Variety (April 1918)

MOVING PICTURES « Loa Angeles, March 29. Jessie Hallett, for man? years with Thomas H. Inoe, has resigned. She will take a two- months' vacation. "Uncle" Charley Hilton, a familiar charac- ter along the reel rlalto, has fully recovered from a serious Illness. Louise Olaum has started on her second S reduction for Paralta. It was scenarloUed y J. Orubb Alexander and Frey Myton. Reg- inald Barker will direct J. Warren Kerrigan will start a new pic- ture the first week In April. This is his first ■inoe his leg was broken, six months ago. He still walks with a slight limp, but this is due to a desire to favor his injured limb. It is said Monte Katterjohn takes care of his typewriter like a mother does her baby. Every night be wraps It up in cloth and places a sign on It forbidding anyone tampering with it. Ida May Park is directing Kenneth Harlan and Mary MacLaren at the "U.- Mae Murray Is now queen of the newsies. The other night she led a hundred little street merchants" down Broadway, Los Angeles, to Graumann's theatre. Viola Dana bas ambitions to be a vampire. Says she is tiring of curia Klnema theatre has Installed a department for parking babies. Doris Baker, the little film "Cutis," gave two hundred shamrocks to friends on St. Patrick's Day. A Woman's Self-Defense Club has been organised at the Rolin studio by Betty Moore and Marie Mosqulnl. Preparations are being made at the Metro studio for receiving Bert Lytell and company, due this week from the east. Emmy Whelen Is expected here shortly to begin a new picture for Metro. Hal Roach is back on the directing Job again. William B. Mong has added several rare prints to his wonderful collection of Lincoln portraits. W. H. Clune has Installed a handsomely appointed preview room In his Broadway the- atre. Several preview parties have been given there. It is now definitely known that Mabel Nor- mand and May Marsh will not return to Cali- fornia, to make pictures. Both prefer to live and work In the east. Vera Lewis has returned from Santa Bar- bara, whither she went to do a picture for the American. Harold Lockwood, Charles Murray, William Clifton, Pauline Curly and Fred Balshofer appeared In person at the Symphony theatre last week. Julian Johnson, the writer and script editor, is a "safety flrat" guy. He carries several good-slsed life Insurance policies. And where do you think he keeps them? In the same drawer with his matches. Sam Comer, assistant purchasing agent of the Triangle, has enlisted in the aviation corps. J. O. Hawks is making so much money writ- ing scenarios that he says he is going to cut out autos and confine his speeding pleasures to aeroplanes. Harry Carey is working his company full blast at Universal. Jesse Lasky Is bringing with him from New York City to Los Angeles several of the eastern Lasky luminaries, including Ethel Clayton, formerly of the World. Elsie Ferguson, who had planned to come with him, has changed her mind, and will remain in New York City until summer. The Dlando Film Co. has leased 60 acres near their studio in Qlendale for the staging of Its new serial for Pathe. The serial will be called "The Wolf-Faced Man." The second week of "Hearts of the World" netted Griffith a gross In excess of $15,000, which Is considerably more than the seoond week of either "Intolerance" or "The Birth of a Nation." T. L. Tally, vice-president of the National Exhibitors' Circuit, has been delegated to go east with the first Chaplin film, a little parcel {rinted for release April 7, and valued at 126,000. Prince Troubetskoy, world-famed sculptor of Russia, who won the. Grand Prix at the Paris Exposition, Is making statues In bronse of Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks. Alma Reuben, one of the Triangle's most popular stars, has agreed to sign with Oold- Charles Keenan, under the direction of Ernest C. Wards, Is making Ollson Wtllets' adaptation of 'The Bella." Stars and exhibitors one day last week met faoe to face at a banquet luncheon when, under the direction of Dave Bershon and Lester Theuerkauf, of the California Film Exchange, a "Big U" day waa staged by the Southern California Motion Ploture Theatre Ownsrs' Association. Among the guests of honor were: Mildred Harris, Dorothy Phillips, Harry Carey, Franklyn Farnum, Mae Murray, Ruth Clifford. Zoe Has, Bettor