Screenland (Apr–Sept 1923)

custodian of the studio bank-roll was saved much mental anguish. The famous zoo that we maintain at our Lincoln Park establishment came about partly by accident. We needed a lot of animals for a picture, The Adventures of Kathlyn, which, you remember, had its setting in the jungles of India. We had so much difficulty in renting animals that we finally purchased what we needed for the picture, and kept them right on the lot in case of future use. We made a good many animal pictures after that, and little by little we added new animals until now our zoo is quite a showplace in Southern California. The Game Was Simpler Then a king pictures was a much simpler business back in the early days. The sets were very simple and inexpensive, and the audience was willing to use a bit of imagination. In those days when it was so thrilling just to see a picture move, there were no blase and keeneyed critics waiting to howl a protest when a young lady in a tailored suit passed through a doorway and appeared on the other side in negligee. Cutting a picture was simple, too. Film was too expensive to be used lavishly, and we "shot" no more than we expected to use. Nowadays, in a big film thousands of feet of costly film are thrown out, in the cutting room, often a hundred times as much film as was used in a whole motion picture in 1907 or 1908. Being Funny Und er Difficulties w We made a good many comedies, short-reelers, when pictures were just striking their stride. Just plain slap-stick, with some funny costumes, some good "g a g s" and of course, some kind of a chase. They sold well, too, for we never had the difficulty in making our audiencegiggle that Edwin Stevens that splendid actor, encountered in the person of a grouchy Germ a n vaudeville manager, when he made up mind to go into vaudeville. The manager was very busy and was low in his mind. "Veil," he growled, "vat you vant, hay?" "I would like to go into vaudeville," said Stevens meekly. An early photograph of Mary Pickford. hi, Vat is your "Arat do you do? line?" "I am a comedian. "A komiker, was?' ager scowled blackly, me laugh!" Editor's Note: The second installment of Colonel Seller's fascinating reminiscence will be published in the May Screexlaxd, out April 1. Watch for it. sir, I—" The man"Vel. make No New Movie Papa Richard Barthelmess is the latest Papa on record in movie-land. His wife, known professionally as Mary Hay became a mother in New York just a few days ago. The little one has a rocky road ahead in order to attain the heights of its parents, but then again look at the start it has on other kids. Time will tell. "Riches to Rags" Marion Davis goes from riches to rags when she jumps from When Knighthood Was in Flower to Adam and Eva, her new picture. In the former, as Mary Tudor, her gowns were a gorgeous combination tes of the Play of gold and brocade while in Adam and Eva as "Eva," her wardrobe consists almost entirely of ginghams. All of which proves she can look nice in either. Wanda Hawley Asks Divorce Wanda Hawley has filed application for a divorce from M. Hawley, charging that he consumed so much of his time entertaining at the Hawley bungalow, that he could find no time to follow his chosen profession as automobile mechanic. This came as somewhat of a surprise as the Hawley's have been married for some time and were supposed, from all indications to be very happy. Also, with their occupa e r s tions being so different, it was impossible for much friction there but things must of clashed elsewhere as the divorce has been filed and after all it is results that count. Pickford-Miller to Co-Star Jack Pickford is so tired of being 2,000 miles away from his wife, who is Marilyn Miller, star of Sally now running on the legit in Chicago, that he has asked the managerial boss of the Pickford family, his mother, to get a story co-starring him and wine on the screen. "Ma" Pickford has promised to do her best and judging fron.. past performances it ought to be a — well let's wait and see the picture. 23