Moving Picture World (Apr 1916)

April 22, 1916 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 633 Paramount Program John Barrymore and Marguerite Clark in Features — Bray Cartoons and Other Specialties. COMEDY— played as only Jack Barrymore can play it— and a delightful film adaptation of Eleanor Hallowell Abbott's charming story "Molly Make-Believe," in which dainty Marguerite Clark will star, are the two fivereel offerings on the Paramount Program for the week of April 17. Both are from the studio of the Famous Players. tnun -100 Scene from "Col. Heeza Liar Wins a Pennant" (Paramount). Barrymore will appear in a picturization of "The Red Widow," the popular comedy by Channing Pollock and Rennold Wolf, and will have the support of several members of the cast in the original production. Flora Zabelle, co-star in the stage production, appears as Anna Varvara, and John Hendricks and George E. Mack are seen in the roles of the Baron and Popova, as they were in the original version. An excellent cast will appear in support of Miss Clark in "Molly Make-Believe," including J. W. Johnson, Edwin Mordant, Mahlon Hamilton, Gertrude Norman and others. Henry Reuterdahl, greatest naval expert in the United States, will start the naval series of the "Preparedness" films in the thirteenth release of the Paramount Pictographs. The startling inadequacy of the United States army revealed by statesmen and army experts through the screen campaign of the Paramount Pictures Corporation has already attracted widespread attention throughout the nation. The inadequacy of the navy will be shown in a similar manner beginning with the release of the week of April 17. Also included in this week's features for the "magazine on the screen" will be "Better Babies," a political cartoon by J. R. Bray; "Things We Should Know," "How Submarines Go Down" and a new chapter in the "Hazards of Happifat." "Through the Lowlands of Luzon with Burton Holmes," the twelfth release of the Paramount-Burton Holmes TravelPictures, and "Colonel Heeza Liar Wins the Pennant," Paramount-Bray Animated Cartoon, will be the two other single reel releases on the Paramount program for the same week. Colonel Heeza Liar comes to the rescue and saves the map of the war-stricken Europe in this picture, pulling down the pennant over the ruins of the enemy's fortress in the Battle of Dead Man's Hill No. 23. Taking up his position in a private trench he plays havoc with the enemy's lines and has just settled down for a peaceful rest when his trench is destroyed by one of the enemy's shells. Heeza Liar retreats hastily by hopping on a passing cannon ball, but finds his men are either dead or have deserted. The Colonel's last cannon has been shot to pieces when an idea restores his backbone. He remembers his batting record with the Podunk Giants back in '85. From the wreckage he pulls the small end of the cannon barrel and bats the enemy's missiles back on their heads until they are in full retreat. Reinforcements arrive just as he pulls down the pennant. In the Paramount-Burton Holmes Travel Pictures "Through the Lowlands of Luzon" Mr. Holmes shows the beauty of this island wonderland of the Philippine hemp industry. Luzon supplies hemp to the entire world. Hemp •''weavers" caught by the camera are partly Spanish and partly native Filipino beauties. The primitive lives of the Negritos, lowest type of human beings in existence, are also shown in this release, which is noteworthy for its industrial interest as well as for its scenic beauty. "Dollars and the Woman" Film, Which Censors Barred, Wins Praise from Two Extremes of Society. WHEN the august members of the Pennsylvania Board of Censors saw fit recently to place an embargo on the showing of "Dollars and the Woman," a Lubin release through V-L-S-E., an appeal to the courts against their decision was instantly taken. The case came up in Philadelphia Marcli 31st, before Judges Audenreid, Carr and Eindletter, in the Court of Common Pleas, it being the first time that a trial of the kind had been held in this court, the justices resolved to visit the Lubin studio and gain first-hand knowledge of the subject by viewing the picture. This was done, and it was apparent that tiie members of the distinguished audience were favorably impressed with the film, Judge Audenreid remarking that it was a beautiful picture. Decision was reserved and the censor brigade, evidently somewhat wary of tiie outlook, made advances toward peace with the producers. "We think," said one of them soothingly, "that you people were a trifle too hasty in rushing this matter into the courts. There is every likelihood that a compromise could be reached if it were talked over in detail." "That," rejoined the Lubin legal representative, "is just where we differ in opinion. There can be no compromise where there is nothing to compromise, which is our contention in tins case.'' The praise accorded the film by Judge Audenreid found an echo in another quarter very far removed !n social, .f not business distance, from the judicial bencii. For «ume time past George Balsdon, manager of the V-L-S-E. Boston branch office, has injected a little gaiety into the gloom of the Rhode Island Penitentiary by exhibiting Big Four pictures to the inmates once a week. An enthusiastic reception was given to "Dollars and the Woman" by the prison patrons, one of whom wrote in part to Mr. Balsdon as follows: "We had the good fortune to see 'Dollars and the Woman.' The boys think it is the best picture they have had. Everybody in the picture worked well. There were no impossibilities, nor was there anything suggestive. I looked around and saw many an eye wet with tears." The writer of the above is said to have developed considerable talent in scenario construction, and with the assistance of sample instructions in the art forwarded him from the V-L-S-E., has high hopes of producing dramas which will earn him recognition as a screen author. It is a far cry from the judicial bench to the penitentiary, and in fact that "Dollars and the Woman" found appreciation in both quarters furnishes undisputable evidence of the human interest appeal the feature makes to all classes of society. REMODELS ALHAMBRA THEATER. Miss Anna Bell Ward, proprietor of the Alhambra theater, Richmond, Ky., is to remodel and enlarge that house. When it is completed it will be one of the most beautiful moving picture theaters in that region. Although the work of improvement is going on there is no cessation in the daily program. A balcony is to be built in, the structure will be lengthened fifty feet, new seats will be installed and a new screen and projection apparatus will be purchased. Miss Ward has sold a half interest in the Alhambra to the Colonial Amusement Company of Lexington, Ky., and the new company is now incorporated for $20,000. The renovated house will be practically fireproof. OKMULGEE TO HAVE NEW THEATER. George Kanavuts, owner of the Yale theater, Sapulpa, Okla., and Lust Haniotis of Okmulgee, are soon to erect a moving picture and vaudeville theater in the former city. It is estimated that the new structure will cost $40,000, and will have a seating capacity of $1,500. There will be a stage big enough to accommodate any size road show. The house will be built of fireproof material and will contain all modern conveniences. RIALTO OPENING APRIL 21. Owing to delay in construction the Rialto theater, S. L. Rothapfel's new picture house, will not be ready for its premier until April 21. The delay is attributed to the pernicious activities of Oscar Hammerstein, who haled the Rialto folk into court on some trivial claim and caused a suspension of business on the part of the contractors.