Sohaede, Eddie Lyons, Lee Moran, William Stowell, Klngsley Bene- dict, Ella Hall, Harry Johiisou, PrtsctUa Dean, stars; Elmer Clifton, Lola Weber, Phillips Smaller, Rupert Julian, Elsie Jane Wilson, directors, and William Slstron, general man- ager, and Henry McRae, manager of produc- tion at Universal. According to report here Pathe will discon- tinue making features. Since the retirement of J. A. Bent the management. It Is under- stood, has figured It out that the firm had better stick to serials and sosnlcs. Just wh.at disposition will be made of the contracts held by the stars—provided, of course, a declsjon Is reached to abandon the bigger productions —Is not known, but It is believed that the players will be taken over to oertaln Independ- ent producers, who would have a releasing arrangement with Pathe. A. E. Rousseau, secretary of the Pathe firm, has arrived here, and considerable significance la attached to his visit. The rlslto la bussing with rumors, and on fairly reliable authority a big shake- up is imminent. While hunting for a location In and around Palm Springs for one of the big scenes to be embodied In the Fox Theda Bare produc- tion, "Salome," J. Gordon Edwards, his wife, cameraman, and assistant director had a thrilling adventure. On their return from {his oasis in the desert, the party, who went there In an automobile, were caught in a torrential downpour. The mountain roads became Im- passable, and when about 15 miles from civil- isation, the machine sank to the hubs. They were compelled to remain there all night. At last a non-superstltlous actress has been discovered. She Is Ruth Clifford of Universal. Miss Clifford recently went to Truokce to film snow scenes. On the train she occupied berth No. 18, and on her arrival at the northern California town was assigned to room 18; from her window she counted 18 railroad oars sidetracked, and the next morning the expressman brought her a package on which there were 18 cents due. "Nothing scares me," said the pretty actress, as she walked under a ladder. SHOWS IN PHILLY. Philadelphia, April 3. The unusual condition of booking interests left the Garrick dark this week, something unheard of for Easter week, but with one musical piece and a dramatic show opening, playgoers found a variety of entertainment for their wants, business took a decided uplift following the close of the Lenten season. Announcements for bookings at the syndicate theatres are so uncertain as to cause comment in theatrical circles here. Following 'The Mask and Wig" at the Forrest, Harry Lauder comes there for a week, after which "Miss Springtime" will return again. "Good-Bye, Bill," a musical show produced by members of the U. S. Army Ambulance Corps at Camp Crane, Allentown, Pa., comes to the Garrick without any further announce- ment as to what follows. It is re- ported pictures will fill in. Neither is there any show underlined for the Broad after Arnold Daly's two-week engagement. "Doing Our Bit" continues to hum along merrily at the Chestnut Street opera house, where business has been big since opening. "The Man Who Came Back" is the only other holdover, drawing well at the Adelphi. "The Mask and Wig Club" of the University of Penn., which has the week at the Forrest, enjoyed its usual sellout for this annual function. This year's production is "Her Bridal Not" FILM REVIEWS THE LANDLOPER. A Torke (Metro) regular release, with Harold Lookwood starred. Tbe picture starts Uloglcally and never recovers from the welt given it then. The action is ever meagre, with the usual Metro mob group as its big scene. The feature can not convince at its best stages, which are very few. Toward tbe end it turns sentimentally and this "heart in- terest" barely lets It by for tboee who are always satisfied with the over-glutted market of film love. A wealthy young Idler wagers with a friend over a convivial table be can become a "hobo" for three months without quitting. That required one full reel. Next we see Walker Parr (Mr. Lockwood) on the road, a tramp, In what looked like a very neat mining outfit, trousers and open- at-neck outing shirt, nice looking Fedora hat slightly frayed but always worn in the same way. Instead of looking like a bum, Walker Parr seemed a young man out for an exercise walk, although all the people he met ap- peared to Immediately