Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1913)

522 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD At the Sign of the Fiaming Arcs By George Blaisdell. Ar the Famous Players Studio, on Monday afternoon, Little Mary was rehearsing the initial scenes in "In the Bishop's Carriage," an adaptation in three reels of Miriam Michelson's novel and stage play. The photodrama will follow the novel. Director Dawley was guiding the rehearsal. In the cast supporting Miss Pickford among others are John Steppling, Howard Missimer, Dave Wall and "Boots" Wall. Miss Pickford will play Nancy, the girl crook. It is said to be the first time she has taken a part of this sort. The Players have just finished "Caprice," in three reels, with Miss Pickford in the lead, supported by Ernest Truex and Owen Moore. "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," the lead in which was played by Minnie Maddern Piske, and which was finished several weeks ago, will be issued in five reels. It is the intention of the management of the company to make no undue attempt to restrict to three or four reels the productions in which appear the stars of larger magnitude. If it be necessary to make five reels in order to put over the picture in the best form five will be made. This is well. When a really big play runs to four reels one more will not make much difference from the exhibitor's viewpoint. A five-reel play may be shown twice in an evening comfortably; this allows, say, an hour and a half to a run, or an average of eighteen minutes to a reel. * * * An expedition that it is expected will be rich in results from a kinematographic standpoint sailed from New York on July 19. It is under the leadership of Captain Campbell Besley, of London. In the party are F. Eugen^ Farnsworth, artist-traveler-lecturer, formerly of Boston and more recently of New York, where he has been connected with the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, and lastly with the Standard Film Company; Franklin B. Coates. of New Haven; A. Galaid. of Boston; John Dunn, a New York taxidermist, and J. K. Holbrook, of New York, an experienced cameraman. The expedition will be gone many months, and will travel many thousands of miles. It is intended to explore the wilder parts of Brazil, argentina, Bolivia, Peru and the' Guianas. Much attention will be given to securing motion pictures of human and animal life in the remoter regions. * * * Darwin Karr, who for more than two years has been the leading man of the Solax company, and who before that was for six months with the Edison company, will retire from the Fort Lee aggregation on September i. It is probable that -Mr. Karr will fill a few weeks' vaudeville engagements following the date mentioned before settling down again to picture work. Nothing has been settled as to where his newhome will be. Mr. Karr is in fine physical condition, and ascribes it partly to the fact that in all the months he has been with the Solax he has driven his machine from his home in Bath Beach, down Coney Island way, to the studio, formerly at Flushing and later at Fort Lee. * * * Bert Angeles, former Vitagraph director, is now working with the LTniversal. His pictures will be released under the Gem brand. Mr. Angeles will at the beginning turn out three comedies each month and possibly a two-reel drama. Among the Vitagraph pictures which Mr. Angeles has made recently are "He Answered the Ad," "A Maid and Three Men," "Cutey Tries Reporting," "The Coming of Gretchen, "Roughing the Cub," and all of the "Belinda" series. There was a little gathering of former Bostonians at the Screen Club on Saturday afternoon. Naturally the topic automatically drifted to beans. In the party were "Doc" Willat, Frank Cheyenne Carroll, "Bob" Daly and "Bill" Blaisdell. "Doc" Willat confessed, in fact "announced with pride," that he ate beans every morning for breakfast just as he would eat pie for dessert for dinner. He said that Mrs. Willat purchased this Yankee staple two dozen cans at a time. The bean topic quite naturally and also automatically faded just after this. It was the silent tribute to a real hero and a great patriot. * * * Earl J. Hudson, general manager of the Standard Film Company, is spending a two weeks' vacation in his home town of Elgin, 111. * * * Gertrude McCoy, of the Edison company, is enjoying in Virginia her first vacation for a long time. Miss McCoy declares she intends to forget that there is such a thing as a moving picture — that she will not even write a script. James Kirkwood, who for some time has been directing and playing the lead in Victor films, .'s going back to the Biograph company, in which he has played before. This time, however, Mr. Kirkwood will direct. He has had a wide experience in screen work, having also played with the Vitagraph, the Imp, and Reliance. In his work with the Victor company he has maintained a good standard of production, in spite of the fact that he has essayed the double role of player and director. Gertrude Robinson is also leaving the Victor for the Biograph. This is a return' engagement for her as well as for Mr. Kirkwood, her director. Miss Robinson was for a long time with Reliance. * * :;: William Robert Daly, who has been making Imp comedies for many months, is to succeed Mr. Kirkwood as director of Victor pictures. Mr. Daly's leads will be played by Glenn. White and Fritzi Brunette. A matter of news that will be widely welcomed by all picture lovers is of the return to the screen, after a long absence, of Florence Lawrence. Miss Lawrence is one of the earliest of the film favorites. Her first work was with the Edison company. Afterward she played with the Vitagraph, Biograph, Lubin and Victor companies. While with the Lubin company she played opposite Arthur Johnson, and the work of these two players attracted wide attention. Miss Lawrence will be allied with the Universal company, her pictures, which will be multiple reel and of a character somewhat different from the ordinary, being released under the Victor brand. At this writing it has not been determined who will play opposite her. All of her pictures will be under the direction of Harry Salter. * * * David Horsley, who with Mrs. Horsley and "their young son sailed recently for the other side, in a five-minute lull in the round of festivities writes from London to say that he is having a glorious time. * * * Elmer Booth, whose work as the Snapper Kid in Biograph's "Musketeers of Pig Alley" caused so much favorable comment, has joined the cast of the Famous Players. He will begin work in the picture following "In the Bishop's Carriage." Joe Graybill, old-time Biograph player, and said to be the author of "The Musketeers of Pig Alley," is now stationed at the Pathe studio. Mr. Graybill, who will be recalled to mind by many as the "actor who wore a mustache" — he has it yet — has done much strong work; we may look forward to much more. Major M. C. L. Funkhouser, second deputy superintendent of police of Chicago and general guardian of that city's morals, is another police official who has barred Kinemacolor's "Scarlet Letter." The major is said to have wrestled long and seriously with the question before he decided to bar the, picture. He based his action on regard for the children and not on account of adults. * * :^ North Yakima, which is not in Japan but in the State of Washington, is to have a local board of censorship. The censors will include a minister, the city superintendent of schools, the manager of one of the picture houses, the general secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association and a member of the Woman's Club. Here seems to be an ideal board of censors — from the viewpoint of those who make the loudest demands for the local staff. If anything gets by it that contains interest for the average adult male, that more or less persecuted individual should congratulate himself. * SELIG WILL PRODUCE "THE SPOILERS." Selig has secured the picture play rights for Rex Beach's famous book "The Spoilers." William and Marshall Farnum, well known legitimate actors, will appear in the leading roles. BACK TO THE PRIMITIVE. Thomas Persons, formerly superintendent of the Selig Polyscope Plant in Chicago, has been made superintendent of the Selig Wild Animal Farm at Edendale, Calif., and will remove his lares et penates to the glorious climate, where he may be lulled to rest by the mellifluous roars of the lions or the diabolic laughter of the hyenas, in preference to the carping chatter of the actors, the kicks of the clicking camera men, or the acidified remarks of the developing department.