The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

18 -THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY Luncheon Starts Pershing Letter of Cheer Tastefully arranged luncheon at Hotel Astor tendered to the newspapermen by Bluebird Company to start letter of cheer on way* to General Pershing. IS the final culmination of the six weeks* patriotic movement to secure a million names to a letter of cheer to General Pershing, Arthur Leslie, whose hard work has made the letter in its completeness possible, acted as toastmaster at a luncheon in the Hotel Astor. The purpose of the luncheon was to speed the letter of cheer, and to notify the world at large and trade papers in particular of the fact that the letter was completed, the testimonial made by Tiffany consecrated in proper style, and that the project had the sanction of the United States War Department through the presence of Major Booth and Captain Carleton of the staff of Major General Bell, commander of the department of the East. Between forty and fifty representatives of the trade press, producing companies. New York dailies and semi-official bodies met, discussed the excellent hot weather luncheon, had their pictures taken as shown above, signed the letter of cheer, listened to interesting personal reminiscences of Pershing from Major Booth, and drank a toast to the safe passage of the letter through the troubled waters of the Atlantic to safety in General Pershing's hands. Mr. Petterjohn, the attorney for the Exhibitors League of Indiana, was one of the speakers, while telegrams from a number of senators and congressmen were read. Bluebird signs decorated the luncheon room, and with a background of American flags, formed a fitting scene for a patriotic and heart-felt expression from a million people. When the American Expeditionary Forces went to Europe, it was obviously impossible to give them a send off. If they had, it is qxiite likely that they would have met more submarines than actually barred their progress. It was for this reason that Bluebird felt impelled to send the American troops the letter of cheer, and it is for the same reason that over a million Americans, including governors of all the States, senators, congressmen, and people prominent in all walks of life, have signed it. The workmanship of the album, which was designed by Tiffany's to contain the letter, is exquisite. The book is bound in a soft green morocco, KE[PVAT(HING its pages are of heavy vellum beautifully embossed, and it rests in a handsome case of dark-gray silk. LENA BASKETTE SCORES IN DANCING ROLES FOR U. lytORE than a year ago the announcement was made that the longest Universal contract ever drawn had been signed between the film company and a little girl called Lena Baskette. Lena is not very old, but she can already lay claim to the two titles "actress" and "dancer." It was her dancing which attracted the attention of the Universal officials. She was forthwith given the appropriate pseudonym, "Pavlowa, Junior." Lena has appeared in a great number of Universal pictures. She played what was practically a stellar role in "The Caravan" that remarkable study of Old Egypt, in which Claire McDowell was the leading adult role. Lena made up wonderfully effectively as an Egyptian, for there is something exotic in her appearance, which allows her to impersonate such roles remarkably well. A late release in which she appeared was the Gold Seal, "The Black Mantilla," a story of Mexico, staged by Ruth Ann Baldwin, in which a dancing contest played a part in the action. Lena was to take her turn with the adult dancers, and it was pretty to watch the impatience with which she waited for it. At the present time she is appearing in a series of two-reel pictures, which are made by Marshall Stedman. These stories have all been chosen, with a special view to using her talents as a dancer. In one of them, called "Amelita's Friend," the title role is played by Joe Martin, the almost human orang-outang, who is Lena's great favorite.