The Moving picture world (February 1920)

February 5, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD News of the West Coast 683 By A.H.GIEBLER Chaplin Resumes Work Charles Chaplin lias resumed his funny old shoes and old baggy clothes, and began work on the first of three additional comedies that he will make to complete his contract with Associated First National. Most of his old organization has been reassembled, with Alf Reeves as studio and business manager, and Edna Purviance as leading woman. Although the Chaplin studio had been leased for a lengthy period to Carter de Haven, an agreement was reached whereby Chaplin was given the exclusive use of the plant again. The De Haven picture, "The Girl in the Taxi," is in process of cutting and titling, and Mr. and Mrs. De Haven are planning to build a studio of their own. Working on "Unfoldment" The Producers' Pictures Corporation, the new film company financed by St. Louis capital, has leased space in the Hollywood studios, and with all preliminaries attended to, have begun shooting the first scenes of "The Unfoldment," a story by George H. Kern, with Florence Lawrence in the star role. Murdock MacQuarrie will direct and Hal Mehr will do the photography. William Conklin and Albert Presco have important supporting parts. Fairbanks Touring Country William Fairbanks, star of Western Star Productions, who has just completed a series of twelve western features, starts soon on a tour of the country, and will visit all the distributing centers, making personal appearances in theatres showing his pictures, and otherwise assist in the exploitation of the films. English Exhibitor Here Andrew P. Holt, a director of the Provincial Theatre Association, which controls seventy motion picture theatres in England, arrived in Los Angeles this week to stud\' motion picture production at first hand. Mrs. Holt stated that although British film production is picking up, he believes that a large percentage of American made films will always be shown in England. English audiences, he says, now want straight drama, with strong, logical endings. Comedy-dramas are not as popular there as they are in America. New Theatre Planned Plans have been accepted for a building to be erected in Long Beach, which will house one of the largest and most elaborate theatres in the country. The structure will be on Ocean avenue between Pine and American avenues. The theatre will be leased by Fred A. Miller and Roy Miller, of the California and Miller's theatres in Los Angeles, and will represent the first link in a projected chain of Miller playhouses in Southern California. The new theatre is designed to afford seats for 2,500 persons. The interior will be finished in the style of ancient Egypt, with decorations patterned after the Moorish. Modern heating and lighting and ventilation apparatus will be installed, as well as all sorts of rest rooms, nurseries and other conveniences for the comfort of the patrons. Virginia Valli Returns After completing her characterization of Lady Alice Pipinworth in Famous Players forthcoming picturization of "Sentimental Tommy," Virginia Valli decided to give herself a vacation from which she has just returned to New York. Miss Valli visited her home town at Chicago where she made her start, in pictures at the Essanay studios. One of Miss Valli's main reasons for cutting short her vacation is to take up the matter of several motion picture engagements which have been offered her, and to be present at the screening in New York of "The Plunger" (starring George Walsh) and "The Silver Lining" (a Jewel Carmen production), in bot"h of which she played prominent roles and which are being released almost simultaneously. Institutes Innovation An innovation in the amusement world will come to pass during the week of February 14, when Vera Gordon will be the two-fold attraction at the Broadway Theatre in New York City. It will be remembered that Miss Gordon is now touring the Keith circuit as a headliner in a sketch entitled "Lullaby," written expressly for her by Edgar Allan Woolf, and when the Broadway management booked her forthcoming Selznick special, "The Greatest Love," B. S. Moss saw the great box-office possibilities in combining these two attractions. For the first time in the history of this house since it has gone over to the big time vaudeville, Vera Gordon's act will be seen only twice a day instead of having her give the three shows that have been the routine at the Broadway. Prepares Screen Version of Oliver Holmes' Book Eve Unsell Photoplay Staff, Inc., through special arrangement with Houghton Mifflin Company, has just completed a screen version of "The Guardian Angel," Oliver Wendell Holmes' book, which in its time was one of the biggest sellers in the book field. This book was the first of its type ever written. By special arrangement with Harper & Brothers, the company has also just completed a screen version of "Second Youth" by Allan Updegraff. These two books will shortly be offered to the trade for motion picture production. Frances Eldridge, whose success on the silver sheet was predicted when she first made her picture debut, after playing on the speaking stage with Ernest Truex in "The Bashful Hero," will be seen in a prominent part in "The Foreigner," which will shortly be released by First National. When "The Price of Possession" is released by Famous Players-Lasky with Ethel Clayton in the stellar role, Rockcliffe Fellowes will be seen in a dual role. In some respects, it is said, it is the best work of his screen career. SCENES FROM THE NEW SERIES OF NICK CAR TER DRAMAS BEING RELEASED BY PIONEER There will be fifteen in this series, and Tom Carrigan will be the star