Paramount Pep (1923)

Paramount Pep 13 Big Consignment of Oriental Art Treasures Shipped to Cecil B. De Mille Five cases of rare Oriental draperies, silks and jewels left Bangkok, Siam, last week, en route to Cecil B. De Mille at Hollywood. The consignment is said to be one of the largest ever made in the interests of a single motion picture. The purchases were made by Mrs. Florence Meehan, noted globe-trotter, who was sent completely around the world by Mr. De Mille to gather authentic materials for his forthcoming film version of “The Ten Commandments,” which he is planning as his most extensive effort. Every article in the consignment is said to be over one hundred years old. They were all brought from actual owners and represent heirlooms handed down through generations. The jewel work, particularly, is said to date back to the famous old hand-cut days of the Orient, before machinery came in to cheapen the famous work of the Eastern stone setters. The draperies and tapestries were bought right from the walls of wealthy homes. T— 1 TT A Classic Editor’s Note: In a speech at the Plaza Hotel in New York a week ago Sunday at the opening of “The Covered Wagon,” Luke Cosgrove, who played the father in James Cruse “Hollywood,” made the speech reproduced below, which we think is a classic. This was Mr. Cosgrove’s first visit to New York since 1870 when he was a boy fresh from Ireland. They were dreamers, these pioneers ; they saw visions and they had dreams. The dreamers are the architects of greatness, their vision lies within their souls, they never see the mirages of fact, but peer beyond the vales of mist and doubt, and pierce the walls of unborn time. Grief only streaks their hair with silver ; it has never grayed their hopes. In face of storm their spires stab the world skies. Their homes are built upon a land a dreamer found. The pictures on its walls are visions from a dreamer’s soul, a dreamer’s pain wails from their violins. They are the eternal conquerers ; their vassals are the years. Whatever the future holds in store for us that story of toil and suffering and final triumph should be held as secret history by everyone who honors devotion to duty in men and self-sacrifice in women. It should be taught to the children in the schools and the one lesson that should be impressed upon the mind of every child is that a wrong act on his or her part would be a reproach to the brave men and women who came with plows and covered wagons in the shadow of despair, and by incessant toil laid solidly the foundation of our states. And out of the granite of the mountains should be hewed an imperishable monument and on it should be embossed words like these: “They lay down their lives in toil — they suffered without complaint. From nothing they created our glorified states. Honor, reverence and glory everlasting be theirs !” Her Easter Surprise Agnes Ayres was surprised Easter morning with a nice big Easter egg inside of which was a real, live bunny. It is needless to say she registered supreme joy, for like others at the West Coast, it brought back her young Easter-time days when surprises from her parents almost rivaled those at Christmas. Vtn Hamilton Joins Us James Shelley Hamilton, for the last two years editor of the exceptional “Photoplay Bulletin,” issued by the National Board of Review, has been added to the editorial department of our Long Island Studio. He comes to the department with considerable knowledge of motion picture making, having written serials for Pathe and having reviewed hundreds of pictures in connection with his work on the “Bulletin.” He was also formerly dramatic critic on “Everybody’s Magazine,” and fiction editor of “Adventure.” Max Parker on First Vacation in Seven Years Max Parker, for the past seven years art director for our West Coast Studios, sailed last Saturday for Honolulu, this being his first vacation in that period. Arthur Kooken, five years with the same organization, will take charge of the department during his absence. Mr. Parker is accompanied by Mrs. Parker and expects to return the last of April. A portion of his time will be spent in research work in Hawaii.