Moving Picture World (Jul 1919)

THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 229 July 12, 1919 Men of Brains Write Pathe Serials for Stars of Renown on Stage and Screen tinue on our program. She has just started work on a new serial which will introduce her to the fans in the triple role of star, author, and producer. Ruth Roland, Three-in-One. “It will be called ‘The Adventures of Ruth’ and will be produced by Ruth Roland Serials, Inc., the star’s newly formed producing company. Miss Roland wrote the story herself and Gilson Willets, who wrote the scenarios for Miss Roland’s last serials, ‘Hands Up!’ and ‘The Tiger’s Trail,’ will do this scenario. William Parke will direct it. “‘The Third Eye’ is the title which has been chosen by Louis J. Gasnier for the serial which his company (Astra) is to make for Pathe. It is from the pen of H. H. Van Loan, a new writer who has come to the front in motion pictures within the past year. Mr. Gasnier has secured Warner Oland, known among screen ‘heavies,’ for one of his featured principals; and Eileen Percy will also be featured in ‘The Third Eye.’ “Theodore Wharton, one of the Ithaca Wharton Brothers, will also produce a serial for Pathe. Mr. Wharton needs no introduction to either exhibitor or fan since the Whartons have been turning out successful serials for years. His serials will be called ‘The Crooked Dagger.’ Frederick Chapin will write the scenario and Mr. Wharton will, himself direct. Serials 18 Months Ahead. ‘^'Bound and Gagged’ will be the title of the second serial G. B. Seitz, Inc., will produce for Pathe. Mr. Seitz, who will also direct this serial announces it as a new idea as it is to be a light comedy. The story is by Frank Leon Smith and is declared to be most novel. Mr. Smith will also do the scenario. “The Arthur P. Beck Serials, Inc., will produce a serial entitled ‘The Isle of Jewels.’ This story is by C. T. Dazey, the author of ‘In Old Kentucky.’ Francis Mann and Stuart Holmes will be the featured principals and it will be directed by Perry Vekroff. “This serial program,” Mr. Brunet adds, “is the most comprehensive ever announced and is planned to give exhibitors a continuous showing of the best serials that money and brains can produce. It is in direct line with our policy and our slogan, ‘What the Exhibitor Desires.’ ” AN imposing array of producing and writing talent is announced by Paul Brunet, vice-president and general manager of Pathe Exchange, Inc., in connection with Pathe’s serial program for 1919-1920. Famous names and names of newcomers' are in the list of fictionists writing the Pathe output. George B. Seitz Productions, Inc., announces two issues for the program. The first of these will be “The Black Secret,” by Robert W. Chambers, the last serial in which Pearl White will appear. Mr. Chambers is rated as America’s greatest novelist, and his work is known wherever fiction is read. Many of his stories have been done on the screen, but “The Black Secret” is the first from his pen to be done in serial form. Seitz’s Long List of Serials. George Brackett Seitz, producer of “The Black Secret,” although under thirty years of age, is among the successful serial makers of the industry. He started as a scenario writer, and is the author of a number of original scripts which were produced on the Pathe Gold Rooster program, including “The Spender,” “The Last Volunteer” and “The Nihilist.” Among his adptations are “Nedra,” “The Closing Net,” “The Beloved Vagabond,” “The Galloper,” and “The Light That Failed.” His list of serial productions, all of which he directed personally and most of which he wrote, includes “The Perils of Pauline,” “The Exploits of Elaine,” “The Iron Claw,” “The Shielding Shadow,” “Pearl of the Army,” “The Fatal Ring,” “The House of Hate,” “The Lightning Raider” and “The Black Secret.” “Black Secret” Soon Released. The screen adaptation of “The Black Secret” was done by Bertram Millhauser, another man young in years, but old in experience in serial making. For several years he has been associated with Mr. Seitz, and his record includes the continuity on “The Mystery of the Double Cross,” and co-authorship on “The Fatal Ring,” “The House of Hate” and “The Lightning Raider.” Frank Leon Smith, a newcomer in serials, is the author of “Bound and Gagged,” the second Seitz production on the forthcoming program. For the last two years Mr. Smith has been scenario editor for Louis J. Gasnier and has done many adaptations and continuities. Van Loan Making a Name. H. H. Van Loan is the author of “The Third Eye,” the Gasnier production for the Pathe serial program. It has as its featured players Warner Oland, the experienced screen “heavy,” and Eileen Percy. Mr. Van Loan has the distinction of having conducted the first motion picture column that ever appeared in a New York newspaper. Van Loan was the editor of “Flashes from the Screen,” that ran in the New York Globe and other newspapers, and later was foreign correspondent for the New York American and feature writer for the New York World. He is the author of two novels, “The Cross of Shame” and “Crimson Iris,” and several five-reel photoplays. Louis J. Zasnier, who will produce “The Third Eye,” is known to the industry as president and general manager of the Astra Film Corporation. Among the successful Pathe serials produced by this concern are “The House of Hate,” “The Mystery of the Double Cross,” “The Seven Pearls,” “The Shielding Shadow” and “Pearl of the Army.” Ruth Roland Writes Her Own. Ruth Roland herself wrote the story on which her new serial is based. It is called “The Adventures of Ruth” and will be produced by the newly formed producing company, Ruth Roland Serials, Inc. Miss Roland is known as the star of such successful Pathe serials as “The Price of Folly,” “The Neglected Wife,” “The Red Circle,” “Who Pays?” “Hands Up!” and The Tiger’s Trail.” The scenario for “The Adventures of Ruth” is by Gilson Willets, manager of the Pathe scenario department, and rates among the well-known writers of fiction and travel. Mr. Willets is the Harold Lloyd and June Caprice, at Either End, Simply Dazzled by the Idea of the New Pathe Features. From left to right, Harold Lloyd, Marjorie Rambeau, Virginia Pearson, and June Caprice who will be featured in the special attractions for the Pathe program.