Moving Picture World (Jul - Aug 1918)

July 20, 1918 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 371 and they are getting paid to just sit there and enjoy themselves. This, Ladies and Gentlemen, ends our trip today. Heart Interest S ories Wee of the An Embryo Booster. T T OW do you like Los Angeles?" I asked J_ J, David Morrissey, who has just arrived to take the place of Stuart Acheson, former head of Fox publicity for the West Coast. "Before I got into the picture publicity game," replied Mr. Morrissey, "I used to . cover the ships for a New York news _ paper. You know 'ship' reporters are "supposed to meet every distinguished ; European visitor with the question, 'How do you like America?' before he ever ! steps on United States soil. We used to laugh at this story, although it was in eluded in the American impressions of many visitors to our shores. But since coming to Los Angeles I do not laugh, .because that same thing has happened to me. I was asked the question, 'How do you like Los Angeles?' as soon as I stepped •from the train, and the query has been propounded to me many more times since. I will say, however, that my first impressions are very good, and if I keep on liking Los Angeles like I have started out liking it, I will wind up by liking it like a native son." It's a Good Old World. It is almost as great a pleasure to me to watch the happiness of one on 'whom the fates have smiled as to get the smile myself. I had this pleasure last week when visiting the George Kleine exchange in the Knickerbocker building. J. A. Quinn, the shipping clerk, entered the room with a look of dazed happiness on his face and something clutched tightly in his right hand. "I just went back there," he said, pointing to the cloak room, "and shook down an old vest" — and his voice trembled with joy — "and found sixty-five cents that I had left in one of the pockets over three months ago." It was indeed a moment of great rejoicing, and it was lunch time, and the Red Cross was giving a swell feed on one of the upper floors of the building. Edwards Has Been Fishing. J. Gordon Edwards, manager of productions at the Fox West Coast studios, has just canceled a number of personal appearance bookings he made just before his departure for Big Bear Lake on a fishing trip. If the dates had been kept each scene would have shown Mr. Edwards approaching the home of one of his friends bearing a string of rainbow trout and other tasty fish, with the friend and his family on the front porch in an admiring and welcoming attitude — just like one of McCutcheon's illustrations of the George Ade fables. No male member of the Los Angeles film colony is considered as having thoroughly joined until he has been to Big Bear Lake. Mr. Edwards accordingly made big preparations for a two weeks' stay at the resort. Upon arrival, however, he found that the altitude was conducive neither to comfort nor fishing, so he packed up and came away. Mr. Edwards says he finds no record of Isaak Walton ever going fishing at an altitude of 8,000 feet, and so considers he did nothing unethical or against the rules of piscatorial sport when he came down to sea level after a two days' stay. Monks Come High. Albert Shelby LeVino, head scenario editor and continuous continuity writer for Metro's West Coast plant, stood on the little porch of the bungalow in which his sanctum is located. An organ grinder known all over Hollywood as Tony ap poached. Right out of the air LeVino had an idea. "I'll get this fellow to lend me his outfit," he said, "and take it over to the studio and have Anna Nilsson photographed with the monk and organ. It will make a great publicity picture for the trade papers." The proposition was put up to Tony, and two bits offered as a tentative bait, but he showed no enthusiasm. LeVino increased the bait to fifty cents, then six bit.s, and then one dollar. Tony smiled with scorn. "Say," he said, "wat you tink? Dis monk costa me good money. Two 'undred doll'." "Listen," said LeVino. "You'll go down the street and play your organ for an hour, and only make a few pennies. I'm offering you a whole dollar just to have the monkey's picture taken"! Tony shrugged his shoulders. "Say!" demanded LeVino, as Tony started away, "who do you think you are, George Beban"? Studio Shorts BLANCHE SWEET has just completed her first picture under the management of Harry Garson, and will go East very shortly, where her next production "The Unpardonable Sin," from the Rupert Hughes story, will be staged. Miss Sweet expects to take the rattler for the East early in July. Bertram Grassby, former Fox heavy, is