Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1913)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1071 At the Sign of the Flaming Arcs. By George Blaisdell. THE Eclair company will release during September a feature entitled "A Puritan Episode." It is a good picture. Much care has been given to the production. With the exception of one or two players the cast contains all of the best on the roster of the company. There is, however, one incident in the story as worked out that deserves especial attention. It is an offense against history — and the offense is not to be excused or condoned by the plea that on the point in question authorities differ. Furthermore, it is a second offense for the Eclair company. Still worse, the company is to be charged with confirrhing a popular fallacy. In the picture in question Miss Stuart — whose work in portraying the woman crazed by grief is splendidly, artistically done — is represented as being burned at the stake for the crime of witchcraft. (In 1692 witchcraft was a capital crime in Massachusetts, made so by the first code to be constructed by English, colonists in New England, in 1641). Two dozen persons were executed in Massachusetts for witchcraft. Twenty-three of these were hanged; one, stern old Giles Sorey, who refused to plead either guilty or not guilty, was pressed to death. Not one was burned. John Fiske, whose researches in American history certainly constitute him an authority, in one of his works specilicaUy states that no person was ever burned at the stake in New England for witchcraft. Of course, there is no denying that it is simpler and more spectacular to show in pictures a burning at the stake than it is to represent a hanging; but the exigencies of the moment furnish no adequate excuse for falsifying history the facts of which are easily available, even in Fort Lee. * * * J. M. O'Dowd, of Florence, S. C, lessee and general manager of the Auditorium, a picture house seating 700 persons, was a caller at the World office last week. Mr. O'Dowd is one of the progressive exhibitors of the South, and one of the successful ones. too. His prosperity is due in no small measure to the intelligent supervision which he has given to his programs. He is a believer in the value of scientific and educational pictures, especially as an attraction for those who have never closely followed motion pictures. * * * Joe Brandt, the publicity man of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, sailed for I.,ondon on Tuesday morning. At the pier to see him off were Carl Laemmle, president of the company; others of his business associates, who, by the way. presented him with a valuable travelins bag; a delegation from the Screen Club and personal friends. Motion pictures were taken at the ship. When the film is developed it will be forwarded to Mr. Brandt, who will then introduce the New York "bunch" to his new friends across the water. George U. Stevenson will have charge of Mr. Brandt's department in his absence. Assisting him will be Harvey Gates, who comes to the Universal from the Dramatic Mirror. Mr. Gates' special duty will be to look out for the publication of the Universal Weekly, work for which he is eminently ciualified. Although he has been in the picture game but a year he has shown a grasp of screen matters which augurs well for his future. Within the last few months Mr. Gates has sold half a dozen scripts, practically all he has written. Mr. Stevenson has a wide acquaintance in the trade. He brings to his work a rare cordialitj^ of manner — a valuable asset. His friends will wish him all success. * * * Matt B. Snyder, the veteran actor who last winter "broke into" pictures, and with success, has left us and gone to the Pacific Coast. He says he may never return. The occasion of his journey was the marriage of his daughter, Georgie , Florence, to Albert Herman Herbert, which took place in San Francisco July 23. Mr. Snyder will make his home witfi. his daughter. It was last spring that the one-time Annapoh"s man, later skipper of blockade runners, Confederate soldier and follower of Kirby Smith into Mexico in the days following the Civil War, celebrated his seventy-fourth birthday. You'd never guess the age. In spite of the striking white beard Mr. Snyder hardly looks sixty. He is a most interesting co-mpanion — full of reminiscences of his many years on the stage and of well-known playeis with whom he has been associated. The Screeners who gather at the clubrooms on Saturday afternoon when the weather is cool will miss him. w * * That was an interesting split subject which Pathe put out August 20 under — or should one say after — the title of "Strange 'Traits of Serpents." The snakes were filmed under the direction of Raymond Ditmars, curator of reptiles in the New York Zoo. In the days before Mr. Ditmars came to his present prominence as an authority on reptiles he was a reporter on the New York Times. His habit at that time of carrying in his pockets snakes commonly supposed to be deadly was a source of constant nervousness and sometimes of terror to his associates. On some occasions when the head of a reptile would be seen protruding from his coat pocket Mr. Ditmars found himself suddenly alone in the news room. It was related of him at that time that his practice of taking his "pets" home with him was the cause of decided protests on the part of his parents. Certainly the manner in which the snakes were handled in the making of the picture proves Mr. Ditmars' familiarity with his dangerous friends. A card from David Horsley states that he is still thoroughly enjoying himself in Europe. On August 12 he left Paris forSwitzerland and Italy. Mr. Horsley writes that he has met many Americans connected with the picture industry. He will sail for home on September 3. * * * Walter E. Green, who for the past four years has been with the Edison Comoany as assistant sales manager, is now with the Gaumont Company, of Flushing. Mr. Green will be the traveling representative of his company. He will take his goods with him and demonstrate to film men the quality of the Gaumont product. Edwin August, who is making pictures for the Universal company on the West coast, will soon begin work on a multiple-reel film that will be his biggest yet. Since Mr. August has been producing his own pictures he has turned out three successful double-reelers and is now working on the fourth. * * * Albert W. Hale, who is directing Majestic pictures, writes of an unusual coincidence at the recent Santa Monica road race. It was decided to make a picture around the race. The story was of a driver, with a wife in hospital, entering a contest and winning. Earl P. Cooper agreed to take the part of the driver. "But the scenario shows that our ni'an wins, so you must finish first," admonished Hale. Cooper did win. The fact that Cooper's wife was ill in a hospital at the time the race was on and that the driver received from her such reports as he could during the running gavea touch of realisiti to the filming of the story that is unusual. The title of the picture will be "For His Loved One." * * * Fred J. Balshofer, general manager of the coast studios: of the New York Motion Picture Corporation, is on a visit in New York. He will remain here for a month, coinbining business Avith pleasure. * * * O. M. Gove, cameraman for the Kalem Santa Monica (Cal.) comedy company, is on a vacation in the East. He dropped in at the World office on Wednesday to inquire in regard to old friends in town. During Mr. Gove's visit a summer shower brought from the Kalem man the statement that it was the first rain he had seen in five months. Mr. Gove when with the Biograph company filmed the ifirst full reel of pictures taken in Southern California. He is a lifelong photo,grapher, having been in business at one time in Australia. Before his return to the coast he will visit New Hampshire, his native State, and ramble among the White Mbuntains. * * * Can you beat it? Here was I, wondering what fact of in'ierest more or less remote to picture lovers could be dug up to complete this page. In walks John Steppling — rare John Steppling would be the old-fashioned way of expressing it; and it would be true today — who makes known the fact that he has come in to say good-bye for a while; that on Saturday, August 30, he takes train for the Pacific Coast. Mr. Steppling will be one of the leading members of a company now being recruited in New York for stock work in the Savoy Theater, San Francisco. His departure from the screen will be regretted by the thousands of his admirers who for over two years have followed his work with the Essanay company. May his absence be short. His last picture work was done here with the Famous Players, where he appeared as the father of Tess, in the support of Mrs. Fiske in "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," and in the company of Mary Pickford in "In the Bishop's Carriage." Hai^ds have been shaken and good-bye said. There is a personal note in this paragraph, and no attempt will be made to conceal the fact. I had looked forward to jolly good times this winter with a splendid fellow who is corking good company. Well, we can't be stopped from hoping for other winters, anyway.