recognize he was a tramp, for they called him "a hobo." Among the people he met were a man and a young girl. The girl was private secretary to the young man T s fathsr, who was mayor of Marlon. The town of Marlon was flashed on the screen, but whether It was Marlon, Ind.. or Marlon, O., the sheet failed to tell. Either Marlon may Justly make a holler, for the plot thickens on Impure water, tells how the tramp adopted an orphaned little girl, how she died from typhoid caused by the town's water sys- tem, and the hobo, still in his neat looking tramp outfit, spoke to a mass meeting, brought about a revolt against the mayor, who was also head of the city's water works, and then, still ss s tramp. Mr. Parr became engaged to the girl who fell In love with him while he was merely a wasteful hobo, accord- ing to her Idea. That is what might be called Idyllic love, and the rich young man beloved in this way has the Intense gratification of knowing the girl Is not marrying him for bis money, while on the other hand when his love season runs out, he can reflect If It Is worth while marry- ing a girl so anxious to love someone she fell for a bum. Still, this is the picture season which makes everything fair in films. The Metro won't get much out of "The Land- loper," and the money secured will far ex- oeed prestige gained, though how It will counterbalance loss of prestige in the times when an opposition factory needs of all the latter It can procure is problematical. The company does Its share with the faulty scenario, only faulty In Its story. Inaction and Ineptitude. To make a bum out of a star in this way for a feature picture Is naturally to make a bum out of the picture. What could the picker of tbe story have expected otherwise T A landloper Is a $2 name for a tramp, which explains the title, and If the title Is big time. It's merely a big time title for a small time picture. Too bad to waste a star and company In these things. It takes too long to produce a feature and sometimes It costs money. The director got in one pretty bit, where the hobo termed a rose tbe twin sister of the girl be had Just met. That will make alfthe girls sigh, but none of them, unless they have less sense then Rose Marie, will like Mr. Lookwood as a bum. On the other end, tbe director suggested a body of a suicide was dragged out of a pond. Unnecessary and a gruesome touch that hurt. And that a silk purse can not be made out of a sow's ears Is a quotation the picture people as well ss all others might stoadily recollect. Bime. OUTING-CHESTER PICTURES. The first five travel-scenic reels (there will be T2), called the "Outing-Chester Pictures," were shown in a projection room Monday. Some Interesting views with excellent photog- raphy were flashed on the screen. Of the five reels the two holding the most attention through plcturesqueness were "Kale- teur, the Perfect Cataract," and "On Mount Aaalnlbolne." Neither subject has been pro- jected on the screen before. They proyfde exceptional opportunities for the camera man. The other three reels were of Venezuela, FIJI Islands, snd the rapids of the Potaro In South America, the latter holding a few thrills In the way the boat shoots between rocks, and some scenes through the rapids. Tbe pictures are edited similar to a story In a magazine, tbe titles reading to that effect. The object of the series is to show the public wbat they read about in the different publi- cations. The films sre produced under the direction of C. L. Chester, and In oo-operatlon with "Outing" (magazine), which will publish a list of the first-run houses using; the series and tbe exchanges handling them In each Issue. and scored a tremendous hit, being full of "pep" and dash. Arnold Daly, making his first Phila- delphia appearance in seven years, presented "The Master" to good busi- ness Monday night. The piece was received favorably. "Oh Boy" opened strong at the Lyric and business has been holding up, with a promise of getting the producers some real money on this stand. THE TRAP. of the community, because of her mother's former improprieties, Is the theme of this World film. The star Is Alice Brady, who plays Doris. The story Is by Robert F. Hill, and was directed by Oeorge Archalnbaud. The camera-work, above the average, was done by Philip Hatkln. Doris, who Is physically attractive, Is