Reel Life (Sep 1913 - Mar 1914)

Reel Life 3 SifiJio aii^l E7<:cl\n(i;^a Notes Jessalyn Van Trump and Lucille Young Return to "Mutual" Some weeks ago in announcing a formidable list of additions to the New Majestic (Los Angeles) stock, C. J. Hite said he hoped eventually to have one of the biggest picture stock companies on the Coast. Recent engagements made by C. J. Hite have helped him make good on the hope. Two are of leading women, giving Majestic seven "female leads" in all, a number as large as can be found at any Coast studio. The first new leading woman engaged was Lucille Youngi well known in Western pictures, who liked the idea of returning to her old director, Lucius Henderson; Jessalyn Van Trump, famous in American films, is the other. And to make the acting staff larger still, a special leading man is being sought for Miss Van Trump. Special scenarios are being prepared for this favorite by Scenario Editor Lonergan, dramatic in nature, on the lines of her American successes. Signs Directors Just For Big 'Uns Special directors have been assigned by C. J. Hite to help in the making of his Thanhouser "Big Productions." Carroll Fleming, the famous New York Hippodrome producer, is one. Most of the great recent spectacles at the Hippodrome were the creations of the ingenious Fleming, and it is for spectacle scenes that Mr. Hite has wisely secured his services. Howell Hansel is the other new "Big Productions" producer. He comes from a twenty years' experience in the legitimate, where he staged numerous "big cast" plays, entitling him, in Mr. Hite's opinion, to an immediate chance at "Big Production" film producing. Eugene Moore, the veteran of the regular Thanhouser directing staff, has been on the feature stuff of late. Marguerite Snow and James Cruze have joined Maude Fealy as stars in the features. Clarence Dull has been appointed property master of the big stuff, while Michael Schliesser, as announced recently, is Wild Animal Manager. Many of the feature scripts call for lions, tigers and other beasts of the jungle and Schliesser, who was with Hagenbeck in Germany, will find himself a busy man. One of these scripts is "The Fall of Khartoum," which calls for elephants and camels in addition to other animals. The new all-glass stage put up exclusively for the "big sets" in the features is half a city block in depth. "A Man and His Mate" To Be Picturized "A Man and His Mate" will soon be seen in motion pictures as a three-part production. This story by George Durant was widely read in novel form before it was dramatized, when it enjoyed large popularity with theatre audiences. Arrangements have been completed whereby it will be presented on the Mutual program, staged by Christy Cabanne with Miriam Cooper and a carefully selected cast. American Introduces Novel Mutual Trailer Instead of the customary end piece reading, "Mutual Program," the "Flying A" productions are being supplied with the Winged Clock, with the hands quickly rotating, and the now very popular wording, "Mutual Movies Make Time Fly." It will probably be a very short time when all subjects on the Mutual program will use the improved end piece. "The Lost Treasure" The American Film Mfg. Co. announces the completion of another three-reel subject, the title of which will be "The Lost Treasure," produced by Thomas Ricketts, who enjoys a most enviable reputation as a producer of merit and whose work is always looked forward to with a great deal of pleasure. Hutchinson Returns to Chicago After Extended Coast Trip Pres. S. S. Hutchinson, of the American Film Mfg. Co., after an extended trip on the Pacific Coast, will return to Chicago in time to spend the holidays with his family. His two sons, Hobart Harry Benham Thanhouser and Winston, will return home from school so as to make tile family reunion complete. Mr. Hutchinson has been on the Coast for several months past, in fact he has spent almost the entire year in Californa, Oregon, Washington and the Hawaiian Islands, where in addition to looking after the interests of the American, he has also devoted considerable time to the interests of the Mutual Film offices. After a short stay in Chicago he will again return to the Coast. Camera Artist Makes a Find in "Flying A" Studio Mr. Franklin Price Knot, the camera artist, in seeking special types, finds wealth of material among "Flying A" folks. Vivian Rich was selected in the costume she wears in "Destinies Fulfilled," a three-part feature soon to be released. Peter Morrison and other cowboys were also selected because of their individuality in the work they are doing. "Mstear' Notes The value of the moving picture negative obtained for use in the "Our Mutual Girl" series soon to be seen on the Mutual program, is said to be so great that two cameras are used in the taking of every scene. This precaution not