Reel Life (Sep 1914 - Mar 1915)

Twenty REEL LIFE Real Tales About Reel Folk THE Thanhouser Players' Theater in New Rochelle is in charge of an able body of directors and officers, who know what the public wants. Their project has been so successful that recently in congratulatory mood, they gathered in the lobby to celebrate by having a snap-shot all together. From left to right, the picture, which is here reproduced, shows Carl L. Gregory, vicepresident of the Players' Theater* Clarence Dull, who was in charge of redecorating the house, Frank Farrington, secretary, John William Kellette, manager, Harry Benham and Sidney Bracy, directors, and W. Ray Johnston, president. President S. S. Hutchinson of the American Company is directing extensive additions to the studios at Santa Barbara and many improvements in the laboratories at Chicago. The laboratories, when the alterations are completed, will be able to turn out more than 500,000 feet of positives every week, and the negative output will be about twice as large as at present. The studio is being enlarged to meet the requirements of its increased activity, and especially to accommodate the production of important features. Directors and Officers of the Thanhouser Players' Theater, in the Lobby of Their New House in New Rochelle, N. Y. Charlotte Burton of the "Flying A" has returned to the studio full of enthusiasm about her new spring wardrobe. While she was away she devoted herself to the quest of the last word in clothes, which should do credit to American subjects. Every two hours she had a fitting, keeping half a dozen different dress-makers busy. She was much pleased by the cordial recognition she received in the shops, for this convinced her that her screen work is widely known and enjoyed. Her friends at the studio, however, have reminded her, that this is not the whole story. For Miss Burton's graciousness and her spirit of good fellowship never fail to impress strangers, who immediately, on meeting her, take a strong liking to this very charming screen artist. Peggy Burke is starring in A Newspaper Nemesis, which proves that this clever little actress is capable of much bigger things than any she has yet recorded. The story is thrilling from start to finish, and Miss Burke says that she revels in playing detective parts. A new play in preparation is A Cure for Jealousy, under the direction of Carroll Fleming, in which Miss Burke is featured opposite Arthur Ashley. The scenario department has its orders to turn out, several scripts especially for the new leading woman, who, before her advent in pictures, was one of the famous beauties in artistic circles. She has posed for Harrison Fisher, Henry Hutt, , Hamilton King and Cole Phillips. Her hair is glossy black and her eyes under their heavy black lashes are sea-blue. Ralph Lewis of fhe RelianceMajestic Forces Once, when Ralph Lewis of the RelianceMajestic forces was far from Broadway, stranded in the coal regions of Pennsylvania, without a cent in his pocket, it was his mastery of Scotch dialect, which won the heart of a miner from the Highlands. The "siller" which the Scotchman loaned the young actor got him a ticket back to New York, and, eventually, several successful seasons in repertoire, which led to his engagement in motion pictures. But Mr. Lewis is sure that if it hadn't been for the way he told those Scottish stories at the coal mine shaft, he might never have seen the stage again, nor to-day be appearing in Griffith features. J. Barney Sherry, Inceville's Irish Prince Next to his ability as an actor, J. Barney Sherry's greatest accomplishment is the art of make-up. He can disguise himself completely. The other day, he was waiting on the stage at Inceville, costumed as an old mountaineer. Ragged clothes, a shaggy beard and skilfully lined face betrayed no trace of the original Barney. An office boy to whom he was pointed out by one of the actors came up and told him that "a friend" was waiting outside to see him. Barney hastened to the entrance to find that the friend was a "count", whom he did not care to interview. Striding up to the visitor, he announced in deep tones, "Mr. Sherry is not here to-day. If you will leave your name, I'll tell him that you called." The wouldbe borrower murmured, that it did not matter and bowed himself out without recognizing the actor.