Variety (July 1915)

MOVING PICTURES 19 FILM FLASHES P. J. Flanery is a new addition to the edi- torial staff of the V-L-8-E. The Cyril Maude feature, "Peer Oynt." will Hhortly be released for American exhibition. The Gaiety, Hoboken, is to continue its present pop vaudeville during the fall. Pauline Fredericks' next screen production will be "Sold" by the Famous Player*. Phyllis Grey, of the Balboa, is out on crutches at Long Beach, Cal. Mae Marsh is selling cold cream as a side line to film acting. Tully Marshall and Thomas Jefferson are co-starring in the film version of "The Sable Lorcha." A film version of the Bartley Campbell play, "My Partner," Is being made by Burr Mc- intosh. Arthur Row will have a part in the film version of "Vanity Fair," In which Mrs. FiHke is to star. Mary Miles Mlnter, the youthful star, has been put under contract by the Metro for a terra of years. Rolfe will make another feature with Will- iam Faversham as the star for the Metro program. Ralph Hera will start picture work at the Rolfe studio in "The Purple Lady" In Sep- » tember. Bruce McRae will be the leading man in Pathe features to come. His first for this concern will be "Via Wireless." The Paramount has gotten out some ex- tensive advertising matter for its big feature production, "The Allen." John Burton, the veteran actor, makes his film debut in the Morosco production "Kil- meny." "Under Southern Skies," with Mary Fuller featured, has been marked for release by the Universal for September 13. Marie Tempest is putting the finishing touches to her four-reeled comedy feature, "Mrs. Plum Pudding." The Itala Co. will have ready about Aug. 1 a production said to be a sequel to "Ca- blrla." It will nn two hours. Mile. Valkyrien will be in the Vita pro- duction of "Youth." Captain Harry Lambert will produce It. Raymond Hitchcock Is to do another new two-reeled comedy picture under Mack Ben- nett's direction on the Coast. The Cosmos Is making a feature, "The Master of the House," in which Julius Steger 1b the star. Joseph Boyle, assistant to director John I nee (Lubin) forces, was married last week to Maud Douglass, a member of the stock com- pany. Lubin has landed Dr. Daniel Carson Good- man upon a fat contract to write 12 feature scenarios. Goodman will be best remembered r or his "The Battle of the Sexes.* A petition in bankruptcy has been filed against the Mohawk Film Co. This company assigned last week to Albert A. Rapheal the day before the bankruptcy petition was filed. "Artie" Is in the making by the Vltagraph, with Ernest Truex as the featured player. Dorothy Kelly is playing the role of Artie's Bweetheart. Archie Bell, the dramatic reviewer of the Cleveland Leader, Is reported bb heeding the picture call to write scenarios at a fancy salary. Mrs. Minnie Maddern Flske, when not work- ing in the feature of "Vanity Fair," Is look- ing over manuscripts for new plays with a view of accepting one for next season. Helen Von Huber. formerly of the editorial staff of the Chicago Tribune, has come to New York and is playing leads In the Wizard comedies. "Lady Audley's Secret," flvo reels, with Theda Bara featured, has been set for release one week from today (Friday). Marshall Farnum did the directing. The Vltagraph is making a college feature, For the Honor of the Crew," in which Will- iam B. Davidson, Columbia '00, has the prin- cipal role. in a new feature she will continue in support of Betty Nansen in features. Jack Cunningham Isn't going to become crasy with the heat if cool dressing has anything to do with it. Jack Issued forth Monday in a nicely pressed Palm Beach linen and defied any of his brother agents to follow suit. Lula Qlaser, under contract to the Universal for a feature, has not yet started work on the film, although the U has set Nov. 20 as the day It will be released. The U Is seeking the proper camera vehicle. Douglass Fairbanks will appear In two or more features to be produced by D. W. Grif- fith on the coast. Fairbanks has already reached the Griffith studio In Southern Cali- fornia. The cast for the film version of "Evidence." which is being produced by Edwin August for the