only lessens the risk of k)ss due to accident to the camera or film, but also allows extra care to be used in the developing of the exposed negative. One roll of negative is developed in New York, while the other is immediately sent to a Philadelphia factory. The reason for this method of procedure is that while factory conditions are apt to be unfavorable at any time, there is small chance of striking bad conditions in two factories at the same time. The many important personages being photographed for the Mutual Girl series are extremely difficult to get to pose for motion pictures, and if anything happened to mar the negative once it was obtained, the chance of retaking the picture would be very small. A print is made from each negative, and the better one of the two selected for use in the picture. In addition to this advantage is the very important fact that one camera man usually obtains much better action than the other because his position happens to be favorable. Madame Luisa Tetrazzini fell a victim to the fascination of posing for moving pictures upon her recent arrival in New York on the Mauretania. The cameras of "Our Mutual Girl" accompanied by the little lady herself and a number of her supporting company, were on the deck to receive the big liner and meet some of the notables among her passengers. Tetrazzini took a lively interest in the proceeding, and the result was several hundred feet of pictures, showing the famous star being welcomed to America and her experiences with the reporters and custom officials. The first "Our Mutual Girl" picture will be presented early in January, and will begin a weekly series that is said to be one of the greatest innovations ever introduced in motion pictures. Paul Armstrong's sensational drama, "The Escape," will soon be seen as a four-part motion picture. It is being produced by the famous director, D. W. Griffith, for presentation on the Mutual program. The appearance of this pretentious picture will be of special interest, as it will not only mark the first appearance of Blanch Sweet as a Mutual star, but it will also be the first Mutual picture presented actually staged by Mr. Griffith. The cast is made up of such familiar favorites as Mae Marsh, Robert Harron, Donald Crisp, Earl Foxe, C. S. Abbey and Spottiswood Aitken. Because of the recognized high standing of the authors responsible for coming three and four part motion picture dramas announced for early release on the Mutual program,, the great improvement in the class of pictures now being produced by the different studios is brought forcibly to the attention. "A Man and His Mate" by H. R. Durant; "Imar, the Servitor" by Daniel Carson Goodman, and "For His Master" by George Pattullo, are a few of the high-class dramas soon to appear as multiple reel productions on the Mutual program. By developing moving pictures in a bath tub William Bitzer, photographic expert for the Mutual Film Corporation, made a new record for the length of time in which moving pictures can be photographed, developed, printed and projected upon a screen. The pictures were made of the delegates lo the Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association of New York in the Hotel Imperial. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the delegates posed for a moving picture in the street, near the hotel, and at 7 o'clock the result was exhibited at the convention hall in Terrace Garden. Three reels were taken in the afternoon, some of the delegates grouped in front of the hotel, one of them entering the building, and a third of the moving crowds at Broadway and Thirty-first St. All these were shown the same night and, according to the experts, a record of celerity was established. Mr.. Bitzer, who was formerly associated with the Biograph, lately joined the forces of the Mutual Film Corporation. He is said to have been the first motion picture camera man to grind a camera in the United States and is acknowledged to be an authority on the subject of moving picture photography. An Historical Subject of Unusual Interest The "Flying A" Company, under direction of Lorimer Johnston, has finished a two-reel subject under the title "The Coming of the Padres," pictorially reproducing the founding of the Santa Barbara Mission by Padre Junipero Serra. The principle role will be played by Sydney Ayres. The production will not be an exclusively religious one, but will introduce much interest of early California life. Clippings From Recent Local Newspapers If the products of motion picture films manufacturers in Los Angeles since the beginning of 1913 were to be placed together, the string would reach from here to San Francisco, a distance cf about 500 miles. And the films of all the concerns of the United States in the year 1913 would reach around the world, 25,000 miles at the equator.