Reel Life (Sep 1913 - Mar 1914)

2 Rml Lit© -^Mr^ Fred Mace Grabs Another Fighter! Fred Mace must have his fighter! Now it's Leach Cross whom he's picljed to fill the place of the late "Bull" Young, who succumbed to a knockout blow and set the reformers of California into a new frenzy about the prize ring. Leach is a careful Jewish gentleman and won't die, and who may be depended on for picture posing as long as there's money in it. So may Leach's whole family, for that matter — Eddie Foy and HIS seven will tremble when Apollo's "A Swell Dish" comes out. For blame it if Leachie hasn't brought his home folks into that film and put them over immense 1 Not as many in the Cross family as in the Foy, of course but what there are just burn with cleverness and — well. Leach wants you to see the film. Along with Cross, Director Mace has annexed Fred Hornby. The latter isn't a fighter or anything uplifting. He's just as actor. (California Letter.) An Impromptu Scene Guests and visitors, present at Edgerly Court, Santa Barbara, were given an unlooked-for treat recently, when Caroline Cooke and Tom Ricketts, both members of the "Flying A" companies, put on the balcony scene of "Romeo and Juliet." Miss Cooke had just stepped out on a veranda of the hotel when Mr. Ricketts opened the window of his living room below. The situation prompted Ricketts to render Romeo lines. Miss Cooke accepted her cue — and as both knew their parts perfectly, the scene was carried to the end most efficiently. It is this living in the atmosphere of their work which makes the "Flying A" stars so efficient in their chosen calling. Another Reel Life Enthusiast San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 14, 1914. Editor, Reel Life, New York City. Dear Sir: I beg to state that I have recently sold my theatres in Hutchinson, Kansas, and have acquired an interest in several moving picture theatres in this city, where I am permanently located. I will consider it a great favor if you will kindly enter my name as per the address below on your mailing list so that I may receive your weekly regularly. I consider your publication a very valuable requisite to the moving picture business and have missed it greatly since leaving Kansas. Thanking you in advance. Yours very truly, E. WAYNE MARTIN, 508 West Craig St., San Antonio, Texas. His Notion of Work Dave Thompson, the veteran Thanhouser player, is nothing if not a busy man. Recently he was appointed studio manager of the Thanhouser plant — by the way, he was Thanhouser's first studio manager, to go back into ancient history— but said he wanted to go on acting. Mr. Hite, though, knew Thompson had fitted himself for the post by previous experience. You see, after being the pioneer studio boss at New Rochelle, Thompson quit the job to take his family to Europe. Returning to the Thanhouser employ, he became a leading man. But President Hite, knowing the Thompson worth arranged that he take over the managing work and play in the pictures besides. So now Dave gets all the stages in order mornings for all the Thanhouser directors, places the "right people" with the right producer, "makes up," orders the various stages and "sets" dismantled, orders used costumes returned and new ones procured, writes up the new property lists, tells the scenic artists the new "drops" he wants painted and "calls" the people for next day! Upon the finish of which, Mr. Thompson has "nothing to do 'till to-morrow" — provided some delayed director isn't using the studio at night! George De Carlton Reliance A Sample of "Movie" Appreciation. January 9i, 1914. Thanhouser Co., New Rochelle, N. Y. Dear Sir: As I was looking through the billboard paper, I notice a picture of Miss Flo La Badie. Please tell her to write to me by return mail. She don't know me, but when she writes to me four or five times, then she will know me. If you want to tell her to write to me, I will be very, very glad indeed. I like her very, very much indeed. Let me hear from you, within two or three or four days I remain. Please show Miss Flo La Badie this letter. " Yours truly. GIUSEPPE GARIBALDL Instructive Movies. The sum of human knowledge now no longer is contained In volumes written by the learned few. But in movies for a nickel is abundantly explained For those as ignorant as I and you. Eugenics and eupeptics and eucantimaginewhat Are the deeper things that they exemplify. Enlightening our progeny exactly how they got The ills that ultimately made them die. They magnify the microbe to double Jumbo's size And show you how he shuffles off his shell; They also hand out miracles before your very eyes In a manner that is difficult to tell. They show you a pedestrian a motor car has hit And reduced to an impalpable small pile. When a white wing with his broom obligingly attends to it And it rises and salutes you with a smile. The process of digestion they display upon the screen. And if you have a stop watch you can time The period sufficing for the cabbage or the bean. The orange or the lemon or the lime. Then why should we our ignorance unceasingly bemoan. When for a nickel's cost in every block Such gobs of erudition as few have ever known Can be had in twenty minutes by the clock? —The Sun, N. Y. New York Motion Picture Corporation To keep up with their rapidly expanding business, and to more adequately supply the demand for Keystone Comedies, Mack Sennett, Vice-President and Managing Director of the Keystone Company, is just completing extensive enlargements in his studios and factory. For the past three months the present plant at 1712 Allesandro Street, Los Angeles, has been entirely too small for the demands that were being put upon it. The new improvements were then put under way, and when completed will be one of the best equipped motion picture studios on the coast. Mr. Henry Lehrmann, Keystone Director, has just completed a two reel "Kid" melodrama, featuring the abduction of a juvenile heroine by the juvenile villain. The Venice Miniature Railway, near Los Angeles, with engines, coaches, round houses, depots and several miles of track; was leased especially for this feature. Besides the railway, all of the remaining sets and furnishings down to the last detail, were in small scale. The children in this picture are the same who have been taken by Keystone and trained especially for the Keystone Kid Pictures, which are to be a regular feature in the program of this company. The new program of three a week, and a two reel special every month, recently adopted by the Keystone Company, has caused Managing Director Mack Sennett to hustle up all departments of the studio. A new stage, 60x80 feet, has just been completed, which, with the old one now gives a total of over 300 square feet of working room. All sets, props, and furnishings have been added accordingly and there is now enough material to easily keep eight or ten companies going. Four new directors, with the same number of cameramen, have also been added. This brings the list to a total of seven directors with the accompanying seven companies of players. And all are constantly at work turning out Keystone comedies. "Little Billy," Keystone's two-year-old star, is again at work in a Kid picture. This time Billy carries the lead throughout an entire reel, including a hold-up, running away with the cash of a Punch and Judy show, and foiling a couple of villains. All of this he does with his usual facial expressions and a dramatic comprehension away beyond his years. "Little Billy" will take part in all the future Kid pictures put out by Keystone, and which are becoming almost as popular as the comedies played by Keystone grown-ups. The Keystone Company is working on a newspaper story which was taken in the linotype room of the Los Angeles Times. This latter paper is one of the largest dailies in the United States, and no other company has photographed the linotype machines and presses before. The great difficulty lies in getting the proper light in the dark interiors. This the Keystone Company overcame by sending nearly five hundred miles to San Francisco and obtaining arc lamps of the most powerful rays, which, with the lamps secured in Los Angeles, gave the desired effect. Instructor Recognizes Former Pupil hy Publicity Statements Miss Winifred Beckingsale, instructor in a Canadian high school finds in Vivian Rich a former pupil. Miss Beckingsale visited Santa Barbara and met Miss Rich of the "Flying A" Studios, confirming her conclusions as to her identity. Vivian had made an indelible impression upon her former instructor because she was always at the head of her class. An Easter "Flying A" Feature "The Last Supper," a two reel production, is announced by the American Film Mfg. Co. Lorimer Johnston has been entrusted with the production of this subject, and gives assurance that it will be done in the thorough and careful manner which characterizes his best work. Christ and the Apostles will be shown at the festal board with absolute historical accuracy. The release date has not as yet been set, but will be as close to Easter as possible.