Paramount and Artcraft Press Books (1918)

^ FUBLICn Y NOIES FOR LIVE-WIRE EXHIBITORS For Us© in Newspapers and Theatre Programmes Mr. EXHIBITOR: — On this page are just the kind of news items the motion picture editors of your local newspapers WANT and WILL PRINT at any time. Send a column of this page to each of your two or more important newspapers. If you prefer it, have your stenographer typewrite the stories and insert the name of your theatre in each item and then send them to the motion picture editors. THIS MEANS DESIRABLE PUBLICITY FOR YOUR THEATRE AND ATTRACTIONS. These items also may be used to advantage in your house programmes. Members of the Town & Country Films Co., Inc., producers of the Paramount-Flagg comedieis, have moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where they are making three new comedies for i^aramount release. The three scripts which are being produced in picture form under the supervision of James Montgomery Flagg are: “Beresford of the Baboons,” ‘‘The Last Bottle,” a cunningly fashioned story of the fate of the last bottle of champagne when the world goes dry, and “Pride and Po’k Chops,” a Southern travesty. The brilliant humor and wit of the artist-producer is said to be the chief feature of all three comedies. * « * Douglas Fairbanks, the Artcraft star, just cannot help being 100 per cent patriotic. Despite the time that he was away from his own business many days during the recent Liberty Loan and United War Campaign drives, the noted star accepted an appointment as manager of 500 allstar salesmen who started out one day recently to help Los Angeles over the top in its War Stamp campaign. In case the star ever decides to retire from pictures, he doubtless will be ine of the most sought after salesmen ever known, as he has smashed all records in every campaign in which ■ has engaged. « « • Burton Holmes, the noted traveler and lecturer, who has been producing Paramount-Burton Holmes Travel Pictures for many months, has returned from an extended stay in Europe during which he took many pictures showing the work of the “Yanks” in England, France and Italy. His English views show the Yankee soldiers preparing for strenuous duty across the Channel in the aviation fields, military cooking schools, war dog school, tank training corps and naval activities. These will be released under the Paramount banner. * * * Elsie Ferguson, the Artcraft star who enjoys the double distinction of being one of the most beautiful and talented screen actresses of the day, recently went to Miami, Florida, with her company, where she was engaged in filming scenes for her new picture, “The Salt of the Earth,” adapted from the story by George Weston which was published recently in the Saturday Evening Post. WILLIAM FAVERSHAM, the noted producer and actor, made his reappearance upon the screen after an absence of many months in “The Silver King,” the film adaption of the famous play by Henry Arthur Jones, which has just been released as the fifth of a series of Paramount-Artcraft Specials. The eminent star is supported by Barbara Castleton as leading woman and a strong cast of well known players. The photoplay is an ideal one, in that it contains practically every element that goes to make up picture-suspense, thrills, romance, western action, mystery adventure and heart interest appeal. « • » Quite unbeknown to a large majority of his friends scattered about the country, Wallace Reid, Paramount star, has been qualifying as a speed demon these days. While taking scenes for a new Paramount picture, the athletic star dashed about at the rate of 110 miles an hour at Santa Monica, California, which, he swears, is about as rapidly as he cares to travel. Wally was willing to stop it almost any point, but James Cruze, who is directing the picture, demonstrated that he was a bear for speed "oo — that is, when some one else is doing the speeding, and refused to signal stop until the cameraman had en enough “speed stuff” to film a renuine speed marathon. * « « Ben Turpin, Charles Lynn. Alice Lake, et al, of the Mack Sennett studio are being buffeted about these days in the cause of art-that is, they worked upon a new Paramount-Mack Sennett comedy.. It has been titled “Cupid’sDay Off,” and Ben’s stutterng eyes add to the confusion that ollows Daniel’s embargo on work. * « * Because President Wilson has heartily enjoyed the Paramount-Bray Pictographs, Charles Hart, director of the division of films of the Committee on Public Information, has requested the Bray Studios to ship eight of the most popular of the Pictographs to Europe for the entertainment of the peace party. It is the intention of the President to show the cartoons to distinguished Europeans in order that they may gain an appreciation of the win-the-war work the American artists have been doing. Mr. and MRS. SIDNEY DREW, whose work on the stage and in pictures has been epitomized with the slogan “They Keep You Smiling,” returned to the screen after an absence of many months early in February. Their first picture was “Romance and Rings,” a sparkling comedy of today, by Emma Anderson Whitman, produced under the supervision of the Drews. Following this will come “Once a Mason,” a delightfully amusing story by Albert Payson Terhune of a newlywed who tries to keep his lodge secrets from his wife. The Paramount-Drew comedies will be released monthly, and will be produced by the Drews in addition to< their work upon the stage in “KeepHer Smiling,” now on tour. A complete motion picture outfit is carried! by the company, scenes for the new’ comedies being taken in localities best, suited to the demands of the scripts. This is said to be the first time that, such an undertaking has ever been, attempted by stars of the legitimate stage who are also appearing in pictures. * ♦ ♦ Shirley Mason, the Paramount star, was called upon to act as one of the judges to award the prizes for the most strikingly decorated automobile in an elaborate New Year’s Eve automobile parade in Los Angeles. So many bewilderingly beautiful cars were entered that the little star was nearly prostrated with the problem of selecting the winner. « « « The first scene of the ParamountArtcraft Special picture based upon the activities of the Salvation Army in peace and war were taken the other day at the Lasky studios in Hollywood, Calif., while a genuine Salvation Army band and numerous Salvation Army workers appeared before the camera. The picture is being directed by Edward Jose and the cast includes such favorites as Eugene O’Brien, Catherine Calvert and Ruby de Remer. • • • A number of stars in the MackSennett galaxy of film comedians have been busy for some time upon a new Paramount-Mack Sennett comedy, which has been titled, “Never Too Old.” Charles Murray, Bert Roach, Marie Prevost and Phillis Haver are the featured players. 7