ad- mired by the village Beau Brummel, but she scorns him and spends a lot of her time with Stuart Kendall, an artist. A. strong Intimacy springs up between Doris and Kendall. When driven from the village she naturally gravi- tates to New York, and while a waitress lp a cafe she again meets him. He prevails upon her to pose for a poster advertising s baking powder. She now lives at Kendall's studio. while he has taken quarters elsewhere. If Doris suspected bis designs she relied upon her native feminine wit to guard her. Out of the west came a young cattleman who had seen Doris as the demure housewife In the poster, "The girl who would make any man want a home." He asks her to marry him. She refuses for the present, but tells him he can come around when he likes. Kendall becomes Jealous at the growing friendship between the girl and her western acquaintance. Doris bad told Masterson of Kendall's generosity to her, and even the fact that she lives at the artist's studio does not make Masternon susplolous. One night after she had had a quarrel with Ken- dall and he has threatened her she writes Masterson she will marry him In the next few days. She tells Kendall of her approaching nup- tials and he congratulates her, at tbe same time scheming to prevent the wedding. The night before her marriage Doris sooompantes Masterson to the theatre. In her absence Kendall inaugurate* a mad revelry to greet her on her return. She Is pleased with the surprise Kendall prepared for her. Her one regret was that Masterson has been left out About .4 a. m. the party becomes an orgy. Then Kendall slips out and telephones Mas- terson that Doris Is 111—he must oome at onoe. Masterson hurries to the apartment. As he throws open the door he witnesses the baccha- nalian uproar and believes the worst of Doris. He denounces and leaves her. Kendall tells Doris now she has fathomed tbe Insincerity of her wostern lover she had better stay with him. But Doris realized Kendall had planned the party and accuses him. Without knowing Masterson had overheard her accu- sation of Kendall she hurries to her room, and after securing a reservation to Boston on the 8 p. m. train, prepares to leave. When Masterson sought her, he was Informed by her maid of her departure. He gets a chair on the same train and the marriage takes place In Boston. The story Is Improbable and but mildly interesting, but It gives Miss Brady opportunity, besides wearing some chic and up-to-date gowns. The other members of the cast did fairly well with their parts, but the wholo picture lacks "punch." The photography Is good, and apparently no expense bas been spared In finding loca- tions with the necessary "atmosphere." SHOWS IN NEW YORK. "April," Punch & Judy (1st week). "A Cure for Curable*,* 89th St. (8th wk.). "An American Ace," Casino (1st week). "Bualneaa Before Pleasure," pitinge (81st week). w Chn Cain Chow," Century (26th week). "Cheer Up," Hippodrome (33d week). "Eyes of Ypath," Elliot (32d week). French Players* Theatre de Viey Col- ombier (19th week). "Flo-Flo," Cort (16th week). "Fountain of Youth," Henry Miller (1st week). "Going; Up," Liberty (15th week). Greenwich Vlllasre Players (21st week). "Her Country." Harris (7th week). "Happlneea," Criterion (14th week). "Jack o* Lantern," Globe (26th week). "Lombard!. Ltd.", Moronro (27th week). "Love's LlKhtnlnsr." Fulton (1st week). "Let's Go." Fulton (4th week). "Maytlme." Broadhurst (32d week). "Man Who Stayed at Home," 48th fit. (1st week). Oh, Lady. Lady." Princess (9th week). "Oh, Look." Vanderbllt (6th week). "Parlor, Bedroom and Bath," Republic (Ifith week). "Polly with a Past," Belasco (31st wk.). "Pair of Pettlcoata," 44th St. Roof (8d week). "Italnbow Girl," Amsterdam (1st week). "Succeaa," Lexington (19th week). "Squab Farm," BIJou (4th week). "Seventeen." Booth (11th week). "SIck-a-Bed." Gaiety (6th week). "Seven Daya* Leave/' Park (12th week). "Slnbad," Winter Garden (7th week). "Tlsrer Boae," Lyceum (27th week). "Tailor-Mad* Man," Cohan * TTnrrls (32d week). "The WJId llu'ck." Plymouth (4th weok). "The Little Teacher," ririyhou.se (9th week). "The < opperhead." Shuhert (7th week). "Toot, Toot," George M. Cohnn (1th wk.) "The Off Chance," Kmplro (7th week). ••Why Marryf" Antor (Kith week). Wnnlilngton Square Players, Comedy (23d week). J«Yc» or Not" Longacro (10th week).