Picture Show (Nov 1919-Apr 1920)

22 The Picture Show, March 20(h, 1920. IF you want to know anything about Films or Film Plavenr THOSE WAR FILMS. From Manchester comes a protest which I willingly print, because the objection it voices will be echoed, 1 know, by many others besides " Three Britishers," who write to me as follows : " We would hke to know how much longer the British public is to be annoyed by war pictures. We are surprised at British picture managers still exhibiting these films. Do you think it is fair to British mothers, wive3, sweethearts, etc., who go to the pictures for a little pleasure and often to ease aching, lonely hearts, to have their troubles and losses constantly renewed by seeing these war films ? It would surely be much better to let the war be really over now that peace is signed, for there are many who gave all they loved and who cannot bear to be always reminded of the former. We appeal through THE PICTURE SHOW to the British picture managers to show no more of these pictures, and not to break our hearts any more. Let's forget the war, though we'll never forget the dear, brave lads who sacrificed everything." I trust the appeal contained in the latter part of this letter will not go unheeded. No one desires that the picture theatre should be made a plr.ee of poignant memories, when those who go there seek to find relaxation not only from the burdens of the present, but from the bitterness of the past. The war film, in fact, has had its day with the present generation. The former served its purpose in many way3 during the four odd years when people welcomed it as a subject that dominated everything else. But that interest in it was bound to lapse when the coming of peace gave people more time to reflect, and also filled them with the desire to look forward and not tack. Let us, therefore, hope that these war pictures will be stored away as things which are out of date. No doubt in years to come they may serve their purpose from an historical point of view, although not a few of these films will always be useless. But the good ones will be worth keeping because their value will be permanent. The people of to-day, at any rate, have had their fill of both, and wherever such films are still teing shown it is time they were completely withdrawn in order to make room for something more lively and seasonable. THE EDITOR. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Will readers kindly remember that as this paper goes to press a considerable time before publication, letters cannot be answered in the next issue. A stamped and addressed envelope must accompany any letter requiring an early reply. Every letter should give the full name and address of the writer (not for publication), as no anonymous communications can be answered. Address : The Editor, "The Picture Show," Room 83, The Fleetway House, Farringdon Street, London, E.C.4. " EVERyponY " (Everywhere). — Don't look for your answer only, but read AM. the answers in this and every issue Many readers who ask tho same questions cannot all be replied to individually owing to lack of space. Therefore, when you come across 1 he information you are wanting, kindly accept it as an answer to your question as well, even if you don't happen to see your own initials or nom de plume in print. Remember this, " Everybody," please, and 1 shall be grateful. A. E. W. (Willesden). — The likeness must have been extraordinary, as many people appear to have thought it was Sessue Hayakawa in "Temptation." But he did not play in this picture, and the name of the man who took the small part referred to is not given. Jane Novak in " String Beans." "KAY" (N.A.). — Are you so well-known, then, that the name of your town must remain hidden by initials ? Your idea of keeping all the art plates in the way you have described is quite a good one. Kenneth Harlan was in " The Price of a Good Time " with Mildred Harris Chaplin. " SLIM " ( Hastings). — Tony is the nafhe of Tom Mix's horse, but if you are going to ask me what he christened his dog and cat, I must give it up. " Treat 'Km Rough," "The Coming of the Law," and " Roarin' Reform " are three of Tom Mix's filing So you have escaped the film fever ? You are lucky. " DORREi: " (Tottenham). — Yes, Peggy Hyland is Itjwas she who played in " Her Right to Live." " Constance " (Hove).— Mary Diblcy is the lady. " The Ware Case " featured Violet Hopsori and • iregory Scott. Charlie Chaplin was born in London. " Inquisitive " (King's Cross). — The name of the mystery character you want is not given, so you -will have to put by .\ our bouquet and make it do for someone else. P. H. (Southwaik) and D. 15. (Penzance).— You -muss I have quite a job trying to please everybody. Well, I won't fay you arc wrong, and 1 do the best 1 tau. Your favourite. Charles Claiy, was boru in 1873. Mabel Norm.md was born in 1804. Your other questions, I). II., have already been answered. A. B. (Pinxton). — You are not bothering me, I assure you. But why ask if you can write to any artiste ? All readers can write to any. and as many. BS they like. Yes, it was Mary Pickford in " How Could You, Jean ? " Opposite her was Casson l'erguson. . " High Hope? " (Crosskeys).