Universal Weekly (1914-1915)

THE UNIVERSAL WEEK I. V 23 Ohio's Governor in Victor Drama T has again remained for the Universal to establish an innovation— to be the first company in the history of motion pictures to have the governor of a State and his entire legislature participate in a photoplay. Governor Cox of Ohio and the Ohio State Legislature are the governor and legislature seen in the two-part Universal-Victor photoplay, "For the People". To make this feature, which has for its definite "For the People" introduces Governor Cox of Ohio for the first time in pictures — Victor Two-Reel Drama taken in Columbus, Ohio, Released November 20 purpose, aside from its entertaining qualities, the showing of the extreme benefits of the Workmen's Compensation Law as applied in a practical way, the Universal sent a company of artists, under the direction of Stuart Paton, to Columbus, O., to stage that part of the action which takes place in the Governor's private office and the Senate chamber. A. complete lighting system of a special kind was taken along ; mechanics were on hand to suspend these lights from the ceiling of the Senate chamber and the Governor's office. Result : You have one of the big climaxes of the play, where Matt Moore, as the young Senator, makes his tremendous appeal for the Compensation bill, acted out among real senators in a real senate chamber — and one of the most noteworthy senate chambers in the United States, Ohio. Naturally, the atmosphere is perfect in every respect, is impressive by reason of its absolute realism. "For the People", as a play, is another of the many indications of rhe Universal's enterprise— of its ambition, which is being realized every day, to give the exhibitor and the patron tomething novel, startling, wholly original . And that is what this feature will prove to be. Because of the state officials' appearance, because of the big theme of compensation law handled and because there is a big, human interest drama around which all the other features swing, you will find in the play much meat for reflection. You will remember the play as one out of the ordinary, one which only the Universal could have given. As a prologue to the story you are shown a big landslide, an accident in a gravel pit, as a result of which a workman is killed. You are shown how, under the old insurance law, his family was abused and cheated out of the money justly due them. Following, you are introduced to a young lawyer-politician, a man of the people, who is achieving power and popularity through his progressive methods and beliefs. He is in love with the daughter of one of the big political bosses who is, incidentally, a wealthy, grafting contractor. The boss objects to the young man as a suitor, principally because he fears him in a political way. He fights him bitterly at every turn. When this fails, the boss approaches the young lawypr and seeks to CAST. The Senator Matt Moore His Fiancee Dorothy Phillips The Governor of Ohio Governor Cox State Senators, etc. The Young Senator Visits the Poor. bribe over to his way of thinking. It is only the appenrance of his daughter which keeps him from being thrown front th» house. It is at this point that the big bos^ plays his trump ; he forges his daugb ter's name to a letter which informs the young lawyer that he cannot hope to wib the girl, believing, as he does, and fight ing her father. The young lawyer see* himself standing between the necessity of choosing between his sweetheart and hi* beliefs ; he decides, after a terrific mental struggle to pursue the line of duty marked out for him. He will fight for the people You next find him elected senator. The day comes when he must deliver his final appeal in the senate chamber to have the Workmen's Compensation Bill made law. He delivers his address; the girl is there to hear him. A vote is taken. The bill is passed. Prior to this the young senator had visited Governor Cox tc secure his support and advice in advancing the cause of the bill This marks one of the scenes in the play. After the bill is passed it comes before the Governor for his signature, the lasi thing needed to make it law. Several State would like the sameLater, the young sena tor discovers the letter from his sweetheart, to be a forgery. Explana tions are made and a reconciliation is brought about, while the old father is forced to cob sent. You see, then, the practical effects of the compensation law when applied. fa fa fa. fa Because of his yean of experience on the Cleveland National For est, Leigh Smith, for merly a member of the Gold Seal (Universal) company, which recently completed "The Trey o' Hearts" series, hat been appointed to the position of forester at Universal City. He ha» been given a saddle horse and a pack-outfit. Riding the one and railing the other, he makes daily pilgrimages into the mountains that surround the photoplay city and brings back sprouts and roots of strange and unusual species of California plant life, to be transplanted for ornamental purposes about the buildings and along the drive ways and boulevards of the city. He is also planting a com plete pine forest of about 2,000 trees to be used for lumber country . fa fa fa fa Mary Fuller is getting quite used to sitting for a portrait drawing while she writes or makes up. She has been deluged by artists who want poster or cover reproductions of the Uni versal Star, and every day last week there was a new artist i» her dressing-room at the Imp studio usine her rs a model but not restricting her work