Picture Show (Oct 1920 - Apr 1921)

Picture Shoiv, December 18th, 1920. "PICTURE SHOW" CHAT. (C^"t>'0W SIDNEY TOLER. Actor and Author. SIDNEY TOLER, whom you see here, is the gifted author o£ many screen plays, and is the author of " The Tiger Lady," now being directed by Maurice Tourneur. He is a well-known actor in America, and has led several companies in the United States-Soften in his own plays, as well as the works of other dramatists. Wallace Hits Himself. A MOST difficult feat of photography has just been accomplished by Wallace Reid in his new screen play. In the course of the action there was a double exposure showing a right scene between two characters, and Wallace Reid plays the dual role. During the course of this battle, Wallace hits himself several hard punches, and finally lands himself such a blow in the eye that it turns black. One can imagine the difficulty of filming such a scene, and much praise is due to the skill of the photographer. A Tense Minute. MONTE BLUE gave the company a fright the other day. He was playing in the photo-play with the suggestive title of " Something to Think About," and in one part Monte Blue had to enter the advance chamber <>f an underwater tunnel. A leak causes the roof to " cave in," which results in the death of tho character portrayed by Monte. Every possible safeguard was taken by the director — an iron ring, bolted on tho safety door of tho tunnel offered Blue a hand-hold, and a score of life-guards were on hand to rescue Monte should ho bo stunned by impact with the water. The thrills came when Monte remained under the water many seconds longer than was anticipated, and eventually his head appoared above the surface just as the rescuers were about to dive in. — — He Needs One. HORACE WILLIAMS, who was casting director for the Thomas H. Ince studios, is going to have his office festooned with swastikas, which, as you know, -aro the Indian symbols of good luck. At a moment's notice, Williams was called upon to secure an Indian woman for a part in an Ince production. The first one ho engaged, in her haste to report at the studio, fell down a step and broke her leg. Williams 'phoned another squaw, who promised to come immediately, and bring her husband for safety. They were hit by a tramcar and painfully injured. Number three simply tailed to turn up, and the fourth arrived quito all right, and was taken with pneumonia tho next day. No wonder Williams requires some swastikas. After Ten Weeks. AS you know, George K. Arthur has been chosen for the simple hero-part in H. G. Wells' famous novel, "Kipps," the Stoll photo-play -which has just been completed. Although he enjoyed the part, Mr. Arthur is very glad it is over at last, as he has been able to get his hair cut — for the first timo in ten « ceks. "As Others See Us." HARRY S EM ELS often visits a picture show incognito in order to get genuine firsthand criticisms of his work. His favourito houso is one where tho audience applaud tho hero, hiss the villain, and often call out in their excitement. Sometimes he hears thine* that aro rather disconcerting, as happened during the run of the fourteenth episode of " The Phantom Foe." Two young ladies were watching his screen face with breathless interest. " Look at his eyes'! " Madge said to May. " Just look at his eyes ! I know a girl that does extras in the films, and she told me they got him out of the 'sylum just 'specially to play this part. Every now and again he has a fit right there in the studio, and they have to put him in a strait jaeket." " Goodness ! " May exclaimed, awestricken. " It must be dangerous to work with a man like that. Crazy men are worse than wild animals." The crestfallen, " crazy " man had visions of what would happen if he were recognised — shrieks of wild women, a stampede, a ride in a police van or ambulance, and a night in the police station. He rose hastily, and sneaked out of the house before the light went up. — ♦+ — All About Winifred Kingston. YOU will be pleased to know that Winifred v Kingston is again to appear as leading lady, pla3:ing opposite Dustin Farnum in his forthcoming production for RobertsonCole, " The Trail of the Axe," which is now in courso of filming under the direction of Ernest Warde. Miss Kingston played with Mr. Farnum in " Corsican Brothers," which wo are shortly to see over here. Born and educated in London, she made her first public appearance on the stage in this city, and for several seasons before going to America. In the United States she made her first appearance in the support of Henry Miller in The Servant in the House," after which she appeared with Constance Collier, William