Moving Picture World (Sep - Oct 1918)

1710 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 21, 1918 RUBBERNECKING IN FILMLAND LADIES and gentlemen, ensconced in a palm-embowered spot on top of the hill we are now ascending is the studio of that staunch and sturdy exponent of the romantic movies. J. Warren Kerrigan. The history of this young man ii worthy of a little consideration. Mr. Kerrigan was born in Louisville. Kentucky, and although a naturally precocious child, did not give promise cf becoming an actor by reciting William J. Byron's "Battle of Waterloo" and other pieces in a tine dramatic voice and appropriate gestures at the age of five, as many of our prominent stars have done On the contrary, he was designed by his parents to grace the Episcopalian pulpit, and studied assiduously with that end in view. At the age of nineteen, however, finding the sock and buskin more alluring than the stole and surplice, he joined out with a show. About three years on the regular stage, during which time he cracked the ice of public approval in several placo he shook the dust of the oral drama from his feet, secured a toe hold on the tiim ladder and started to climb. Since that day he has made several hundred movies, several millions of friends, stirred the hearts and minds of romantic maidens and evoked the envy of urban and suburban swains from Danbury. Connecticut, to Beersheba. Oregon, and broke his leg in two places. A Clo»e-Up of a Mainate. • As we pass through this office we are afforded a splendid do-e-up of a film magnate. The gentleman at the desk is Jesse D. Hampton, the head of the producing company under whose direction Mr. Kerrigan is now operatmg. We will emerge to the stage. The play being made here is called "Three X Gordon." It is a light comedydrama, and is unique in the fact thai there is no bad man anywhere in the piece, no mysterious papers, plots or plans, no intriguing individual to inveigle an innocent Injogene, no scheming scoundrel to cast covetous eyes at a Nellie of the Cloaks an<l Suits, nobody falsities tin ' ' ! blames it on the Los Angeles Correspondent Personally Conducts Our Readers Through the West Coast Studios By Giebler heiiiiiif'> brother, nobody puts a spider in anybody's biscuit — the play is absolutely villainless. The girl in the wide hat is Lois Wilson, leading lady of the studio. The career of Miss Wilson also offers an interesting study, and a valuable hint to all young girls who want to get in the movies. Three years ago this girl was totally unknown to fame, as far as the screen was concerned. How then did she attain her present status? Very simple. The people living down south, in the region bounded by the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Me.xico. the Mason and Dixon line and the shell road in Mobile, held a contest to see who was the most beautiful girl in their midst, and when the votes were all in Lois Wilson was "it." Forthwith she was in great demand in the films, and has been ever since. Any girl wanting to get a place in the pictures can follow Miss Wilson's example by making a noise like the most beautiful girl in seven states. Step over here to the right and you will be able to see some spirited .iction beinn worked out. How a Hired Man'* Bedroom Look*. This scene represents the interior of a hired man's bedroom and boudoir on a farm near Beeville, New Jersey. The cot near the door is occupied by Mr. Kerrigan. The chap simulating slumber near the wall is Jack Gilbert, one of our best known juveniles. On the pallet on the floor is Stanhope Wheatcroft. This is Mr. Whcatcroft's first appearance in pictures for a long time He used to appear in Fox films, but until recently was in the spoken dranvi ■ •' ' • ■ -nr named Kerrigan ai "The Man with the Plow." -Maude Adams, who had a small comjiany on the road. The director is Ernest Ward. Yes, Lady, the director tells the players what to do and how to do it. That's what he's paid for. As you see. he is now instructing Mr. Wheatcroft that he is to crawl under Kerrigan's cot. reach the door and try to escape. Now they're off! Observe the serpentlike grace of Wheatcroft as he crawls under the cot. See, the doughty and intrepid hero is awake — he grabs him by the foot and drags him back to captivity. The plot of the story concerns two \oung chaps, Kerrigan and Gilbert, who live in the silk sock section of New ^'ork. One day their respective fathers turn them out to shift for themselves. They get a job on a farm and like it so well that they start a school for the reformation of millionaires' sons. Wheatcroft, who takes the part of a small town dude, is their first victim. Here** a Farmer Without Whi*ker*. \'our attention is called to the other end of the stage. This scene represents the interior of a farm house, and is occupied by a farmer in the person of Walter Perry. Your particular attention is called to Mr. Perry's make-up. and you will observe that he does not have the customary chin whiskers and is not chewing a straw. Mr. Perry is one of our best known character actors, and is especially good in rural parts. He has never been known to say "Ry heck," or "b'gosh," or any of the other familiar farmer terms without which few actors of either the stage or screen would be completely lost. The young lady entering the scene from the left is Leatrice Joy. .She is supposed to be the farmer's daughter. Mr Perry and Miss Joy are rehearsing while the other scene is being finished. The lady knitting on the pink sweater is Pearl Lovci. The thoughtful looking man in the chair is Charles French. Mr. I'rench i'* made up to represent a successful business man, and Miss Lovci will he his stenographer as soon as the property man gets the business ofTice (ii.il he is wf)rkiiig on arranged. AnJ a Non-Gum-Chewing Stenographer. Miss Lovii, as well as Waller Perry, violates some of the most cherished iradilioiis of the stage and screen. When playing a stenographer she does not chew gum, talk into the telephone (»ut of the corner of her mouth, or stick a tiencil in her hair. The two men near the table are Jay iielasco and Fred Bond. The somewhat sun-wiltcd but still dislinguishel looking; persons entering the stage with man.ii-er Hamilton are the well known and justly celebrated team of bfiokinp agents, pla\ and story brokers, and New N'ork representatives. Willis and Inglis. otherwise known as Dick and Giis, One more scene ami our day will have been most profitably filled. Glance over to the lemon orchard to the right, and never say again that actors do not earn their money. If Kdfiie Markham. who wrote the words to the popular song. "The ^fan with the Hoe," could have -ccn Jack Kerrigan in this scene he would undoubtedly have made the name of his ballad read, "The Man with the Plow."