— Try our Publishing Dept. You may have some luck. Corinue Griffith is Mrs. Webster Campbell. Charlie Chaplin's first picture with the Essanay Company was " Charlie at the Bank." You would crown him " King of Film ( omedians." There is certainly no one else at present who can dispute the claim. The name of the actor who took the part of the grandfather, and took it well, in " Towards the Light " is not given. You want to know whether Mary Pickford is a Catholic '/ She may be that, or she may be a Methodist, or a Baptist, or something else. Really. I care not. The only thing that matters on the films is art." An artiste's religion in this case makes no difference, and that is why I keep no information concerning it. H. D. (New Maiden*. — Yes.' she is the same Betty Compson as the one you mean. Born in Salt Lake City, she has light-brown hair and blue eyes. Your desire for more about her will be duly satisfied. F. N. (Wallsend-on-Tyne). — What can I say to set your mind at rest ? Marguerite Clark has said she wants to retire, which I dare say she will do one day, greatly to the regret of her thousands of admirers. We can only hope that the evil day will be put oil. Francis Billington, whom you think resembles Mildred Harris Chaplin, has light brown hair and grey eyes. She has played in " Red Feather," " Shackles ot Truth," and " Periwinkle." She was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1896. "Bobs" (Ormskirk) — The "Boys' Cinema" is the paper to tell you all about Tom Mix. He was born in Oklahoma. Mary Odette was formerly known as Odette Goimbault. You think Mary Walcamp is your favourite, but you don't know. When will you be sure ? Monroe Salisbury was boru in New York, so you can guess and calculate he is American. V. A. F. (Inehture). — Very sorry, but I have no particulars such as you require concerning those not in filmland. " British to the Bac kbone " (I.eith). — Yes, " The Scarlet Pimpernel " has been screened, and I have no doubt you will be able to see it when it comes your way. 1 am glad to note that you are a staunch supporter of British films, and to all you say let me shout a hearty " Hear, hear ! " " Wee McGregor" (Eccles). — Weep not, for she has returned. A great many of us missed her, but now that Edith Storey lias taken up film acting again, you will he able to see her in " The Silent Woman." N. M. H. (Carmarthen). A. L. T. (London. W ), M. C. (Blackpool), and C. G. H. (Ealing).— The particulars you require will be published in due course, so watch this paper. I. C. (Stroud). — Yes. Ivy Close is still acting lor the films. Constance Talmadge was bom the dayalter you • that is on April 19th. " Brownie " (Bournemouth). — Vivian Martin was born near Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A. Yes, Lionel Barrymore took the part you mention, and lie is married to Doris Rankin. Juanita Hansen was ' born in 1897 in Des Moines, Iowa. V. S. (Pontypool). — I think I shall spare the leader at whose head you are anxious to throw those forty-four extremely large brickbats." Let bygonef be by-gones. Harry Carey was born in 1884, while Antonio Moreno put in an appearance four years later. " Lillian " (Twickenham). — Was it through patriotic motives that you wrote to me in red and blue ink, on white paper ? Mollie King is very nice indeed. She was born in 1898 in New York, and is. married to Kenneth D. Alexander. E. V. E. (Walthamstow). — Yes. there are hundreds of stars about of whom there is more to come, and your particular favourite, Doris Kenyon, has a place amongst them. She was born on Sept. 5th, 1897, in Syracuse. " Determined " (Dublin). — Sorry, I don't know of any concern such as you want, but if there is one in your city, it ought to be advertised. " Dores " (Sheffield?— So you wrote a little poem about a girl named Lila Lec without knowing at the time that there was such an artiste in existence.. Doubtless she will be pleased to receive your little effort. T. H. W. (Warrington). — Neither Alma Taylor nor Pauline Frederick has retired. If you have missed seeing them for two years, you should try and make up for lost time. . The latter artiste did not star in ■' Her Only Way." It was Norma Talmadge who played the lead. " Ena " (Cannock). — You should try and see Violet Uopson. Dorothy Gish, and Marguerite Clark on the screen. They are all good. Douglas Falrbanks's birthday is ou May 2;)rd, so you are iu plenty of time Dorothy Oish was born in Dayton, Ohio, and her sister, Lillian, in Springfield, Ohio. Pear White's book is not published in this country, "Sweet Sixteen" (streatham).