Hartley, and Cyril Scott, and then as leading lady of the Orpheum Stock Company of Philadelphia. When August Thomas decided to picturise Richard Harding Davis' story, "Soldiers of Fortune," lie ofterod Miss Kingston the leading feminine role, which she accepted. It was during the filming of this production that she first met Dustin Farnum and, strangely enough, this was Mr. Farnum's first moving picture venture also. Mr. Farnum had just closed a season playing in the "Littlest Rebel," and had accepted Mr. Thomas' offer to go to Cuba to play tho stellar role in tho " Soldiers of Fortune." Tho contrast between his six feet of virility and tho diminutive figure of Miss Kingston proved to be an excellent combination, and since this timo they have appeared together in a great number of Mr. Farnum's pictures. Fay Fdrr.er. FROM " OVER THERE." Notes and News From New Yorh. Mary and Doug Coming To England Again. IF England didn't want Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks to pay a return visit, she shouldn't have been so hospitable. Ever since these two screen favourites returned, they have been figuring on how soon they could get back to the Old World. By carefully adding up the joint amount of their promised work they have decided they can leave this country some time in January. Let me tell my readers a secret. Mary and Doug are going to London to make pictures. They have two more features to complete before they are free to pack their baggage. The story leaked out following a rumour that Mr. Fairbanks and his pretty little wife, or Mary Pickford and her stalwart husband — put it any way you choose — had decided to stop making pictures. Miss Pickford's next picture will be " Rag Tag and Bob Tail," a story by Frances Marion, the good friend and comrade of our Man-. Frances will direct Mary, a combination that should provide us with some excellent Mary pictures. Miss Pickford's husband's next picture is by his favourite author. Sh-sh ! A man named Douglas Fairbanks. If there is time, the celebrated screen lovers may squeeze in another picture apiece before they take the boat to England. — ♦+ — Speaking of Screen Lovers. OUR old friends, Beverly Bayne and Francis X. Bushman will, by tho time this reaches England, be at work on a picture for Oliver Morosco. They are cast for important roles in "The Half Breed," in which Ann Little and William Desmond are likewise featured. A gossipy friend says the entire Bushman family Number 1 and Number 2 are congregated in California. Mrs. Josephine Bushman. No. 1, has brought the five little Bushmans to California to put them in pictures. Beverly Bay no Mrs. Bushman No. 2, has been in Hollywood for several months, waiting with her husband and her small son for tho Morosco contract to go into effect. WINIFRED KINGSTON. A New Member of the Film Colony. CONRAD NIGEL, who played with Alice Brady in " Forever After " last year on the stage, and who has recently signed a nice fat contract with Famous Players-Lasky. to star in some of their special productions i-i the proud father of a baby girl. His wife w«i formerly Ruth Helms, a society girl. Miss Helms' screen experience is confined to ono picture, " The Fighting Chance." She played a part in this picture in which her husband arid Anna Q. Nillsson were starred. — — Giving the Prisoners a Treat. THOMAS MEIGHAN has gone in heavily for prison reform. It may be only a temporary impulse, but tho last time I saw him he could talk of nothing but prison lifo and how tho boys behind the burs should be treated. Tommy's knowledgo was gained after visiting New York's celebrated prison. Sing Sing. The visit was made to get some real colour for a prison story called "The Quarry." which is to be a forthcoming Meighan special. It's Great to Be Popular. DO you remember Miriam Cooper, the littta dark-eyed girl who used to play in so many *of the D. W. Griffith features ? Well, Miriam, as you probably know, is married to R. A. Walsh now and playing in her directorhusband's pictures. Recently a young woman walked into ono of New York's leading hotels and demanded that the clerk cash a cheque. " Sorry, madam," he answered, " but 1 shall have to have some identification." " Sir," she said, " I am Miriam Cooper, the actress, and I consider your action an insult." The clerk, not wishing to offend a patron who was known to bo a very good customer, profusely apologised, and hurriedly handed tho young woman the money value of the cheque. And now ho is wishing he had not been so hasty. The young lady, who was not Miriam Cooper, vanished in thin air, and the poor trusting clerk is minus fifty dollars. Loueli-a O. Parsons.