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

WILLIAM A. BRADY has organized a special Kitty Gordon Film Corporation, capitalized at $150,000, for the making of pictures with the musical comedy star in them, the pictures to be released through the World. It is understood the capital for the enterprise was raised among Miss Gordon's personal friends. Harry Fox started work Monday of the current week as a picture actor. He has signed a ten-weeks' contract with the International Film Corporation, and the concern has an option on his future screen services. Fox is posing for a series of two-reel comedies. Pauline Frederick, Joseph Kaufman and a party of friends have gone to the Adirondack^ for a short visit. Frederick Thomson has returned from the mountain district of northern Georgia, where he has been staging Hazel Dawn's next production, "The Feud Girl." # When J. Warren Kerrigan, Universal star, finishes the last scene in the feature, "The Silent Battle," he will forsake the palm-lined streets of Hollywood for the rugged slopes of the Ventura country, where he will spend about a month fishing and camping. Kerrigan has put in many months without a let-up, and he says "the call of the wild" sounds strong in his ears. Following her appearance with George Beban in "Pasquale," Myrtle Stedman, the popular Pallas Pictures star, is now busily engaged on her next photoplay for the Paramount Program, "The American Beauty," in which she will portray the title character. -*■ Mr. William Humphrey, of the Vita-, graph Company, has started work on a Blue Ribbon Feature to be released in five reels. Naomi Childers will play the title role and others of prominence in the cast will be Marc McDermott, Rogers Lytton, Eulalie Jensen, Templer Saxe, William Shea, Katherine Lewis, and Emmanuel A. Turner. Edwin Mocsary, who was formerly the auditor for Oliver Morosco, John Cort and, more recently, the Century Theatre, has been engaged to fill that office and that of treasurer at the New Rialto Theatre. Vera Pearce, the daring little actress, who recently flew over New York in an aeroplane during the Grand Central Palace Exposition of the Motion Picture Art, plans to take one of her trained cats into an early Metro wonderplay, if she can secure the director's permission. Miss Pearce's hobby is cats, and she cannot see one without wishing to train it. All of Miss Pearce's tradespeople hide any cats they are especially anxious to keep, because if she sees a promising looking specimen, she is quite likely to pick it up and take it home to make it jump through, roll over and play dead. # Edwin Guetlein, Gaumont cameraman, is touring the South securing pictures for Gaumont's "See America First" series. After getting pictures of Savannah, Ga., Mr. Guetlein has gone to Montgomery, Ala., a city rich in picturesque views and historic sites. * Continuing to branch out, the Horkheimer Brothers have now added an animated cartoon department to their Long Beach studio. In J. R. Willis and J. Cammerer, they have two well-known artists. Both are conducting original experiments in the production of comics, which promise to revolutionize the business. * A new member of the Universal forces at Universal City, is Jessie Arnold, who has completed a tour of Australia, and will be seen in a number of productions. She has had considerable stage experience with the comedian, William Collier, and in stock companies in different parts of the country. Marguerite Clayton, Essanay leadingwoman, has undertaken her first venture in light comedy, "Putting It Over," a two-act piece, is her introduction to this type of screen play. Harry Beaumont plays opposite her, it also being the first time these two popular Essanay leads have played in the same piece. Miss Clayton started her motion picture career in plays with Western teams at the Essanay California studio. She then came to the Chicago studios and played leads in straight dramas, among them numerous features. Edna Maison, who recently left the Universal Company, has been quite ill and is going to enjoy a rest of probably several weeks before she signs up with any other producer. Dorothy Kelly, of the Vitagraph players, recently asked her director to be excused from reporting for work for a day in order tx> accomplish some shopping which she had been obliged to postpone when she was so very busy. The next day one of the shop's delivery wagons drove up to the studio with numerous bags and boxes addressed to Miss Kelly. Upon examination they contained an outing suit, bathing suit, tennis and bathing shoes and numerous other accessories for the summer weather. Dot is certainly a preparedness advocate. The summer will not take her unawares, for she has already secured her store of warm-weather garments. . -ar Mitchell Lewis, who will be remembered by theatregoers for his excellent characterization of the big Indian in "The Squaw Man," in which William Faversham played the title role, has been engaged by Metro for a similar role in "The Flower of No Man's Land," in which Viola Dana is starred. Mr. Lewis was associated with Miss Dana's sister, Leonie Flugrath, in "The Squaw Man," it being her first appearance upon the speaking stage. On his return from New York, H. M. Horkheimer, president and general manager of the Balboa Company, announced the appointment of William Stoermer as director-general of the Long Beach studio. He will have supervision over all productions. Having had extensive stage and screen experience, in the putting on of plays, Mr. Stoermer is an important addition to the Balboa forces. <» Little Violet Davis, the 7-year-old actress, who on account of her mother's illness, has not been working recently, is ready to resume studio activities. Violet will soon be seen again in a big feature production, and her reappearance on the screen is sure to win fresh laurels for the dainty child star. ■sif William Duncan plays the part of a detective in a feature picture. When last seen he was trying to figure out how many changes of costume he would have to make per reel. Little Lena I diskette, the Unb'ersal Film Company's accomplished child dancer and actress, is the proud owner of a new Buick roadster.