The Photo-Play Journal (May 1916-Apr 1917)

THE PHOTO-PLAY JOURNAL FOR MAY, 1916. PAGE 9 Society Folks as Photo-Players £y ERNEST A. DENCH MOST of the films in which society folks appear are different from the regular kind in that they are intended for private consumption. This makes them all the more expensive to produce, as the cost of production is only lessened when a number of prints are in circulation. The marriage of John Wanamaker's daughter, Marie Louise, to Gurnee Munn, got into the news-weeklies, though it is not generally known that the Philadelphia millionaire specially engaged a motion picture operator to film the interesting ceremony in detail, so that he may always recall the notable event. When Andrew Carnegie obeys his last call, he will, like Christ, arise from the dead. This seemingly miraculous feat has only been made possible by the motion picture, for early in 19 14 the ironmaster visited one of the leading photoplay producing plants in the East and appeared in a handsome library set, where he delivered a short address on the duties of the rich toward the community. This was recorded both by the phonograph and the film. One of the leading photoplayers present on the occasion praised Mr. Carnegie for his absence of self-consciousness, and the film was deposited with the Modern Historic Society, to be placed in its archives. But when the millionaire succumbed to the cinematographer for the second time, he was seen by thousands of fans, appearing as he did in a certain popular serial production. Mr. Carnegie first did a little acting in the garden of his Fifth avenue mansion, after which he was caught leaving same. The millionaire was surprised at the c|uickness in which the scenes were taken. A certain well-known millionaire who resides in England makes motion picture photography his hobby, and is always busy taking films of the doings of his friends. He duly sends these pictures to his relatives in America and serve to atone for his absence when shown in the elaborate miniature motion picture theatre which he had erected for the express purpose. It is easy to picture the enjoyment provided by a private celluloid newspaper, but the unfortunate thing is that it is a too costly luxury for you and I to indulge in. "The Birth of a Nation" is not the only two-dollar movie. "The Flame of Kapur" also claims this distinction, though I don't suppose you have heard of the photoplay since it was presented for only three nights in January in the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City. The demand for tickets was so great that seats were at a premium days in advance. This photoplay was produced under the supervision of the Junior League, which numbers young society folk. To keep pace with the times, they decided to enter the amateur protoplay producing game, which has proved more fascinating than the usual round of society diversions. The author of the scenario, Grace Henry, had no light task, for everybody craved a part, and in the end she introduced no fewer than thirty-three leading roles — enough to drive any regular director into the lunatic asylum. It took weeks to rehearse the players into proper shape, but it was purposely spread over in order to allow the participants to extract as much fun out of it as possible. All interiors were taken in the actual residences, so when characters entered the homes of such prominent persons as Mr. and Mrs. James Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Reginald De Koven and Mrs. John T. Pratt, one knew that the studio interior deception was not pulled off, which was certainly a refreshing change. The chief of the chief principals were Miss Angelica Schuyler Brown. Mr. Edward Shippen and Mr. Schuyler L. Parsons, Jr.. respectively, as the heroine, leading man and villain. Talk about easy money ! Why the League could have been richer by selling the negative to one of the regular producers, from whom offers came to hand. On the other hand, the society folks, had they aspired to Mary Pickford and Francis X. Bushman fame, certainly could not reasonably complain of the lack of opportunities, judging bv the propositions received. But thev refuse to "cheapen themselves," to quote their own words. An even more drastic instance of this occurred at Palm Beach the other week. To see "The Island of Happiness" at its one and only presentation in the dining room of the Royal Poinciana, the fee was five dollars. The storv. such as it was. concerns a poor aviator, who flies with an heiress to an island of the Robinson Crusoe kind. She realizes that it is her money he needs and not her. and as she believes in banks, the villain is foiled. She escapes, but the villain locates her to a tree bv her screams because of a snake being in the vicinity. Enter now the hero, who thrashes the villain and claims the heroine as his own. In the producing of this photoplay the distinguished actors developed an extremely bad attack of temperament. They insisted that the picture was only to be shown once. Imagine, then, any star complaining that her public is too big ! Well, the director had to yield, although he aspired to a New York presentation, so immediately the last foot of the fifth reel faded away, the private detectives surrounding the operating booth followed the operator to the appointed place and gleefully watched the rolls of celluloid go up in smoke. Mr. J. Alexander Leggett, the author, set a pace which made the actors keep on the move all the time. It was melodrama, with no frillings, only the audience made merry at the expense of Mrs. Gurnee Munn, the heroine ; James R. Hyde, the sport-shirted hero, and Rober B. Mill, the deep-dyed villain. Many of the scenes were taken outside White Hall, Mrs. Henry Flagler's villa. The two thousand spectators who were "soaked" five dollars had the additional satisfaction of knowing that they were helping the American Ambulance in Paris. A unique stunt was put over at Bar Harbor last summer. Mr. Ernest Fabbri cannot be classified as belonging to the Garden brand of amateur filmers, for he actually "captured" such celebrities as Paderewski, Kreisler and Schelling, all of whom played their well-known compositions. The film was shown in Mr. Fabbri's private motion picture theatre, where a unique entertainment was presented. Not only did the spectators see the artists playing on the film, but also heard them. How ? Well, the three musicians played in person behind the screen the selfsame compositions. The society folk introduced in a photoplay coming from a Pacific Coast studio were the genuine variety. The ballroom, too, was staged in the exclusive Hotel Green, of Pasadena. I understand that the director approached the smart set seated at the afternoon tea tables and invited them to appear in his film just for fun. They did so, and at the dinner which followed the amateurs complimented the director on his patience in rehearsing them. It was understood, however, that their names were not to be mentioned in the cast. The director of "The Crimson Wing," an Kssanav production, chose several homes of Chicago's "four hundred" as locations, and managed to secure the consent of Harold and Cyrus McCormick, Orville Babcock, (Continued on page 11)