Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1918)

March 2, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1219 M. Schenck is president and Roscoe Arbuckle vice-president, it will cost in the neighborhood of $100,000. Mr. Arbuckle is thoroughly satisfied with studio facilities at Long Beach, but he is not averse to considering the conjtruction of a studio of his own. The comedian spent his boyhood days in Santa Ana and it was there that he made his first stage appearance. Theda Bara Arrives on the Coast. Miss Theda Bara arrived in Los Angeles on February 9. Miss Bara was accompanied by her sister, Miss Loro Bara, eighteen years old, who probably will appear in pictures in the near future. The player was met at the station by her director, J. Gordon Edwards, who arrived here about a week ago, and members of the executive staff of the Fox Western Studios. Miss Bara's first production this winter in California will be a picture version of the famous story of "Salome." Elaborate preparations have been made at the Fox studios. It is expected Miss Bara will stay here for several months. Theater Owners Give Luncheon. The Theater Owners' Association gave its second luncheon on February 6. About a hundred were present. The guest was Major Woodman, who made a brief address. Several others gave short talks on the theme of business improvement. A great many exhibitors, film exchange men, representatives of the press and others interested in the business were present. Among those present were Councilwoman Lindsay and a representative of the chief of police, who requested the exhibitors to run a "safety first" film in their theaters to educate the public of the dangers of reckless automobile driving. The object of the meeting, Chairman Quinn stated, was a get-together of those intrusted to talk over important questions for the improvement of the industry. The next meeting was called for February 21, when many of the leading producers were expected to be present. At the Diando Studios. The Diando Film Corporation, at Glendale, has finished a five-reel feature, "A Daughter of the West," with Baby Marie Osborne supported by Frank Whitson, Marion Warner, J. Morris Foster, William Quinn, H. H. Lindley and a galaxy of medal wearing cowboys and cowgirls and atmosphere. The Baby Marie Osborne Company has started work on "Dolly Does Her Bit," which, as is always the case with Baby Marie Osborne features, will be a five-reel one. This is a juvenile play for all ages, most of the action being centered around the children, just enough adults being used to carry out the plot. Los Angeles Film Brevities. William Farnum is expected soon in the city. He will appear in a series of feature productions under the direction of Frank Lloyd. * * * Collector of Customs John B. Elliott has been named by the secretary of the treasury as censor of all films shipped into Mexico from Southern California. The collector's work will be to prevent the spread of German propaganda among the Mexican people. Every film must be licensed by the collector and sealed with a customs seal. The collector investigated 200 films since the first of January. He says that so far practically all of the films have been all right. * * * United States District Judge Trippet appointed W. H. Moore, Jr., as receiver of the Continental Producing Company, with a bond of $3,000. The trial of Robert Goldstein, charged with circulating pro-German propaganda through the exhibition of the picture, is set before United States District Judge Bledsoe for March 12. * * * Ted Shawn, the husband of Ruth St. Denis, has enlisted in the army and is stationed at Camp Kearney. * * * Charles T. Dazey has been engaged by the Metro Film Company to write special feature stories for Viola Dana and Edith Storey. Mr. Dazey recently completed an engagement with the American Film Company at Santa Barbara. He is of course best known as the author of "In Old Kentucky," now in its twenty-fifth season, which gives it a world record, but the position he has attained as a writer of photoplays gives promise of equal success in his new field. * * * Belle Bennett's return to the stage is a success. She opened in Ashton Stevens' new play, "Mary's Way Out," -it the Morosco theater of Los Angeles on January 27, and the dramatic critics the next day praised her interpretation of the difficult role of Nora Barrett. It has been several years since she has appeared behind the footlights. * * * Olive Thomas is back on the Triangle lot after giving her old New York the double-O, and is now anxiously waiting to begin work on her next picture, which will be directed by Jack Dillon. * * * The Sunshine Comedy that Henry Lehrman is making for William Fox has progressed far enough to show that it possesses a distinctly clever story. It has to do with a restaurant and a jail, from one to the other of which the play seems naturally to gravitate. "Ham," otherwise known as Lloyd Hamilton, is the principal figure in the play. * * * More than fifty sailors, all members of the Enlisted Men's Club of Los Angeles, inspected the Triangle Culver City studio as part of the entertainment program arranged for them by the society women who organized the club. * * * H. Sheridan Bickers, well known scenario writer, has left for New York to write for Pathe. * * * George Beban is trying to decide whether to brave the blizzards which are raging the other side of the Mississippi or remain here until after the spring thaw. Business in connection with the forming of the George Beban Photoplay Company and its launching requires a visit to New York, but the actor hasn't quite made up his mind that he prefers business to comfort. * * * Walter MacNamara, whose work has ranged from that of moneymaking spectacles to slap-stick comedies, has resigned from the scenario department of the Triangle-Keystone Company and has accepted the offer of F. Eugene Farnsworth of the Masterpiece Film Corporation to affiliate with his organization. Mr. MacNamara has just recovered from a serious nervous breakdown and the news of his recovery will please his many friends of the East and West Coasts. United Picture Theaters Formed Promoted by C. R. Seelye — Ochs Is President and Blumenthal Is Treasurer — To Commence March 1. THE United Pictures of America, Inc., a co-operative film company, owned, financed and controlled by motion picture exhibitors, has opened offices in the Mecca building at 1600 Broadway. The organization of the company has been in progress for several months; the actual incorporation was not completed until the present week. For the most part, the thirty film territories of the United States with fifty experienced exchange managers and salesmen have been arranged for, it is said, and the entire working staff will begin its activities by March 1. Lee A. Ochs, president of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' League of America, is president of the United; C. R. Seelye, formerly Business Manager for Pathe, Vitagraph and World is vice-president, in charge of the exchange and general business of the company; Louis F. Blumenthal, owner of the National Theater of Jersey City, Palace, Classic and Annex of New York, and Palace of Brooklyn, with three other theaters now in the process of construction, is treasurer; Charles M. Rosenthal, who is interested in a number of New York theaters, is secretary, and Milton M. Goldsmith, one of the best known film lawyers of New York, has been made general counsel. The following statement was issued from the offices of the United: "The United Picture Theaters of America, Inc., will make no contracts to secure pictures until 2,000 days have been signed, but as a number of days have already been secured the company expects to secure 4,200 days before September 1. The first release will be announced at that time or before and all prices will be based on that number of days. "The United plan proposes to reduce the film rentals about thirty per cent., giving producers a larger and quicker revenue than under the present expensive exchange system." NEW PLAYERS FOR TRIANGLE. With six new feature productions cast in the past week, the large Triangle playing forces have been taxed to the utmost and Casting Director Arthur Hoyt has engaged several new players to round out the production. Among the new faces at the Culver City studios are Zenaida Williams, Harvey Clark, Mary Marsch, five-year-old Frankie Lee, and Alice Knowland.