Picture Show (Oct 1920 - Apr 1921)

4 Picture Show, April 2nd, 1921. PICTURE SHOW" CHAT. (Co~3.f Tod Sloan— Screen Star. THERE is not a turf man or a racing enthusiast who does not remember Tod Sloan, tlio most famous of living jockeys. Tod has been out of the saddle for several \ cars. He has recently made his debut on the films, ('laying the part of a jockey in a film version of the well-known novel, "The Killer.'' There is Mime strenuous riding in this film, and the first few days Mr. Sloan showed all his old form and speed wizardry, but at the end of the day the d; sector observed him walking rather stiffly. Sloan grinned ruefully. ' You have to ride a lot to keep in shape. 1 eat standing up to-night ! " — +> — Diamond of 111 Fate. \\ /I AY YOHE, the one-time queen of musical 1V1 comedy, who has sprung into notice again as author of the coming big new serial film, " The Romance of the Hope Diamond," will actually be seen upon the screen in this picture. May Yohe has a little chicken farm on the outskirts of the great film city, Los Angeles, and within easy distance of the studio where the " Hope Diamond " has been produced. She has thus been able to watch tho progress of the film, and to keep the producers fully supplied with information which she has heen busily collecting for tho last ten years. In private life she is Mrs. John Smuts, haying married a nephew of the famous South African general. A Fascinating Story. THE Romance of the Hope Diamond," tho latest thing in film serials, gives some interesting glimpses into the history of this famous stone. Perhaps the most fascinating is the theft of the jewel from the breast of the goddess Sita, where it was reputed to have rested. for over two thousand years. The image stood in the temple of Rama, Sita, near the town of Pagan in Burmah, and the diamond was removed by Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a famous French traveller, ami adventurer, in tho \ear 1642. The anger of tho Hindoos, and of t he goddess herself, was said to have been kindled against the sacrilegious Frenchman, who narrowly escaped with his life. In the film Tavernier will be impersonated by George t 'hesebro, a young screen actor, who won warm approval by his skill and daring in that other exciting serial, " The Lost City." Twice Built Ship. THE making of the big Italian film. " The Ship," which is to be shown in this country during t lie next few weeks, has been as exi iting in its way a3 the life of its famous author, Gabriel D'Annunzio. Work was commenced on tho picture nearly two years ago in the islands of the Venetian Gulf, which are as weird and barren to-day as in the distant period when tho founders of Venice built the ship which gives the title to the film. For some six months an army of workmen laboured to build a fullsized reproduction of this vessel. One night, when it 'was all but finished, a storm arose and the mighty w aves of the Adriatic swept the lingo vessel from tho stocks, and wrecked it upon the mainland, some twenty miles distant. With the dauntless spirit of his father, the poet's son, who was directing this production, promptly set to work upon a second model. Again the weether interrupted his plans, but despite minor mishaps, this timo tha task was carried through successfully, the launching of the pievavMque craft forming ono of tho most important episodes of the film. A Modernised " East Lynne." EAST LYN'NE " is onco again to be seen on tho screen, tho cast to be hauled by Mabel Ballin and Edward Eurl. MABEL JULIENNE SCOTT is enjoying a real laugh, but Charles Clary doesn't seem to have seen the joke in the coming photo-play " Noblesse Oblige." Of this famous story, by Mrs. Henry Wood, it has been said that it has been read and played in every city and town in the United States, and in Great Britain. The film version now being made is said to be a modernised version. — — He Got the Worst of It. ALTHOUGH many persons get pictures on the brain, this does not often happen to screen artistes, yet picture-making got on William Russell's nerves to the extent of interfering with his sleep. Whilst making scenes for " The Iron Rider," lie received a souvenir in the shape of a badly damaged hand, and the strangest part is he did not get it in a fight with a villain. It happened in'the middle of tho night whilst he was asleep. The only reason he can give is that during the day he had hod several fights, and must have gone to bed thinking about the film. After a while the villain, attired in the long black robe of the Iron Rider, came into his dreams. There was no acting then, as he knew the villain wa3 out to kill him. They had a scrap, and Bill can just remember knocking the other man unconscious with o good hit on the jaw. Just then the pain in his hand wakened him, and when ho turned on the light he discovered he had landed a knock-out punch on the side of the wall opposite his bedl Fay Filmer. Anotb "bad er sbapsbot of film players enjoying a joke. This is JOE RYAN, the man " ot " The Purple Riders," and bis leading lady. ELINOR FIELD. FROM "OVER THERE." Notes and News From New YorH. Lillian Gish to Play Marguerite. IT took the failure of the William Sherrill Motion Picture Company for Lillian Gish »j to realise just how popular-she is, and how many producers are holding out tempting starring engagements on silver platters. There isn't a company in the business that hasn't made some sort of an offer for Miss Gish's services. Lillian isn't the sort of girl who boasts about any of these things, and if I hadn't coaxed her to tell me why she didn't announce her plans, I might never have learned the true 6tate of affairs. All tho time Lillian was shaking her pretty blonde head and saying no she was negotiating with David W. Griffith to play Marguerite in " Faust." I don't believe there was much negotiating, for Lillian has told me, time and time again, she would rather play for David Griffith for less than for any other producer for six times the amount he could pay her. At the time she signed the contract with MrSherrill she did it with many misgivings, preferring to remain in the Griffith fold ; but it was David himself who persuaded her to accept the fabulous amount offered her by the Sherrill organisation. Mr. Griffith will take Goethe's dramatic poem and Gounod's operatic version, and combine them to get an effective screen story of " Faust." Mrs. Herbert Rawlinson on the Stage. " ' ■ 'HAT is Roberta Arnold's husband," said i a woman, pointing to Herbert Rawlinson. The screen star, who is so accustomed to having folk single him out as " Herb Rawlinson, surely you know him," nearly dropped dead of shock the first time he was thus identified. " Do you mind ? " I asked him. " At first it was a surprise, now I am used to it," he answered. " It is the penalty of having a famous wife," I told him. " You know," said Herbert Rawlinson, " I don't care a bit so long as they dpn't call mo Mr. Roberta Arnold." Viola Dana Seeing New York. VIOLA DANA, who camo to New York for the frank and open purpose of having a good time, seems to be getting what she wants. She has made a round of the theatres, and if there is anything she has missed, it is because she crossed it off her list as not being what she wanted to see. Viola would rather dance than eat, and she has dragged all her frieiffls to the cafas every night, after the theatre, to dance with her. She looks very pretty, and little — a small girl in tho gorgeous frocks she wears. There is a different one every night, to say nothing of furs worth a king's ransom. Charlie and "The Kid." LITTLE JACKIE COOGAN, who has taken everyone by storm with his irresistible childish appeal, is on the road to recovery in a Los Angeles hospital following an accident. Charlie Chaplin who loves this youngster so much he willingly shares honours with him in " The Kid," sent daily wires asking to be kept informed of Jackie's condition. A friend of mine who happened to be in tho Chaplin studios while "The Kid" was being filmed, tells a funny story on Charlie and Jackie. " Here, Jackie, walk up to the stove and turn the flapjacks in this manner," prompted Director Chaplin. See here, Charlie," said the wee boss of the studio, " let me do it my way, and then, if you do not like it, we will do your way." Jackie directed himself so well, the crank was turned on the camera and the scene made according to the small boy's idea. Louella O. Parsons.