The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

586 MOVING PICTURE WORLD October 13, 1923 How Raymaker Became a Picture Director We are told that when Herman C. Raymaker was of school age he became desperate because the only stage in his home town was the coach which traveled over the hills to the next hamlet. And thus, it leaks out, in order to curb his anguish Raymaker bought extra fuel for the lamp and wrote a play which was later enacted by his school mates with such success that thunderous applause resounded o'er the village green. Satisfied that he had scored a haymaker, Raymaker decided 10 tie his other pair of shoes in a bag and seek towns where capacity might prove to be a little bigger than the group of his friends who had collected on that memorable occasion in the village hall. The next stop was Petaluma, California. The Mystic Theatre mystified him — it was so gigantic compared to the hall of his youth where minstrel plays and the village constable elections predominated. But the Mystic tried to make him feel at home and put him in the box office. Raymaker had been an active boy. He could hurdle any fence within the township. He knew where the best apples grew and could catch the biggest trout on a bare hook. Shoes to him — until he had written the play — had been an incumberance. So, when Raymaker breathed the free air once again, and slammed, for the last slam, the Mystic box office door, he strode into filmdom well equipped to do dangerous feats and let the comedy stars, for whom he at first doubled, smilingly accept the world's applause. In addition to leaping through space and running through fire and plunging through a sharkfed ocean, Raymaker could handle a broom and grip the shears. Before he knew it he was handling a megaphone. Then his big opportunity came. Sennett needed a director for the wellknown "Shriek," Ben Turpin. Raymaker got the job. Carlos in Conference on Production Plans Following the delivery of the first units of two Carlos Productions series, Abraham Carlos, head of that producing organization, is in New York conferring with the officials of Truart Film Corporation regarding future production plans. With the one unit, the first production of which was the picturization of Roland West's sensational stage play, "The Unknown Purple," Carlos plans to make three productions of similar calibre during the 1923-24 season. Each of these pictures will be adapted from successful stage plays with all-star casts. The Richard Talmadge series, which are also being produced by Carlos for Truart distribution, will consist of three productions during the present year. The first of these, made under the working title, "Fast Freight," has already been delivered to Truart. Independent Head Goes West to Complete Plans Mastodon to Increase Its Production Plans C. C. Burr, president of Mastodon Films. Inc., announces that this organization will make six instead of four special productions for the Independent market, the season of 1923-24. This increase of product is in line with the expansion of Mastodon following the recent announcement that Charles R. Rogers has become interested in the firm as vice-president and general manager of distribution. The Burr Big Six will include "Restless Wives," "Youth to Sell," "The Average Woman," "Lend Me Your Husband," and two well-known stories and Broadway stage successes, negotiations for which are being concluded and will be announced within ten days. Production plans for "Restless Wives" and '"Youth to Sell" are completed. Both of these Burr pictures will be started simultaneously at the Glendale Studio within a few days, in order to have them ready for early showings. "The Average Woman" is based upon one of Dorothy De Jagers' most successful Saturday Evening Post stories. "Lend Me Your Husband" is said to be a sensational and original modern-day drama written directly for the screen. To Start Producing "The Human Mill" Allen Holubar is now on the last stages of preparation before beginning actual production of "The Human Mill" the picturization of John Trot wood Moore's famous novel, "The Bishop of Cottontown," which forms one of the big units of the Metro 19231924 program. The story of Mr. Holubar's production is laid in the South during the turbulent days of the reconstruction period. Truart Starts Semon Films Sales Campaign President Jesse J. Goldburg, of the Independent Pictures Corp. starts for the Pacific Coast the latter part of the month to personally supervise the production of his new series. Mr. Goldburg says the state right buyers are making a big demand for pictures of action, stories that carry a punch. Mr. Goldburg believes that in "In the Spider's Web" he has one that will start off his list to good advantage. He has been in touch with the independent exhibitors for a long time. The Independent Pictures Corp. offices say that they are receiving inquiries as to the release date of "In the Spider's Web" and that President Goldburg is enthusiastic over the outlook from the different territories that have not vet been sold. Concurrently with the starting of the first Larry Semon productions on the coast, the New York sales officials of Truart Film Corporation have inaugurated the sales campaign which embraced the four Larry Semon productions to be made by Truart during the 1923-24 season. The first release will be an adaptation of the A. H. Woods success, "The Girl in the Limousine," written by Wilson Collison and Avery Hopwood. This will be followed by picturizations of three more stage comedies of national reputation. The first step in the sales campaign, under which the entire series will be sold direct to exhibitor by producer w'as the insertion of a four-page advertisement in all trade journals stating concisely the policy of Truart with reference to the Larry Semon comedies. before ta'<ing up her next screen role. Miss Westcott hopes to see all the new productions in the East. Sells Serial Louis Auerbach of the Export & Import Film Company, Inc. announces the sale of the fifteen episode wild animal serial, "The Jungle Goddess," produced by Col. Wm. X. Selig, to the Superior Feature Film Company, (Mr. Hawxhurst) of Denver, Colorado, for the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Southern Idaho. Netta Coming Here Xetta Westcott, English stage beauty whom Al Lichtman cast for her first picture role in "Maytime," is about to go to New Yor* Work Under Way Production work is well under way on the first of the three Jack White Specials which will be distributed during the coming year by Educational. The picture is not as yet titled. It is being directed by Norman Taurog under the supervision of Jack White, and its cast includes Mack Swain, Neely Edwards, Hank Mann, Lillian Hackett and Jack Lloyd. POftGIVE AND FOACET A New Patronage Builder If There Ever Was One !