cast as the Duke de Sauterne in Mae Murray's new picture, "Merry Mary McGuire." Mary Pickford has presented a hundred Victory field showers — a shower bath apparatus that can be suspended from a tree — to the 142d Regiment Field Artillery, her godsons. Vera Lewis, who is taking a vacation from the studios just now, has been elected secretary of the Stage Women's War Relief, of Los Angeles. Adda Gleason, who played Ramona to Monroe Salisbury's Allesandro, is again working with Monroe in a coming Bluebird, "That Devil Bateeste." The Lois Weber studio has been designated as a Red Cross Salvage Station for the Moving Picture War Service Association. One half of the studio building has been donated for offices and store rooms. Clara Kimball Young is on her way East by way of Canada, and will stop over at Lake Louise for a few days rest. Miss Young is to make a film adaptation of "Cheating Cheaters," Max Marcin's underworld drama, in the near future. Arthur Shirley, star of Thomas Dixon's "Fall of a Nation," is playing an important role in "A Matrimonial Cleanup," a Harry Carey production. Mabel Normand in "The Venus Model." Joe Rickson, specialist in Mexican heavy types, is supporting Roy Stewart In the star's story, "Cactus Crandall," now being filmed at Triangle. Jack Curtis, for the past year a Trie actor, is working in a Fox picture, under the direction of Lynn Reynolds. Ralph Lewis has contracted to appear in coming Triangles. Charlie Chaplin's new comedy is a war picture, he says. George Beban, who took out a large insurance policy on his life a few days ago, is considering taking out another policy on George, Jr. Just to amuse himself during the week that elapsed between the finishing of his last picture and the beginning of his next, Douglas Fairbanks made personal appearances at various theaters in the interests of W. S. S., treated several hundred students of a Balloon School to a watermelon feast, and was chief entertainer at a benefit given by the Hollywood Junior Belgian Relief Committee. J. Barney Sherry has moved his household goods from the house he occupied on the palisades of Santa Monica to his new residence in the fashionable Wilshire district of Los Angeles. Lois Weber has returned from Monterey, Cal., where she went for a few days of peace and quiet to finish a story she has been writing for early production. Jack Curtis, who has been assistant manager of Clune's Auditorium, has resigned that position, and it is said is turning an attentive ear to friends who urge him to take up acting. Corenne Grant is working in a production being made by the Al Jennings Company. Mary MacLaren is displaying a gold star in her service flag in memory of her cousin, Edward Reamer Agnew, who lost his life with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Toto, the clown, has left Rolin-Pathe, and has signed up with the Orpheum circuit, making his first step back from the screen to the stage at the Orpheum theater in Los Angeles. Jack Dillon has gone over to Universal. , Olga Gray is back at Triangle working in Christy Cabanne's new picture, "The Mayor of Filbert." Paul Powell, former Fine Arts director, will in future direct Bluebirds at U City. William E. Fildew, cameraman, will turn the crank at the command of Wilfred Lucas at Metro during the making of the May Allison pictures. Dorothy Gish is expected daily at the Sunset studio, where she is scheduled to begin work on her first Paramount picture under the direction of Elmer Clifton. William V. Mong has left Triangle and has gone back to Universal, his first love. Arthur Hoyt, former casting director at Triangle, has transferred his activities to another branch of the moving picture industry at Universal City, and is appearing in "The Yellow Dog," a Colin Campbell production. Bryant Washburn, who has just become a Lasky star, will be featured in straight drama, with Florence Vidor as his leading woman. Theda Bara, who has just finished one production and getting ready for another, is under the care of a physician, who advises complete rest from personal appearances in theaters and other exciting feats of patriotism during her short vacation. George Larkin, Diando serial star, is planning to give a dance for the soldiers in camp near the studio, with the big indoor stage for a dancing floor, and the studio jazz band to furnish the music. Carmel Myers has gone to New York for a short stay, and will return by the Southern route, with stopovers at various army camps where she has been invited to make addresses to the soldiers and otherwise amuse them. Albert Parker is a new director on the Triangle staff.