Shuberts, includes Lillian Tucker, Richard Rubier, Handee Wright, Lionel Pape, Richard Temple, Florence Hackett and Mau- rice Stewart. D. W. Griffith, having completed his next feature, "The Mother and the Law," has been taking a little vacation by attending the San Francisco Exposition. Griffith has several new subjects for new features, but has not an- nounced which he will take up next. Blllle Reeves, who is appearing in Lubin comedies, was instrumental in the rescuing from drowning of a man who had fallen over the side of the battleship Alabama stationed at League Inland. Reeves dove over the side of the ship and swam with the man to shore. A. W. Goff Is the newly appointed coast division manager of the V-L-S-E. Sidney E. Abel assumes charge of the Cleveland branch of the same concern, this position being left vacant by the removal of Mr. Goff to the coast The company organized to produce Captain Leslie T. Peacock's big feature, "The Birth of Venus," has called a halt and negotiations are now on between the Universal and Captain Peacock for the Venus production to be dona by the U forces. The Strand's press department this week In sending out a notice on "The Fighting Hope," now playing there, called attention to the role of Detective Fletcher in the picture, as taken by Billy Elmer, who was recently killed In an auto accident on the Coast. Frelda Hall Is on from Chicago in response to several offers that she has received from feature manufacturers here to appear in "The T J d< Lf nd the Wind*." a novel along the linen of ' The Lion and the Mouse," which she has written. She has two offers now under con- sideration. BILLS NEXT WEEK. (Continued from page 12.) Fox Co. has signed Dorothy Bernard to a long contract Until she appears as a star Vaaesaver, R. C. PANTAGES (m) Klein's Production Josie Flynn Mlns Silbert A North Rice & Francis Rio ft Norman Juliette Dlka PANTAGES (m) Edmund Hayes Co Dorsch A Russell Lombardl Sextette John P Reed Belle Oliver Lady Alice's Pets Washing-ton KEITH'S (ubo) Hopkins Sisters Arnaut Bros P ft I Sans Cbas Olcott Mason-Keeler Perry ft Heath Harry Cooper Co Lunette Sisters Waterbnry, Conn. POLI'S (ubo) Wood Bros The ^ halens Dawson Players Dody ft Allman 2d half Turner ft Grace Carlton Sisters John Wlnthrop Co LcMalre A Dawson Ever's Circus (One to fill) Wntertown, 91 D METROPOLITAN (wva) Stross 4 Becker Cooper A Rlcardo 2d half Gllroy & Coriel Black ft White Wichita. Knn. WONDERLAND PK (wva) tears ft Homer Jerome Tudor ft S Raymond ft Hess Mile Martha A Sis 2d half W F Reno 3 Gay Sis The Grazers Fern Blgelow 3 Wllkea-Barre. Pa. POLI'S (ubo) Pike ft Calome La Belle Marie Gordon ft White Mack ft Irwin Minstrel 4 Melvern's Comlques 2d half Lo Roy ft Lane Robeo ft Robeo Stanley Burns ft B "Garden of Peaches" Rogers, Pollock A R "Dog Bandits" Winnipeg PANTAGES (m) "Miss U S A" Gray A Wheeler Ober A Dumont Kennedy A Burt Will A Kemp STRAND (wva) . nurnham A Yant Mr A Mrs A Cappelan Judson Cole Nettle Carroll Tr Worcester, Mmk PLAZA (ubo) Turner a Grace Dunn Sisters Three Vagrants Ever's Circus 2d hair De Von Sisters Joe Daniels Gene Frailer Co Sllblnl A Orovinl An Important meeting of the Cinema Ex- hibitors' Association of Westchester County was held at 11 P. M. Thursday night in the Model Theatre, 045 Freeman street, at which time a number of pressing matters concerning film conditions locally were discussed pro and con. Jack Flinn, the press shooter for Lasky, Jumped in on the chance to further boost the Victor Moore-"Chlmmle Fadden" feature of his concern through the vaudeville cancella- tion of Moore and Llttlefleld at Keith's. Wash- ington. Mr. Flinn, with a naviette that bursts through the manifold sheet, says the undue publicity given the Moore Incident of having a feature shown In opposition to Moore's per- sonal headline appearance, brought forth un- holy demands for "Chlmmle Fadden" from all parts of the country—by exhibitors. Mr. Flinn rather broadly asserts in the same an- nouncement it was nothing else than the film Itself the vaudeville managers grew frighten- ed about. Nothing against Jack for putting it over, but it doe,s show the tendency of the