The Moving picture world (September 1920-October 1920)

October 2, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 625 PANORAMA OF THE NEfV CHRISTIE STUDIOS AS THEY NOW APPEAR. Christie Company Passed the 400 Mark in Light Comedies Within Four Years THE Christie Film Company, begun as a small independent single reel producing company four years ago this month, is celebrating its anniversary by passing a mark of 400 light comedy pictures, most of which have been known as Christie comedies, although several other brands of productions have figured in the four years' work of the Christie organization. Starting on a very small scale four years ago, the company now figures in a large way among the foremost producers of comedies and also in production of legitimate feature pictures. The Christies have already produced or have in production half of the twenty-four two-reel comedies called for in their contracts for the present season, which started in April of this year, and will run into releases for April of 1921. With these new two-reel comedies under way, the total number of Christie comedies produced numbers 220, of which 196 are Christie single reel comedies, which is the brand on which Al Christie established his fame as the leader ia polite comedy. Made 144 Others. Besides this volume of business, the Christie Film Company is also responsible for 144 Strand and Supreme cornedies, production of which was stopped in order to make room for expansion of activity in the Christie brands themselves, and for the occasional feature productions from the Christie studios, which will number about four a year. Dozens of the players who appeared in early Christie Comedies have departed from the studios; many have smce gained fame in other productions. When two wellknown' comedians left the Christie company two years ago, many predicted the failure of Christie Comedies because their chief funmakers were out of the pictures. But the following success of Christie pictures convinced the Christies that they were on the right track— i. e., presenting a certain type of comedy, with particular attention to stories and direction, featurmg and popularizing various new players jrom time to time, but never losing sight of the type or brand. Credit Due Directors. Al Christie, who is supervising director, attributes much of the consistency of his comedies to his directors, who have been with him continuously for three years. Foremost among these are Scott Sidney and William Beaudine, who, next to Christie himself, have produced the greatest number of Christie pictures. . On anniversary week this year, Al Christie is directing "See My Lawyer," the sec ond of his special productions, from the Broadway success by the same name. Sidney and Beaudine and Frederic Sullivan are each directing new two-reel special comedies, while James Clemens, the fifth of the directors, is making a single reel comedy for early release. Formidable List of Players. Players working in pictures at the studio on the anniversary compose a formidable list. In the feature picture are T. Roy Barnes, Grace Darmond, Jean Acker, Lloyd T. Whitlock, Ogden Crane, Tom McGuire, J. P. Lockney, Lincoln Plumer, Bert WoodruflF, Ward Caulfield, Phoebe Bassor and George French. In the comedies are Bobby Vernon, Eddie Barry, Neal Burns, Fay Tincher, Dorothy Devore, Earl Rodney, Helen Darling, Vera Steadman, Irene Dalton, Laura La Plante, Ray Gallagher, Francis Feeney, William Bletcher, Margaret Cullington, William Sloan, Lydia Yeamans Ti^us, Harry Rattenberry, Al Haynes, Bessie de Litch, Violet Grant, Florence Long and many others making up the corps of regular professionals who are engaged for good parts in single pictures. Officers of the company have been reelected as follows: Al Christie, president; C. H. Christie, treasurer and general manager; Fred L. Porter, secretary and vicepresident. To Have Broadway Showing Louis B. Mayer has advised his studio executives by wire from New York City that the latest Mildred Chaplin production, '"Hie Woman in His House," will have a Broadway showing within a few weeks at $2 prices. This is the picture which the popular star spent five months in filming, and which is said to be the best of her career and one of the best stories ever filmed. Mr. Mayer states that announcement of the date and theatre will be given out by the First National Exhibitors Circuit within a few days. Levey Begins Production of His Second Feature Picture Lillian Bonnie and Leslie Hull have been engaged for the leading roles in "The White Bottle," the second of the Harry Levey Productions features, which is being produced under the direction of Harry Fraser. Miss Bonnie is one of the Ziegfeld beauties, having been a principal in both the "Nine O'Clock Revue" and the "Midnight Frolic" during the season just past, under the name of Billie Dove. Lillian Bonnie, however, is the young woman's right name and she has decided that it is that one which she will perpetuate to fame on the silversheet. Mr. Hull, who is cousin to Henry Hull, appeared under the direction of D. W. Griffith both in "Way Down East" and "The Love Flower." "The White Bottle" is the second of the series of eight feature dramatic photoplays "with a purpose" which Harry Levey is planning to produce each year. Production has been started on this production. Easter Buys Jans Features. George C. Easter, president of the Independent Film Supply Co., of Baltimore, Md., closed contracts last week with F. E. Backer, general sales manager of Jans Pictures, Inc., for three features for Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia— "Wings of Pride" and "A Woman's Business" as well as the Jans super-feature "Madonnas and Men." AS THE CHRISTIE STUDIOS LOOKED IN 1916.