Motion picture studio directory and trade annual (1918)

Nineteefi-Eisrhteen STUDIO DIRECTORY _'?.> il!!llllll>l>lll!lllll!l!llll!lll!!llllll!i;iilllllll!lllllllliillillllliili;ill!llllllllll!lilll!illll^ RAYMOND B. WEST DIRECTOR— PARALTA PLAYS By Vincent Edwards RAYMOND B. WEST is perhaps the best equipped man directing motion pictures at the present time. Ttiis fact is probably due to the means by which he reached his present position of producing director. West came to motion pictures a thoroughly experienced and successful business man. He had held positions of importance in several large companies and was accounted one of the best informed insurance men in the country. Arriving in Los Angeles, West was immediately impressed with the wonderful opportunities afforded by the motion picture industry. With a decisiveness that is characteristic, West decided to give up his business connections and enter upon a new career. After trying unsuccessfully to obtain a hearing at several studios, West arrived at the New York Motion Picture Company. Fred Balshofer was at that time the leading light of the organization. So impressed was Balshofer with the earnestness of West that he put him to work at once as a property man. From this lowly position the young business man worked into that of assistant camera man. He then became a camera man. While holding the latter position, Thos. H. Ince became the chief of the New York Motion Picture Company, and it was he who gave Raymond West his first chance as a director. West, with his technical and business experience, was a success from the start. Always a student of the theatre and dramatic technique, he now devoted even more time to these most important factors. Havinsr finally mastered them, he became 100 per cent, efficient. He knew the constructions of sets, he knew the work ings of the camera, and with his newly acquired knowledge of the stage West began turning out a series of feature productions which were really sensational for the consistency of their excellence and success. He was selected by Thos. H. Ince to co-direct the great production of v' Civilization." _ West made many of the most effective scenes in this production. George Beban's first big cinema success, "An Alien," was directed by West. Other pictures of the many which have been produced by the tireless director that have been unusual financial and artistic successes are " The Payment," " The Wolf Woman," " The Snarl," " Madcap Madge," " Wooden Shoes " end The Ten of Diamonds." " Within the Cup," the first Paralta production to be made by West which features Bessie Barriscale, is one of the most pretentious presenta tions attempted during the past year. It has cost as much as five features of West's early days and is expected .._,.„, to make ten times as much money. Raymond B. W est was born in Chicago, 111., in 1886. He was educated at the La Salle Institute in that city After that his family moved to Grand Rapids, where young West entered business. He has been associated with the production of motion pictures nine years. There is a Mrs. West and a young West, who hopes to be a director just like his father. His studio address is Paralta Plays, Inc., Los Angeles, Cal., and his home address is 2150 Beechwood Drive, Hollywood, Cal. m i in i!!iiiiii:!iii:i!iiii:iiii:iiiniiLiiiiiiii:iiii.iiii!i!ii:iM Be sure to mention " MOTION PICTURE NEWS STUDIO DIRECTORY " when writing to advertisers