wide-awake publicity man to believe the world hinges on the output of his firm, and If be doesn't believe it himself, he tries to get the selfsame world to. There are presB agents and press agents. You can tell the difference by their stuff, when you don't know them per- sonally, and, thanks be, not all are personally known to everybody. Probably the greatest joke on earth is some of these little bit 6f fellows parading as "press agents." Flo Zlegfeld of the tenor of the Frohman an- nouncement. A morning newspaper had printed Miss Burke was finally engaged for 111m work, after she had been rumored signed many times. That happened in the morning of the same day. In the afternoon a news- paper man called at the Frohman office and Inquired the attitude of the firm on the pic- ture subject. John Williams told htm to wait a moment until he conferred with Alt Hay- man. This conference resulted In the an- nouncement, Williams returning and telling the trade newspaperman that, as they had decided upon an announcement regarding the Burke affair, they would make It a general one. The New York sent out the formal an- nouncement last Saturday of the engagement of Blllle Burke for 26 weekB each year for three years, at $160,000 gross, for the term. It is an optional agreement, says the state- ment, with Miss Burke's flrBt salary for pic- ture, from the same concern, 140,000 for five weeks, expenses, Including travelling, to be borne by the firm. The Burke picture will be made In California. Adam Kessell Is given credit for hitching onto the famous red-headed star for his concern. Miss Burke Is to go west about Aug. 15. The Inside story of the Blllle Burke picture agreement, says Miss Burke bad no Idea of Immediately engaging In picture work, nor had her husband on her behalf, until they heard the same afternoon last week the Charles Frohman office had sent out Its notice re its stars and pictures. The notice for the papers next morning read that any Frohman star signing for pictures automatically severed connection or canceled any existing contract with Frohman. It was rather a risky statement to make If not wholly Intended, especially when monkeying with an attraction of the Burke magnitude. Her hus- band, Zlegfeld, is some little manager himself, and wanted nothing better than to direct the tours of his wife, after marrying her, but de- ferred to the long managerial reign of the late Charles Frohman. The same evening the newspapers got the Frohman notice they re- ceived another, that Miss Burke had signed for pictures. Someone may have tipped off THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR. A five-real Lubin feature released soma time ago. "The House Next Door" was a tremen- douB success as a play and it seems rather a pity Lubin permitted this feature on the market In the shape that It Is In. The great- est defect in the film Is the photography and It ruins every possible chance. There are many minor defects as well. From the appearance of the film It would look as though the crank had b*»en turned by a rank amateur. In the direction there are also several faults, the most noticeable the apparent age of Sir John at the time he has two children, seemingly about six or seven years of age running about If men who appear as aged and crabbed as the actor who played that role can do that then all of this A K stuff you hear about la "bunk." The picture does not get started un- til after the first reel has passed. The open- ing of the story lays the foundation for the hatred that exists between the heads of the respective family In the later years. The rise of Sir Isaac Jacobson must have been rather wonderful In the 15 years supposed to elapoe between the opening and the time ha appears to have Sir John at his mercy. The relation be- tween the Hebrew and Gentile raoe in retard to lnter-marrlage the theme upon whleh the play and Its plcturlsatlon are founded, but Lubin did not take advantage of the oppor- tunities presented In the original manuscript. If It had, Lubin would have produosd a fea- ture that would undoubtedly live through yours and would continue to be a money maker. There Is credit to