Moving Picture World (Jul-Sep 1915)

September 4, 1915 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1659 At Leading Picture Theaters Programs for the Week at the New York Motion Picture Houses. Vitagraph Theater Bill. MORTMAIN" is the title of the leading photoplay at the Vitagraph theater. It is a picturization of Arthur C. Train's story, in which Robert Edeson makes his initial appearance under the Vitagraph banner. The plot is an unusual one and contains a number of situations of absorbing interest. Mortmain, a gentleman of leisure and a student of modern surgery, is interested in a case of limb grafting, carried to a successful completion by his friend, Dr. Crisp. Later in the play, his own hand is badly injured, and the doctor informs him that he must lose it or accept the alternative of having another man's hand grafted upon the stump. The working out of this theme leads to several novel scenes of an intensely dramatic nature. Mr. Edeson gives a fine performance of the title role, and receives worthy support from the other members of the cast. An interesting feature of the entertainment is the first of a new series of "Sonny Jim" comedies by Elaine Sterne, featuring Bobby Connelly. "Sonny Jim and the Amusement Company, Ltd.," is the picture for the week, and tells how the irrepressible Sonny ran a circus in opposition to a Sunday School Picnic. "Willie Stayed Single," the comical adventures of a tramp, who preferred remaining a bachelor rather than be bossed, and Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew in "The Professional Diner," the amusing story of a young Englishman who acts as guest No. 14 at hotel dinners, fill out the balance of the program. Hazel Dawn at the Strand. Hazel Dawn in "The Heart of Jennifer," a photodrama by Edith Bernard Delano, is the star attraction this week at the Strand theater. Miss Dawn's good looks and excellent acting are displayed to advantage in the picture. One of the strongest incidents in the story is the scene in which Jennifer, prompted by an unusual degree of love for her husband, accepts the guilt of his sister's crime in order that he may not know of the other's disgrace. From this point until the culmination of the plot, Jennifer becomes the object of the suspicions and even the hatred of her husband. In the end, in spite of Jennifer's efforts to keep her husband in the dark, the real situation comes to his knowledge. Miss Dawn is supported by a carefully chosen cast including James Kirkwood, Irene Howley and Russell Bassett. Some new colored scenic and scientific studies, brought to this country by the Pharos Film Company, are also shown on the screen. The Topical Review contains the latest American and European news pictures. A new comedy and a short dramatic subject complete the screen part of the entertainment. Katherine Irving, soprano, and Vernon Dalhart, tenor, are both newcomers to the Strand and are heard in operatic arias. "The Birth of a Nation" at the Liberty. "The Birth of a Nation" is in the seventh month of its run at the Liberty theater. With its 18,000 people and 3,000 horses moving through a drama that links romance with the vital periods of American history in a series of thrilling scenes to the number of over 5,000, it is easy to estimate the reasons for the wonderful success the work has achieved. The indications are that it will remain at the Liberty for the longest run in the history of the New York stage. George Fawcett at the Broadway. "The Majesty of the Law," a well written photoplay with scenes laid in Virginia and played by a capable cast headed by George Fawcett, is pleasing the audiences this week at the Broadway theater. Mr. Fawcett, who has a firmly established reputation for powerful character acting, finds many opportunities for satisfactory work in this play. He is supported by Myrtle Stedman, Jane Wolfe, John Oaker, and Charles Ruggles. South American Travel Pictures, Broadway Animated News and one-reel comedies round out the program. KLEINE MAKES "THE SENTIMENTAL LADY." "The Sentimental Lady," one of Owen Davis' delightful stories, will be Miss Irene Fenwick's next feature following her recently completed "The Green Cloak." Miss Fenwick and a cast of Broadway players are now at Lake Saranac where many of the out-of-door scenes are being made. "The Sentimental Lady" is an unusually charming story. It is a tale of big business, containing many dramatic scenes interspersed with much of summer life at the fashionable lake resorts. Paramount Convention in Chicago President Hodkinson Will Meet the Company's Representatives at the LaSalle Hotel. ACCOMPANIED by the erecutive staff of the New York office and many representatives located in the East, W. W. Hodkinson, president of the Paramount Pictures Corporation, will journey in two private cars, said to be the first ever attached to the Twentieth Century Limited, to Chicago, where a convention of Paramount representatives will be held. Mr. Hodkinson will leave New York on Wednesday, September 1. With him will be Raymond Pawley, Adolph Zukor, Samuel Goldfish, A. Weinberg, B. P. Schulberg, Carl H. Pierce, Wm. L. Sherry, W. F. Seymour, H. E. Spaulding, Frank D. Sniffen, George R. Meeker, John C. Flinn and Tarleton Winchester who will be joined by Hiram Abrams of the Famous Players Film Company of New England, W. E. Smith of the Famous Players Exchange, Philadelphia; George Mann of the Famous Players Exchange, Washington, and others. From the South will come representatives of the Southern Paramount Pictures Company, in Atlanta, New Orleans and Dallas, of which C. E. Tandy is the head. From Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco will come the Progressive Motion Picture Company's men. The Notable Feature Film Company of Salt Lake City and Denver, Colo.; the Famous Players Star Feature Film Company of Minneapolis, the Kansas City Feature Film Company, Kansas City, and the Casino Feature Film Company of Detroit will all meet the Eastern contingent at the LaSalle. It is expected that the meeting will last about three days. Matters affecting the distribution and marketing of Paramount productions will be discussed. Little Jerry iij ITTLE JERRY," perhaps one of the most versatile of the "little people" there is, is working with Jerold Hevener, the Wizard Motion Pictures Corporation director, in a picture entitled "The New Butler," which will be released through the World Film Corporation. "Little Jerry" will play the role of the butler. "Little Jerry," although he is only a little over two feet tall, is possessed of a marvelous voice, and he has sung both at the Hippodrome (New York) and in large auditoriums with a brass band. While he is most fond of the operas and classical songs, he is a great lover of ragtime, too. He says that he does not care what it is he is singing, just so he can make his audience respond. Jerry was born in Russia, and he reads and speaks Russian, French and German. Singing and dancing are merely his avocations. He is a realfledged architect, being a graduate of an architectural school. At present he is drawing plans for a laboratory for a motion picture company. "Little Jerry" will not give his full name because he has a brother who sings in grand opera and he does not want the public to know who he really is until he. too, has gotten to the top, as he says. "The New Butler" will be finished this week. Mr. Hevener has just completed a picture in which Joe Schrode played the role of a stage -? and Pearl Shepard the leading part. Jerold Hevener (Little Jerry).