— You'arc fond of Pearl White ? Everybody is. I cannot say though whether your letter lias reached her. It may have done. But if you send your letters through this office, instead of relying on old addresses obtained elsewhere, you can always depend on their being despatched correctly. I don't mind your questions in the least. You are welcome. Ethel Clayton is not yet thirty, and Ruth Clifford will be twenty on July 17th. The ages of the other artistes have not been made public. Enid Bennett has blue eyes and light hair. M. T. (Oxford). — Nazimova's pictures will be shown in this country, and doubtless you will have an opportunity of seeing them. These are her plays : " Revelations." " War Brides-," " Out of the Ko.'." " The Brat," and " The Red Lantern " Glad you have heard from Aurora Mardiganian. I have sent you back the cutting bearing her signature. Mrs. E. H (London, S.E.). — Sessue Hayakawa did not play in " Temptation." The butler iu the picture must have been his double. D. H. (Kensington). — Yes, Louise Huff is American and was born in Columbus, Georgia. ' The Girl at the Locks," "The Sphinx," and " Seventeen " arc tome of her films. F. G. (Govan). — Dorothy Dalton is twentv-siv, and her next birthday falls on September 22. Robeit Gordon was Lieut. George Suratt in " Missing." Others in it were Thomas Mcigban (Sir William Farrell), Sylvia Breamer (Nell), and Wilder Hall (Dr. Howson). Am glad to hear your mother aL-u loves the P.S. That shows her good taste. " WlNTO " (Kew). — Fanny Ward, who has evidently learnt the secret of perennial youth, was forty-four last year, while Dorothy Phillips was twenty-seven. " Kimmy " (Ormskirk). — Bessie Love's real name is Juanita Horton. The other information you want has not been given. Does Constance Talmadge lisp ? Well. 1 don't know. Who said Mary Miles DC liter was born in Bolton ? Her birthplace is Shrevcport, Louisiana, U.S.A. Yes, I notice you have chosen ti c handsome actors for your favourites, and 1 hope they are all as good as they look. " Brown Eves " (Southampton). — Your attempt to make your letter as short as possible has succeeded very well. Pearl White has auburn ba r and blue eyes. Stewart Rome has not mad? any lady ' his happy wife " as yet. G. M. (Dublin). — With your opinion of Marie Walcamp, I agree heartily. Being one of her admirers, there is nothing else I can do. Mary Miles M inter is one of those who bear out the old saying that "good things are made up in small parcels." She is 5 It. 2 in. in height. T. H. (Birmingham). —Madge Kennedy has goldenbrown hair. Norma Talmadge was born .in 1897. " Bert " (York). — Yes, Charles Clary was really married last year, and the lady's name is Margaret Bechtel . W. S. (Morccambe). — With an uncle and a broth ei both in the film business, I can, of course, understand your special interest in the pictures. You would go three miles to see a film featuring Tom Moore ? You are certainly a Veen admirer of this talented Irishman. He and his wife, Alice Joyce, have onechild. Tom himself was born in County Meath. and started his film career in America in 1913. " Sxut for To-Night." " Go West Young Man," " A Man and His Money," and " One of the' Finest" are some ol his films. " Jack " (Glasgow). — No, it wasn't anywhere in Australia, but in Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S.A., that Mildred Harris Chaplin was born. A. C. M. (South Africa). — 1 quite believe yon. for I know that in your part of the world, as elsewhere, the P.S. is the most popular paper going. Rebound volumes of The Picture Show, see announcement on back cover of January 31 st Issue. Dorothy Phillips was christened Dorothy Gwendolyn Strihle when she was born, in 1892, in Baltimore, Maryland. She is married to Allan Holubar, and started work with the Essanay Company. A. P. (Edinburgh). — You are quite welcome, my boy. but you have come a bit late. Your questions such as " Why is Blanche Sweet " ? etc.. have reached me in shoals from all over the country I shouldn't think the shortage in sugar would worry her much. Yes, Tom Mix has a F'ordc — no. not a car, but a wife, whose Christian name is Victoria. You can see Douglas Fairbanks in "The Matriinaniac." " Cheert Win " (Andover).— T shouldn't think a gold-filled tooth would make much difference tc getting on the films. The college you mention is all right as far as I know. D. M. (Paislev), " Dolly Dimple " (Cradlev Heath) E. A. N. (Grantham), M. B. (Malvern Link). V. E. B (South Hampstead), " ACSSIE " (West Bromwich) " FOCR-FLCSH " (Dublin), P. P. (Holloway), R G. (Manchester). " Irish Molly " (Dublin). — Watch this page, and other pages, too, and you will not be disappointed if I can help it. ISABELLE (Edgbaston).— You did well to write again, so here you are now that you have revealed ycur identity. Mary Mil:s Mintcr ic 5 ft Z in. in height, and possesses golden tresses and blue eyes. Antonio Moreno, who is eight inches taller, has black hair. Charlie Chaplin's measurements are 5 ft. 4 in. G. P. (Plumstead). — The Germans you saw iu the film you mention were not real ones at all. "The SKIPPER" (Belfast). — Sorry, I cannot fell you where you can obtaiu the photos you want.