be given for but one soane and that is where the house of granite and mortar collapses and carries Sir John with It This Is the one thrill of the picture. The ma- jority of the scenes are Interiors and Just be- cause the glass studio adapted Itself wonder- fully well to the conservatory scene seems to have been reason enough for flashing a "cut- back" to that scene at least two score of times during the run. Of the acting cast there la little to be said for there Beamed to bo but two real actors In the east One waa the Juvenile who played Adrian Jacobson and the other Bdw. Tllton aa a butler. It Is a shame that this opportunity to turn out a real pic- ture of merit was overlooked by the pro- ducers. Fred. CORRESPONDENCE Unlets otherwise noted, tke foDowing reports are for the cwrent week. VARIETY'S CHICAGO OFFICE: CHICAGO MAJESTIC THEATRE BUILDING Ravtna Park opened Its opera season last week. come up for at least three months yet tiring the picture free reign meanwhile. The Columbia opens Its burlesque season here Auk. 8 with "The Social Maids" as the attraction. The father of Sunny Kllduff was operated on at the American Hospital last week after being shot by highwaymen. He is getting better. There will be a southern office of the Inter- state Circuit established shortly. Messrs. Chautaut Solan and Mower will move to Dal- las soon to stadt their dutlea In the new office. Harry Miller remains In Chicago. Karl Hob- Iltzel will retain his headquarters In Chicago, as he has done In former years. Howard Langford, who Is signed with a Friedlander tab for next season Is doing a single act around the Lake cities. The Columbia announces there will be no changes In the staff of the theatre this season back or front. Ed Strlngfellow remains In the box office. "Elektra" will be produced In Chicago dur- ing the next opera season. Cleofonte Cam- panlnl will do the producing of the piece, which will be heard three times during the season. The new summer lobby at the Majestic Is causing quite some noise besides being a nice place for some of the boys of the vaudeville business to lounge about. The lobby Is finish- ed off In summer garden style, having easy chairs and girls who pass cigarettes around to those waiting for a friend in the garden. The outside lobby of the theatre has been fixed up for the summer lounging purpose. Antonla Perry, an actor, and Manager Schaffer of the Columbia theatre, on North Clark street, fought a no-declslon one-round bout In the letter's office one day last week. Antonia's wife plays the piano in the theatre. He claimed Schaffer Insulted her. Schaffer nays Antonia's wife In not a good piano player and he did not Insult her. Myrtle Lane, an actress, was bitten, she alleges, by "Romeo," the monk, at the Great Northern Hippodrome, about six weeks ago and Is now suing the Alcazar Amusement Co., which controls tbe Hip. Miss Lane «was sit- ting In a box at the time of the accident. "Romeo" was doing his roller skating but Jumped Into the box sod, beside* biting her, the aHrcHH claims a nervous break down. Margaret Ullngton opens at the Cort in "The Ue" Aug. 8. "Peg o' My Heart" closes there Aug. 7. "Pollanna" will be produced at the Hlackstone* Aug. 29. The cast will Include Phillip Merrlvale, Patricia rollings and Effle Shannon. "He Comes ITp Smiling" will be thr attraction at the Powers oponlng Sept. 6. An appeal was granted tbs city of Chlesgo against the decision of the court that gave the promoter* permission to show "The Plrth of a Nation" film at the IlllnolH theatre. Though the appeal was grsnted tbe hearing will not There is a sequel to the doings of the people who control Rlvervlew Park here. Last week a fraud charge was brought against two of the park's directors and this week there Is a charge against Howard Hews, who has been acting as receiver for the company. It Is al- leged Hews misappropriated funds by buying park c< ■ *h|ous and using the profits himself. In tho irge a psssage states that though Hews 1 dl< 1 as much as $100/100 at a time he wss ader bond for $7,fi00. CrtRT (17. J. Hermann, mgr.) —"Peg o' My Heart." with Peggy O'Nell. (10th week) Doing fairly.