 29 — "A Gentleman's Agreement," featuring Nell Shipman and Alfred Whitman. Written by Wallace Irwin. Directed by David Smith. This appears, at first glance, to be one of the strongest programs for a single month which has been scheduled by any company in the feature lists. It is especially well chosen from the exhibitor's standpoint, Vitagraph offering some of its strongest stars in plays by writers of recognized power. "Tangled Lives," in which Mr. Morey will appear, is described as a high-class drama by James Oliver Curwood, whose newest story of the north woods, entitled "Nomads of the North," now is being read by Red Book followers. "One Thousand Dollars" is a drama of New York life, with some fine light comedy touches. It is the fourth of the O. Henry works to be reproduced as a five-reeler, and is given rank with the others. It is worthy of note that each of this series of O. Henry Blue Ribbon features presents a different Vitagraph star. In "I Will Repay," Corinne Griffith was featured; "An American Live Wire" had Earle Williams for its star, and "Find the Woman," Alice Joyce. Now it is Edward Earle. "Love Watches," in which Corinne Griffith is to be seen, will be a reproduction of the famous Frohman play in which Billie Burke scored one of her biggest triumphs on the speaking stage. It is from the pen of two French writers, who were honored for it by the French Academy, and scored a huge success in Paris and London before it was produced in this country. "To the Highest Bidder" will present Alice Joyce in another appealing role, in a play which is strong both in title and in theme. Miss Joyce has been seen in excellent pictures during the last eighteen months, dating from the time before "Within the Law" and "Womanhood" were produced, "A Gentleman's Agreement," with Nell Shipman and Alfred Whitman, marks the advent of Wallace Irwin to the ranks of Vitagraph's literary geniuses, and under the handling of David Smith, who produced such a wonderful picture in "Barce, the Son of Kazan," the story should make a powerful screen play. Danish Actress in World Film Valda Valkeyrian, the young Danish actress and dancer, who has created so very favorable an impression in pictures, will be seen in support of Louise Huff in her forthcoming World feature, "T'Other Dear Charmer," which William P. S. Earle is directing. "Tempered Steel" Savors of South In addition to the melodramatic "punch" which characterizes practically every scene of "Tempered Steel," the fourth special Petrova production, this latest vehicle of the Polish star, written especially for her by George Middleton, will delight lovers of the south. Many important scenes are laid below the Mason and Dixon Line. Several weeks were spent by Madame Petrova and company under the direction of Ralph Ince in North and South Carolina for the purpose of getting the proper atmosphere. Included are scenes of the cotton fields with their picturesque colored workers. Jack Marks Opens New Theatre One of the finest motion picture theatres in the south threw open its doors on Monday, June 10, when a special invitation performance was followed by the first public showing of Goldwyn's "Joan of Plattsburg," starring Mabel Normand, in Jack Marks' new $150,000 opera house at Clarksburg, West Virginia. Mr. Marks already owns the Orpheum there. Clarksburg, with 11,000 population, points with pardonable pride to the opera house. Its seating capacity is 1,400. The lobby is finished in Italian marble, with a floor of black and white tile. The screen is of gold fibre adjusted to a throw of 115 feet from two motordriven machines installed in a concrete projection booth fourteen feet square. All of the seats are leather upholstered and there is not a post in the house. Music will be supplied by an orchestra and a large organ. The opera house is the twenty-fourth amusement place Mr. Marks has either built or owned, or both. He began in the show business at Anderson, Indiana, with a house seating 198.