Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

Screen Gossip 'T'HIS is the first time that I have not * had some five greatest somethings to name, and — oh, I forgot, I was supposed to name the five best-dressed women in pictures this week, but I have not as yet received all my data on the subject, so we will have to let it go until next week. I am getting all the stars of filmdom to give me their views on the subject, so that it will let me out. The majority will rule. As many opinions as I have received so far would not help any, as all seem to think that some one else is the better dresser. Well, wait until next week, and we will have it surely. Earl Foxe, the tall, handsome leading man, is enjoying himself again with the Selig company, and at the same time is appearing in some fine pictures for that company. Charley Ray writes that he has entered another tennis tournament on the coast along with his now famous coat of tan. Charley says he got a good look at the prize, and that there is some size to it. He hasn't recovered from the shock he received after winning his last "prize." Fay Tincher and her famous bathing suit are to appear in another film, according to Eddie Dillon, her director. It went BIG in "The Deacon's Whiskers," and the Mutual wired Eddie to start work on another picture with Fay and her famous suit right away. Every one is awaiting anxiously the arrival of David Mark Griffith's new big spectacle, "The Mother and the Law." If it is anywhere near as good as "The Birth of a Nation," I know of a good many people who will travel a long way to see it. I wonder if Stephen A. Bush, of the Moving Picture World, has yet seen the error of his ways. In a recent issue he stated that there was not a single director that played the lead in one of his own productions that ever made a success of the picture. Well, Steve, I can name you about thirty directors who have played lead in their own films and made big successes of them, but as I am limited in space, I will name only a few. Some of the people who direct and play leads in their films successfully are: Tom Moore, Francis Ford, Phillips By Al Ray Smalley, Lois Webber, Robert Leonard, Romaine Fielding, Joe Smiley, Arthur Johnson, Mack Sennett, William Worthington, Ralph Ince, John Ince, Charlie Chaplin, Sid Chaplin, Raoul Walsh, Richard Stanton, Howard Hickman, Walter Edwards, Thomas Chatterton, William S. Hart, Joseph Byron Totten, Tom Mix, Wally Van, and numerous others. Is this enough for you, Steve? — Oh, and Al Ray. Who would have thought it? Crane Wilbur and Tom Ince! Crane is there when it comes to acting. In other words, what it takes to make an actor he has, but he has been poorly directed. With Tom Ince directing his affairs, Crane should show at his very best. Melville Ellis, one of the foremost designers and entertainers in the United States, has been engaged by the New York Motion Picture Corporation to look after their wardrobe affairs. His salary is said to be fifteen thousand dollars by the company's hard-working press agent. Jack Pratt, Lubin's new director, is hard at work on a new war photo play by Louis Reeves Harrison. Rosetta Brice will play the leading role. Lawrence S. McCIoskey, the Lubin scenario king, has written a mighty fine photo play in the. "Ring-tailed Rhinoceros,'' which features Raymond Hitchcock, his wife, and Earle Metcalfe. Lawrence turns out some mighty fine stuff for the Lubin company. Henry King is so busy with his directing for Balboa that he does not get any time to play in pictures himself any more. Henry says he thinks he deserves a rest from playing in front of a camera, anyway. Mr. Smaltz and Mr. Fish are creating quite a furor on the Associated program by their funny antics and caperings. Their latest dare-devil, laughable deed was to go off a bridge on a motor cycle. This is only one of their many feats. Their next stunt is a chase along the housetops. Have received a few letters from several fans who have written an actor or actress for a photograph. They want to know why they haven't received their photo as yet. It is either a case of wrong address or noninclosure of stamps. Which one fits your case? An actor or actress is always glad to send his or her photo to any one who so desires it, and they cost the said actor and actress money, too ; but when any one writes them for a picture and fails to inclose stamps to pay postage, why that is an entirely different matter. If they sent all the requests for photos out, and paid for the postage out of their own pockets, there would be many in the now overcrowded poorhouses. If you want a photo of your favorite, write and ask him for one, but be sure to send stamps. If he ever gets it, you will receive your prized picture at the earliest convenience. Hal August seems to differ with Pat O'Malley as to married life. Hal thought it all right for a while, but wifey got tired and is suing for an absolute divorce. It seems that if he had followed some of the lessons taught in the pictures in which he appeared all would have been well at eight bells. Hal is a brother of Edwin August, the jumping jack of the films. His right name is Hallick, so Eddie's must be the same. Extra! Chester Conklin and Mary Pickford are married — but not to each other. Theda Bara, the famous Vampire, from gay Paree and Cincinnati, has decided that it is about time she had a wee bit of a rest, and has hiked it away from the city in her touring car for a short vacation. We are not informed how soon Theda .will be back, but we hope it will be very soon. We also hope Theda enjoys herself immensely. Harry Snelling, the studio manager at the Victor, has certainly been kept on the job of late. The Federal Film Company have been doubling their output, and this is the reason for Harry's business. He certainly had to do some work for "The Waiter Who Waited," a stupendous two-reel comedy production, which ranks with the very best Hundreds of props were smashed during the filming of this picture. Have a note from William Kammer. a constant reader, who would like to know who the most popular screen actor is of the following bunch : Billie Reeves. Joe Weber, Lew Fields, Charlie Chaplin. Billie Ritchie, and Ford Sterling. Well.